Canvas Update: Multiple Due Dates for Discussions 

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Canvas has brought a new and highly useful update to discussions – instructors are now able to set separate due dates for initial responses and additional responses. This update released January 18, and the change isn’t limited to just due dates. Instructors can also set separate point values for initial responses and additional responses.  

Does this feature work with EVERYTHING in Canvas? 

Before we jump into the “how,” there’s a couple of restrictions for where, when, and how this new feature can be used.  

1. Checkpoints currently cannot be used with Course Pacing, Moderated Grading, Curved Grades, Restrict Quantitative Data, or Mastery Paths – but Canvas is looking at adding support for those areas in the future 
2. A rubric can be used with checkpoints, but the “use this rubric for assignment grading” (where the score of the rubric is automatically submitted for the assignment score) setting cannot be used 
3. Only a single rubric can be used for a discussion with checkpoints – you cannot have separate rubrics for an initial response and additional responses 
4. Discussion checkpoints will not show up in the bulk edit due dates (“edit assignment dates” on the assignments page) and dates cannot be modified there 
5. Discussion checkpoint dates can be shifted through the “adjust events and due dates” option when importing a course from one semester to the next
6. Discussion checkpoints will show up individually on the calendar, but you cannot drag and drop them to change the due date 
7. Discussion checkpoints can only be used with graded, threaded discussions 

Setting up discussion checkpoints 

Using discussion checkpoints is simple – you only need to toggle on one setting, then add the points and due dates for the checkpoints! 

In the settings page for a discussion, scroll down to the “Options” section and select “Assign graded checkpoints” (discussions must be graded to use multiple checkpoints, so if you don’t see this feature, make sure you have the box for “Graded” checked).  

Turning on graded checkpoints instantly updates the rest of the settings page – there’s no longer a total points box directly under the main settings because that is controlled under “Checkpoint Settings.” In this section, set the number of points possible for the initial reply, the additional replies required, and the points possible for the additional replies. When setting the point value for additional replies, it’s important to note that the number you need to enter is the total of points possible for all additional replies together – it is not the number of points for each additional reply.  

Once you have your points set, you can move on to adding in the due dates themselves! Under “Assignment Settings,” the due date is now split into two different fields – add the date and time each is due, and you’re good to go!  

What does this look like for instructors and students?  

Modules & Assignments pages 

On these pages, instructors will see the due date for the initial reply as well as the number and due date for the additional replies just below the name of the assignment.  

On the student side of things, the info is broken out a bit more to make the checkpoints extra obvious. 

Discussions page 

Here, the layout is the same for both instructors and students – the information is presented in the standard space for the due date and time, just with the extra details of the separated due dates. 

But how does this work with SpeedGrader?  

SpeedGrader is mostly laid out in the exact same way – you can view the discussion and replies in the left portion of the window. In the grading panel, however, you have buttons you can use to move between the different student replies to easily view them. Additionally, you now have additional boxes (one for each checkpoint) to enter grades in and status drop-downs for each. Enter the grade for each checkpoint, and Canvas will add them together and auto-populate the “Current Total” box.  

It’s important to know that for Canvas to count a reply as an additional reply, the student must reply to an existing reply on the discussion. Additional replies to the discussion prompt itself do not count as “required replies.” Students, however, can reply to their own initial reply to have additional replies count properly.  

There’s a lot going on with this new update, but it will be useful for both instructors and students alike. Have further questions about this feature? Check out Canvas’s Checkpoints FAQ document or use the “Help” menu in Canvas to chat with Canvas Support!