How do I set up my Canvas gradebook to align to the attendance policy in my syllabus? (Instructors)

The Canvas attendance tool, called Roll Call Attendance, automatically adds an Attendance column to the gradebook that is worth 100 points. Instructors may choose to use the Roll Call Attendance tool and the defaults, but the tool can also be edited to align to syllabus policies. Note that the Roll Call Attendance tool does not include a setting to drop any absences from the grade.
 

The Attendance Tool and Straight Points

This option is best if you calculate grades using straight points (non-weighted) and do not excuse/drop any absences.

1. First add Attendance to your Course Navigation (How do I manage course navigation links?).
2. To change the Attendance assignment to a value other than 100, edit the Roll Call Attendance assignment.
3. Each time you record attendance, the Roll Call Attendance tool will update your students' grades by calculating the running average.

 

The Attendance Tool and Weighting Grades

This option is best if you calculate grades using weighted categories and do not excuse/drop any absences.

1. First add Attendance to your Course Navigation (How do I manage course navigation links?).
2. To change the Attendance assignment to a value other than 100, edit the Roll Call Attendance assignment.
3. In the Assignments area, move the Roll Call Attendance assignment to the correct assignment category (How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?).
4. Each time you record attendance, the Roll Call Attendance tool will update your students' grades by calculating the running average for the Attendance assignment and applying the appropriate weight.

 

The Attendance Tool and Badges

This option is best if you calculate grades using straight points or weighted categories and do excuse/drop absences.

1. First add Attendance to your Course Navigation (How do I manage course navigation links?).
2. To change the Attendance assignment to a value other than 100, edit the Roll Call Attendance assignment.
3. Add a badge called "Dropped Absence" or similar.
4. Each time you record attendance, mark your students "Present" and add the "Dropped Absence" badge for each absence that will not negatively impact their grade. For subsequent absences, mark the student "Absent." The Roll Call Attendance tool will update your students' grades by calculating the running average (but not penalizing for dropped absences) for the Attendance assignment.

 

Tracking Attendance and Awarding/Decrementing Attendance in Two Grade Columns

This option is the most flexible and can meet a variety of needs, including awarding negative points for attendance policies that reduce the total course score.

1. In the Assignments area, create a new assignment called "# of Days Missed" or similar. Set the point value of the assignment to 0 points and the Submission Type to No Submission.
2. In the Gradebook, set all students' points to 0.
3. Throughout the semester, calculate absences in this grade column by manually incrementing the point value for each absence.
4. Create a second grade column called "Attendance Grade" or similar. Enter a grade in this column based off of the "# of Days Missed" column and your attendance policy.