When you use the Attendance tool in Canvas, it automatically creates an assignment titled “Roll Call Attendance” and adds a column to the Gradebook.

Enabling the Attendance Tool

Note: The Attendance assignment will not appear until you have taken roll for at least one student.

Caution: Do not delete, rename, or unpublish the Roll Call Attendance assignment.

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Instructors can use the Roll Call Attendance assignment in three ways:

• Have it count directly as an assignment.
  • Students will see a score for the Roll Call Assignment in their Grades.
  • A student’s individual attendance report is available to them.

 

• Have it reflect a score but not be counted toward the students’ grade.
  • Students will see a score for the Roll Call Assignment in their Grades.
  • A student’s individual attendance report is available to them.

 

• Have it removed from the Gradebook completely.
  • Students will not see the Roll Call Assignment in their Grades.
  • A student’s individual attendance report is available to them.

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A student's view of their individual attendance report. 

 

Roll Call Attendance as a graded assignment

In this scenario, a grade is calculated based on the number of days a student is marked present divided by the total number of days attendance is taken. This grade is calculated into the student’s grade the same as any other assignment.

Steps

• This is the default mode and no further action is required.

 

Roll Call Attendance is scored but not calculated as a grade

In this scenario, students receive a score for the Roll Call Attendance, but that grade is not calculated into the student’s grade for the course.

Steps

1. Click on Attendance in the course menu.
   
    
2. Click the Settings icon.
   
    
3. Select Roll Call Settings.
   
    
4. Select the Do not count attendance toward final grade checkbox.
   
    

 

Note: Excluding an assignment from the final grade can also be managed from the assignment settings. However, it is recommended to manage the setting in Roll Call settings as described here.

 

Roll Call Attendance is removed from Gradebook.

In this scenario, there is no grade or score associated with the Roll Call Attendance assignment.

Steps

1. Click on Assignments in the course menu.
   
    
2. Click on the three vertical dots to the right of the Roll Call Attendance assignment.
   
   
   Note: The Attendance assignment will not appear until you have taken roll for at least one student.
    
3. Select Edit
   
    
4. Select More Options
   
    
5. Change the setting for Display Grade as to Not Graded