Canvas: Canvas Outcomes Introduction for Faculty (UNH)

Summary

This article outlines the steps to add Outcomes to a Canvas course, and it explains how to apply those Outcomes to a rubric in an assessment.  In addition, it outlines how to apply, how to create, and how to view Outcomes in the Learning Mastery Gradebook.

General Information

This article explains how to attach Outcomes to your Canvas course. Below are the instructions that outline this process. Once your program outcomes have been added at the Canvas account level by your department, follow the steps in this article. To find out more about Outcomes added to the Canvas account level, visit SharePoint Canvas Outcomes site

 

Steps

1 - Adjust Course Dates to ensure that there is adequate time to complete the Canvas Outcomes assessment.

2 - Bring Outcomes into the course

3 - Create rubric with Outcomes

4 - Review assignment using the rubric

5 - Turn on Learning Mastery Gradebook

6 - Show Learning Mastery Gradebook

 

 

 

1 - Adjust Course Dates to ensure that there is adequate time to complete the Canvas Outcomes assessment. 

UNH Canvas courses close 4 weeks after the end of the semester and will be in a "Read Only" mode.  You will not be able to make any updates to a course that is set to "Read Only".  If you are applying outcomes after the course is closed, you can re-open the course and set a new close date.    Here is an article that explains more about the post term course access. Post Term course access

Follow these steps to reopen the course.

  1. In the Canvas course, go to Settings, scroll down to Participation.
  2. The Participation setting is most likely set to Term with the semester start and end dates.
  3. To change the course dates, first select the drop down for Term and change it to Course.
  4. Re-enter the Start date as the date previously listed in this course using the format - Month, Date, Year (Example- May 26,2026) the time should default to 12 AM.
  5. Enter in the End Date that allows you time to update the Outcomes using the same date format.
  6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Update Course Details.

 

 

Back to Steps List

 

2 -  Bring Outcomes into the course

If the Outcomes have already been created and added to the Canvas account level, then the next step is to bring the Outcomes into the course. They can then be added to a rubric and used for evaluation. The following steps detail how to locate and add the outcome to the course.

Add Outcomes 

  1. Go to the course you want to work on and click Outcomes in the left-hand course menu.
  2. Click the Find button in the top right corner of the screen to search for the Outcomes that have been loaded at the university account level.
  3. On the left side under Outcome Groups select the "twisty" to expand the option. 
  4. Select University of NH Main Campus and then expand the folder that to locate your department's Outcomes.
  5. Locate the desired Outcome and select Add to add it to your course.
  6. Select Done when you've added all the desired Outcomes.
  7. Return to the course and go to Rubrics or Assignments

 

Back to Steps List

 

3 - Create rubric with Outcomes

The option you follow in this step is determined by whether or not the assignment already has a Rubric associated with it.  

Option #1  Assignment with an existing Rubric

  1. Go to the Assignment
  2. Select the Pencil icon to edit the Rubric.
  3. Select Create From Outcome.
  4. Select the Outcome folder to expand the outcomes.
  5. Select the desired Outcomes to add to the Rubric.  
  6. Remove the check from the "Use this criterion for scoring".    (Failure to remove this check box will result in the criterion applying points to the already graded assessment)
  7. Select Import.
  8. Repeat until all desired criterion have been added to the Rubric.
  9. Select Save Rubric.

Option #2  Assignment doesn't have a Rubric associated to it.

  1. Go to the Assignment
  2. Select Create Rubric.
  3. Enter a name for the Rubric in the Rubric Name field
  4. Select Create From Outcome.
  5. Select the Outcome folder to expand the outcomes.
  6. Select the desired Outcomes to add to the Rubric.  
  7. Remove the check from the "Use this criterion for scoring".    (Failure to remove this check box will result in the criterion applying points to the already graded assessment)
  8. Select Import.
  9. Repeat until all desired criterion have been added to the Rubric.
  10. Select Save Rubric.

Note:  To remove the "Use this criterion for scoring" after it's been added to a Rubric, you have to remove the entire criterion from the Rubric.  Then re-add the Criterion to the Rubric and make sure to uncheck the "Use this criterion for scoring"

Back to Steps List

 

4 - Review assignment using the rubric

Now it's time to review the assignment using the Outcome you set up inside your rubric.

  1. Go to the Speedgrader for the Assignment you are evaluating.
  2. Locate the Rubric.
  3. Locate the Outcome and select the appropriate mastery rating. 
  4. Select Submit Assessment.
  5. Move on to the next student.

Back to Steps List

 

5 - Turn on Learning Mastery Gradebook

Now that you have finished grading, let's turn on the Learning Mastery Gradebook

  1. In the course, go to Settings in the course menu.
  2. Select Feature Options at the top of the Settings page.
  3. Locate Learning Mastery Gradebook in the list and make sure it's enabled.   (A white check mark in a green circle indicates it's enabled) 
  4. If it's not on, select the X and then select Enabled.    The change is automatically saved.

Back to Steps List

 

6 - Show Learning Mastery Gradebook

Go to the Gradebook to view Learning Master Gradebook.  

  1. In the course menu, select Grade link.
  2. In top left select Gradebook Drop-Down to change  from the traditional Gradebook view to Learning Mastery Gradebook view.
  3. In this view you will see the students and their assessments with the assigned Outcomes. 

Back to Steps List

 

 

 

Further Readings

SharePoint Canvas Outcomes site

Need additional help?

Instructors - for Canvas Extend questions or support, use the Canvas Request Form or visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For other issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.  

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