Navigating weighted assignments for Re-sits
This article will provide options and guidance on how to weight assignments with consideration for Resits, so that the Total in the Canvas gradebook reflects the mark that will be returned.
Option 1: Allowing Re-submissions
The simplest way of accounting for students who resit assignments is to allow a re-submission to the original assignment.
This is best done for Canvas assignments, rather than full Turnitin assignments (created using the original integration accessed via the three stacked dots in Assignments), as the original submission and any feedback and marks will remain available from the dropdown menu in Speedgrader.
If you choose to allow a re-submission to a full Turnitin assignment as described above, download the pdf copy for your records that will include feedback and marks given.
When a student resubmits and the assignment is marked again, the Total will calculate according to the same weighting that applied to the original assignment.
Note: any assignments using Turnitin Framework within a Canvas assignment (new integration option) will retain the original submission in Speedgrader. It is only the full Turnitin integration in which a new submission overrides the original submission.
When using this method, it is good practice to use the Notes column in the gradebook to indicate that the student resubmitted, and that the original can be found via the dropdown menu for your records and ease of access in some cases with external examiners.
Option 2: Creating a new Assignment (or Assignments)
In cases where it is preferable to have a separate assignment, and therefore a separate column, some changes will be made to the assignments group weighting.
Step 1: If the original assignment(s) are in an assignment group with any other assignment, you must now create separate assignment groups for each assignment.
As an example, the assignments might originally have been grouped like the image below, in which the final exam is composed of three separate written components, which were grouped in the 'Final Exam' assignment group.
After performing step 1, the assignments will be in their own assignment groups, as in the image below.
You must also distribute the weight of the assignment group equally across the new ones. In the example, the three assignments together are worth 60% of the total mark. Therefore, you must distribute that 60% across all three new assignment groups, so that each are 20%.
Step 2: Create the new assignment(s). You can duplicate the existing one, if you wish to keep the information otherwise the same, and update the due date.
The new assignment should sit in the same assignment group as the original assignment.
Step 3: Edit each assignment group to drop the lowest score.
Edit is accessed by clicking the three stacked dots at the far right on each assignment group.
Now, when you mark the resit submission, should it earn a higher score than the original, it will be reflected in the Total.
If the re-submission is lower, the original submission will be reflected in the total.
For more information about Assignment Groups and weighting in Canvas, please visit Canvas's guide at this link.
Canvas chat may also be helpful for guidance.