What are discussion checkpoints?

Checkpoints allow teachers to create separate due dates for the initial response and replies in graded discussions. The initial response and replies are then graded separately, and those grades are combined to form a final discussion grade.

One common use case for this feature is if you want your students to reply to a discussion prompt by a given deadline, but then also reply to other students’ posts by a later date.

For example, for a discussion worth ten points, you could require the students complete two different steps. First, students must post a thoughtful response to your discussion prompt by Friday, earning the student seven of ten total points. Second, students must read and reply to at least one other student’s initial post by that Sunday evening, earning them the final three out of ten total points.

You can require up to ten additional replies.

How do I create a discussion with checkpoints?

If you want to add checkpoints to an existing discussion, you may need to recreate it. Duplicating discussions may work, but can cause unexpected issues, and won’t be compatible with checkpoints if using non-compatible features like Mastery Paths.

Step One: Enable Checkpoints

1. Edit the discussion. This will bring you to the discussion’s “Details” tab. (If you create a new discussion, this page will open by default.)
2. Scroll down to the “Options” section.
3. Check the “Graded” checkbox.
4. Check the “Assign graded checkpoints” checkbox underneath the “Graded” checkbox.

Once you check the “Assign graded checkpoints” checkbox, a new “Checkpoint Settings” section will appear farther down the page. Scroll down the page and fill out the following settings:

• Points Possible: Reply to Topic: Enter the number of points students can earn for posting their initial reply to your discussion prompt.
• Additional Replies Required: Enter the number of times students should interact with other posts. (One initial post and two replies to other students is a common discussion design.)
• Points Possible: Additional Replies: Enter the number of points students can earn for posting the “Additional Replies Required”.

The total number of points students can earn for this discussion will be listed below the checkpoint settings. The “Total Points Possible” total will update automatically as you adjust the three settings.

Consider making a student’s initial reply worth more than the replies to other students, to ensure the student focuses on contributing work. For example, you could make the student’s initial reply worth seven points, and make their subsequent posts be worth three points, so the discussion would be worth ten points total.

Step Two: Assign Due Dates

When using checkpoints, you can assign separate due dates for a student’s initial reply to the discussion topic and their subsequent posts to other students’ replies. Under the “Assignment Settings” section, use the “Reply to Topic Due Date” box to configure a deadline for students’ initial post. Use the “Required Replies Due Date” box to configure a deadline for their replies to other students. Either of these can be left blank.

For example, the screenshot below shows a discussion that requires students post their reply to the discussion prompt by Wednesday. The discussion is then configured to show other posts after the student’s initial post, and they’re required to reply to other students by the end of the week.

How do I grade a discussion with checkpoints?

Grading a discussion with checkpoints is similar to grading any other Canvas discussion, except you can apply a separate grade and grade status to required replies. The student’s grade for this discussion will automatically be calculated as the sum of both their “Reply to Topic” grade and “Required Replies” grade.

Grade the discussion after both checkpoints have passed. This will ensure the student’s grade is accurate, all information you need to grade has been recorded, and the student won’t be confused by a grade that only reflects half of the points they’re able to earn.

Grade Using a Rubric

You can add a rubric to graded discussions in Canvas. If you use a rubric in a discussion with checkpoints enabled, you need to enter the student's scores into the "Reply to Topic" and "Required Replies" fields manually, even if you select rubric ratings. Selected rubric scores will not be auto-filled into the score fields.

Need Help?

Please contact Canvas Support via the Help menu in Canvas or email the UW-Superior Canvas Team.