How To Create a Canvas Rubric

Learn how to build and organize custom grading rubrics directly within your Canvas assignment. This guide simplifies the process of defining criteria, setting rating scales, and incorporating learning outcomes to streamline your assessment workflow.

Kirstie Knighton
29 steps
2 minutes

Instructure

Creating a Rubric in an Assignment

Navigate to the assignment you want to add a rubric to.

Underneath the assignment directions, click "Create Rubric."

In the Rubric Name field, give your rubric a clear, descriptive title so that it is easy to recognize later *(for example, Week 2 Reflection Rubric or Capstone Presentation Rubric)*.

**Type:** Choose how your feedback will be displayed: - **Scale** (default) – Displays a points-based scale with rating labels (for example, Excellent, Good, Needs Improvement). - **Written Feedback** – Removes numerical values and allows only comments. Useful for ungraded or formative feedback. **Note:** If you select Written Feedback, you cannot edit the default points or enable a point range.

You can choose to display the actual point value for each rating instead of, or alongside, the default numeric labels. In the **Rating Display** drop-down menu, select either the **Level** or **Points** option.

**Rating Order:** Select how the rating levels will be ordered: - **High < Low** (default) – Displays highest points or performance levels first. - **Low < High** – Displays lowest points or performance levels first.

**Scoring:** Choose whether the rubric will be scored or not: - **Scored** (default) – Allows you to assign points and total student performance. - **Unscored** – Displays ratings without points.

**Options (Checkboxes)** - **Don't post to Learning Mastery Gradebook** – Prevents the rubric from being tied to institutional outcomes tracking. - **Use this rubric for assignment grading** – Allows you to grade the assignment directly with this rubric. - **Hide rubric score from students** – Hides the point total but still shows criteria and ratings.

Add Rubric Criteria

This is where you define what students will be graded on: - **Draft New Criterion** – Click to manually build a row in your rubric. You’ll be able to name the criterion, define rating levels, and assign point values. Click "Draft New Criterion."

### **Build Rubric Criteria** - Click **Draft New Criterion** to add a new criterion row. - Enter a **Criterion Name** and *optional* **Criterion Description**. - Define the **rating levels** for the criterion (for example, Exceeds, Mastery, Near, Below, No Evidence). - Assign **point values** for each rating level. - Use the **plus (+) button** to add additional rating levels. - Use the **trash icon** to remove rating levels you do not need. - Drag and reorder ratings as needed.

By default, rubric ratings use individual point values. To use point ranges instead, select the Enable Range checkbox \[1\]. Ranges let you assign a rating across multiple point values instead of a single value. When enabled, the first rating (full marks) displays the total point value as a range \[2\]. Each rating shows both a maximum and minimum point value. The maximum value in each range is used as the rating’s point value. Aside from displaying a range, criteria using point ranges function the same as those with individual point values. For example, a rating with a range of 3 to 5 points assigns the full value of 5 points. To change the point value for the rating score, enter the new point value in the Point Range field \[3\].

You can use the drag and drop option to reorder rubric ratings. Click the Move icon \[1\] and then drag and drop the rubric rating into the desired location. To delete a criterion, click the Delete icon \[2\].

Click "Save Criterion" when you're finished.

To create a new criterion, you can either click "Draft New Criterion" OR you can duplicate your previous one by clicking on the "Duplicate Criterion" button. By duplicating, you can just edit the parts of the criterion that have changed instead of having to create everything.

Creating Rubrics with Learning Outcomes--2 Ways

To use learning outcomes in a rubric, you can add them to rubrics in two ways. For the first way, click "Rubrics" in the course navigation.

Click "Create New Rubric."

Click "Create From Outcome."

Open the folder storing the outcome that you want to use.

Once you've selected the outcome that you want to use, click "Import."

If you want to add a second outcome to the rubric, click "Create From Outcome."

Once you've added as many outcomes as you want to your rubric, click "Create Rubric."

The second way that you can create a rubric is in your assignments. Click "Assignments."

Once you're on an assignment needing a rubric, click "Create Rubric."

Click "Create From Outcome."

Click "Find Outcome." Go through the same steps as before.

When finished, click "Create Rubric" to finish your rubric.

Using Previously Created Rubrics

You can also click "Find Rubric" to find a rubric you have previously created.

Once the pop-up box comes up, scroll to find your rubric and select it.

Click "Add" to add the previously created rubric to your assignment.

What’s New in Enhanced Rubrics

- **Drag-and-drop** criteria reordering - **Draft mode** before publishing - **Custom rating order** (High to Low or Low to High) - **Usage tracking** for rubrics across assignments - **Rubric search, sorting, archiving, and copying** - **CSV export/import** for reuse across courses

Additional Notes

- Only one rubric can be used per assignment or discussion. - Rubrics are locked once students begin submitting. - Group Assignments and Mastery Paths are not yet supported.

How To Create a Canvas Rubric

Kirstie Knighton
29 steps
2 minutes

Instructure

Creating a Rubric in an Assignment

Navigate to the assignment you want to add a rubric to.

Underneath the assignment directions, click "Create Rubric."

In the Rubric Name field, give your rubric a clear, descriptive title so that it is easy to recognize later *(for example, Week 2 Reflection Rubric or Capstone Presentation Rubric)*.

**Scoring:** Choose whether the rubric will be scored or not: - **Scored** (default) – Allows you to assign points and total student performance. - **Unscored** – Displays ratings without points.

Add Rubric Criteria

Click "Save Criterion" when you're finished.

Creating Rubrics with Learning Outcomes--2 Ways

To use learning outcomes in a rubric, you can add them to rubrics in two ways. For the first way, click "Rubrics" in the course navigation.

Click "Create New Rubric."

Click "Create From Outcome."

Open the folder storing the outcome that you want to use.

Once you've selected the outcome that you want to use, click "Import."

If you want to add a second outcome to the rubric, click "Create From Outcome."

Once you've added as many outcomes as you want to your rubric, click "Create Rubric."

The second way that you can create a rubric is in your assignments. Click "Assignments."

Once you're on an assignment needing a rubric, click "Create Rubric."

Click "Create From Outcome."

Click "Find Outcome." Go through the same steps as before.

When finished, click "Create Rubric" to finish your rubric.

Using Previously Created Rubrics

You can also click "Find Rubric" to find a rubric you have previously created.

Once the pop-up box comes up, scroll to find your rubric and select it.

Click "Add" to add the previously created rubric to your assignment.

What’s New in Enhanced Rubrics

Additional Notes

- Only one rubric can be used per assignment or discussion. - Rubrics are locked once students begin submitting. - Group Assignments and Mastery Paths are not yet supported.