Gradescope is a feedback and assessment tool that reduces the time associated with grading exams, homework, and other assignments. At WSE, Gradescope is available through the university’s institutional license and can be integrated with Canvas to support a more streamlined course workflow. Through the Canvas integration, instructors can launch Gradescope from their Canvas course, sync course rosters, link assignments, and export grades to the Canvas gradebook.
Setting Up Gradescope in Canvas
Step 1: Open Your Canvas Course
Log in to Canvas and go to the course where you want to use Gradescope.
Step 2: Access Gradescope from Course Navigation
In the left-hand course menu, select Gradescope.
If you do not see a Gradescope link in the course navigation:
- Go to Settings
- Open the Navigation tab
- Locate Gradescope in the hidden items list
- Drag it into the visible course navigation area
- Click Save
Step 3: Link the Course
The first time you open Gradescope from Canvas, you will be prompted to link your Canvas course to Gradescope.
You will usually see options to:
- Link to an existing Gradescope course
- Create a new Gradescope course
Once linked, Canvas and Gradescope will be connected for that course.
Note: Recommendation is to create a new Gradescope course even if you are re-using assignments from a different semester.
Syncing the Roster
After linking the course, sync the roster so that enrollments in Canvas are reflected in Gradescope.
To Sync the Roster
- Open Gradescope from within Canvas
- Go to the course in Gradescope
- Select Roster
- Click Sync Canvas Roster
This imports enrolled students from Canvas into Gradescope.
When to Sync Again
You should re-sync the roster when:
- Students add or drop the course
- Enrollment changes are made in Canvas
- A student appears missing in Gradescope
Roster sync is not always automatic, so it is a good idea to run it again after major enrollment activity.
Creating and Linking Assignments
Assignments must be linked correctly for students to launch them from Canvas and to sync grades back to Canvas.
In Canvas select Assignments from the course navigation menu.
When you choose Gradescope, it will give you a Gradescope dialog box for creating a new Assignment or linking an existing one. It then allows you to do the initial set up for the Gradescope Assignment in that popup.
From here you can choose what assignment type you would like to create.
Once you finish configuring the assignment name and dates, Canvas returns you to the Assignments page.
To continue creating and customizing the assignment (like creating an outline) in the Gradescope workflow, select the Canvas assignment name to open it.
The settings you can configure depend on the assignment type you select. For an overview of assignment types and their settings, see Assignment Settings Overview.
Make sure the assignment is published in Canvas. On the Assignments page, locate the relevant assignment and select the Publish icon.
Grading Submissions
Launch your Gradescope assignment from your Canvas account:
- Navigate to your course, select Gradescope in the left sidebar, and then select your assignment.
- Once the Gradescope assignment launches, select Grade Submissions in the left sidebar of Gradescope to start grading.
- Once you do that, the process for grading is the same for Canvas, please refer to this detailed article on Grading Submissions. Once you've finished grading, see the next section for posting grades.
Posting Grades
- Make sure you've synced your roster and linked your assignments before attempting to post grades.
- When you've finished grading submissions, you will be taken to Gradescope's Grading Dashboard for the assignment.
- Expand the left sidebar in Gradescope (if it isn't already) and select Review Grades.
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Then, on the Review Grades page, select the Post Grades to Canvas button. A dialog box will appear explaining how grades will be pushed from Gradescope to Canvas.
Posting grades to Canvas only sends the raw scores to Canvas. Students will not be able to view their graded submissions, question-by-question scores, rubrics, or feedback in Gradescope until grades are published. See step 5.- For fully graded submissions, only the overall score will be posted to your Canvas Gradebook. These assignments will have a checkmark next to them on the Review Grades page (indicating they have been posted) in Gradescope.
- For fully graded submissions, only the overall score will be posted to your Canvas Gradebook. These assignments will have a checkmark next to them on the Review Grades page (indicating they have been posted) in Gradescope.
- To have students also see their graded, annotated submissions, question-by-question scores, rubrics, and feedback on Gradescope, select the Publish Grades.
Additional Materials
Gradescope Instructor Resource Hub