Electronic exams in Canvas offer several advantages over Scantron and Blue Book exams. For example, it is much easier to read student writing on an electronic exam. Today’s students are use to composing on a keyboard, so it no surprise their penmanship is not always legible. And because students are so proficient with their laptops, it is likely they will compose higher quality writing during an electronic exam. There are other benefits to using electronic exams in Canvas. The Speedgrader feature allows instructors to type responses more efficiently, providing substantive feedback when appropriate. Multiple choice and true/false type questions are graded automatically and sent directly to the gradebook. Exams and grades are preserved for future reference—for example, the next time a student asks for a letter of recommendation. Electronic exams can replace Scantrons and Blue Books, saving faculty and staff a substantial amount of time.

LSA has also added a security feature to Canvas that can lock down the testing environment and preserve academic integrity.

This workshop will introduce participants to the various question types and settings available in Canvas. Participants will also get to explore more advanced features in Canvas, including embedding images and media, setting timed exams and allowing for student accommodations, grading essay questions, and enabling the LockDown Browser. This session is recommended for anyone who wants to learn more the testing features in Canvas; therefore, it is suitable for both faculty and support staff.