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Assignments vs. Activities

In Canvas, there are three types of interactive content -- Discussions, Quizzes and Assignments. The infographic below is extremely helpful in distinguishing between assignments (usually graded) and activities (always ungraded).

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Photo: Assignments vs. Activities

Discussions are similar to discussion forums or message boards. Conversations can be threaded or unthreaded. As teachers, you have the ability to pin (feature) or close discussion topics.

Under the discussions tab, you will see:

All graded discussions
All ungraded discussions

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Quizzes is used as the 'catch-all' phrase to mean assessments, evaluations, surveys, quizzes, tests, exams, etc. Canvas labels these assessments as Quizzes.

Under the Quizzes tab, you will see:

All unpublished quizzes
All graded quizzes
All ungraded quizzes (which Canvas refers to as 'practice' quizzes)
All surveys

Assignments are any free-form assignments that do not function as a discussion or quiz. Also, any graded discussion or quiz is also considered an assignment. When you create an assignment in Canvas you choose whether it will just be a placeholder for work students do in class, turn in on paper, or whether students will electronically turn in work to the Canvas assignment.

Under the Assignments tab, you will see:

All graded free-style assignments
All ungraded free-style assignments
Any graded discussions
Any graded quizzes

To Grade or Not To Grade...

Any graded assignment, discussion or quiz will automatically have a gradebook column. Any un-graded assignment, discussion or quiz will NOT have a gradebook column. Simple as that.

When you create a GRADED activity (i.e. an assignment, discussion or quiz), you will have the following assignment details to determine and options to choose from:

- - Point value
  - Deadlines*: due date, availability from and until
  - Grading Type: points, letter grade, complete/incomplete, percentage, etc.
  - Submission Type: No submission, Online, On Paper, etc.
  - Group Assignment options
  - Peer Review options

*Remember your grades sync to TAC. If you do not want the grade to sync to TAC, you need to uncheck the box. Untitled presentation.jpg