Canvas Discussions is an asynchronous discussion board tool that is part of Canvas. Instructors can set requirements for grading with grade checkpoints (multiple due dates) or establish a level of anonymity (no grading) for their Discussions.
See also: Canvas Discussions
Assigning grading, checkpoints and anonymity to Canvas Discussions
Grading
By default, Canvas Discussions are not set for grading. While editing you will see a check box for Graded which, when checked, will open up additional settings for working with the grade book. Please see the directions for this action under How do I create a graded Discussion from the Canvas Community page.
Checkpoints
Discussion Checkpoints is a feature allowing faculty to schedule specific engagement points in discussions. These checkpoints encourage students to post initial responses, reply to peers, and reflect on feedback at designated intervals.
Benefits of checkpoints include keeping students on track, promoting deeper responses through reflection, enhancing peer interaction, and pacing student contributions.
Faculty can enable checkpoints by selecting Graded discussions, assigning points for posts and replies, and setting due dates.
Figure 1: Setting grading and checkpoint status
Figure 2: Applying points required in Checkpoint Settings
To implement checkpoints, set multiple deadlines (e.g., an initial post midweek and replies by the weekend), clarify expectations in your instructions, and allocate grades for each stage. This structured framework encourages meaningful engagement while building a dynamic learning community.
Anonymity
Canvas Discussions have added anonymity options as part of the 2024 upgrade (partial or full anonymity). Applying any level of anonymity to your Discussion will remove the option for Grading. There is a Canvas document in the wild that suggests that users can set anonymous Discussions for grading, but this is currently not the case.
Figure 3: Establishing anonymity level for a Discussion