This guide is part of a series on the Moderated Grading tool in Canvas. Other guides in the series are:
- Moderated Grading: Setup and Considerations
- Graders: How to mark assignments when moderated grading is enabled
This guide is for staff who are responsible for managing assignments that use Moderated grading in Canvas.
This may include:
- Unit Coordinators who have appointed someone else as the moderator
- Unit Coordinators who are the moderator
- Staff who need to oversee the marking workflow and finalise grades
It explains:
- The key setup considerations that affect moderation
- How markers’ actions influence the moderation process
- How to find and use the Moderation Panel
- How to finalise and release grades correctly
- Known issues and how to avoid delays
1. Before Marking Begins: Understanding the Setup
Moderated grading setup should already be complete before marking starts.
As part of setup, you will have:
- Chosen the number of graders (maximum 10)
- Decided anonymisation and visibility preferences
- Selected the moderator (the person who determines the final grade)
Why the number of graders matters
The number of graders you set is strictly enforced.
- If someone enters SpeedGrader who is not meant to mark, they still occupy a grader seat (think of it like musical chairs).
- If all seats are used, other graders will be able to see papers but will be unable to:
- Add feedback
- Enter grades
This often appears to markers as a “greyed out” SpeedGrader.
Fixing grader seat issues
- If you have not hit the maximum of 10, you can increase the grader number in the assignment settings.
- If you have reached 10, seats cannot be freed.
- You must pair markers together or adjust workflow because there is no way to remove a grader who has already accessed SpeedGrader.
2. What Markers Can and Cannot See
Markers see a private view of each submission.
They cannot see:
- Other markers’ feedback
- Other markers’ grades
This ensures blind double marking and prevents bias.
Unit Coordinators who are not moderators are also restricted. They:
- Cannot view all markers’ feedback
- Cannot see the moderation workflow until it is complete
Only the moderator can see all grades and all feedback in one place.
3. Performing Moderation (For Moderators Only)
If you are the moderator:
Step 1 — Locate the Moderation Panel
- Go to the assignment in Canvas
- Click Moderate (this appears only if you are the assigned moderator)
You will see:
- Student names/numbers down the left
- Marker names across the top
- A grid showing each marker’s grade for each student
- A Final Grade column on the far right
Step 2 — Review marker work
Click any grade cell to:
- View the annotated submission
- Read the marker’s feedback
- Compare marking across graders
Important limitations for moderators
- You cannot edit any marker’s feedback
- You can only:
- Select one marker’s grade and feedback
- Enter a custom grade with your own feedback
If you enter a custom grade:
- All grader feedback is hidden from students
- Only your feedback is shown
This is expected behaviour.
4. Choosing the Final Grade
For each student:
- Review the grades submitted by each marker
- Review the feedback
- Decide which one is the most accurate and appropriate
- Either:
- Select that grade and feedback, or
- Enter a custom final grade and your own feedback
The chosen result appears in the Final Grade column.
Continue until every student has a final grade assigned.
5. Accepting the Grades
Once you have reviewed all students:
Step 1 — Accept Grades
This locks in the grades in the moderation panel.
After this:
- You cannot edit anything in the moderation panel
- Only your chosen feedback will be visible to students (when released)
Step 2 — Release (Post) Grades
Accepting grades does not release them to students.
You must:
- Release the grades to the Gradebook, and
- If anonymous marking is enabled, post grades as a separate action
Only after both steps are complete will students see their results.
6. If Grades Need to Be Changed Later
Once grades are accepted in the moderation panel:
- The moderation panel becomes locked for everyone except the moderator
- You cannot change marks in the moderation panel (even if you are the moderator)
- Any mark changes must be made in the Gradebook
This is expected behaviour.
7. Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
7.1 Unit Coordinator cannot post grades
If:
- The Unit Coordinator is not the moderator, and
- They try to release grades
They may be blocked from posting grades.
Solution:
The moderator must post the grades.
7.2 Secondary Teachers cannot moderate
A staff member with the Secondary Teacher role cannot:
- Access the Moderation Panel
- Post grades
- Release grades
- Serve as a moderator (they can be chosen, but the “Moderate” button is locked)
They must be upgraded in Campus Solutions to a Teacher role, please speak to your Curriculum and Programme teams to enable this.
7.3 Cadmus interference
If Cadmus is used:
- The Moderation button may disappear for the moderator
- This makes navigating the moderation panel difficult or impossible
Avoid combining Cadmus with moderated marking.
7.4 No ability to remove graders
Once someone accesses SpeedGrader, they occupy a grader seat permanently.
This cannot be undone.
7.5 Needing urgent help
The eLearning team has a special system role that can see the moderation panel if required.
This should be used only as a last resort as it may take time to solve the problem.
8. Recommendations for a Smooth Moderated Marking Process
- Practise the workflow in a test assignment before using it with real students (speak to the eLearning team if you would like to do this)
- Ensure your moderator has the correct role and Campus Solutions access
- Avoid using Cadmus with moderated marking
- Set the grader number higher than expected (up to 10)
- Brief markers clearly on anonymisation and workflow
- Allow extra time in the schedule for the moderation step
- Communicate to students when to expect results