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Canvas@Illinois, Using and grading Discussion Checkpoints

Use Discussion Checkpoints on graded discussions in Canvas to apply two due dates (for example, a due date for an initial post and a separate due date for replies).

Discussion Checkpoints can be used to define two due dates of activities commonly used in online discussions. For example, many courses require an initial post as well as a number of replies with separate due dates. Checkpoints will allow you to add two due dates to the discussion board. 

If you're interested in using Discussion Checkpoints, please note the following:

  • Checkpoints can only be used on graded discussions.
  • Rubrics added to checkpointed discussions will not auto-populate points for grading (rubrics can still be used but you'll manually need to enter scores in the grading fields).
  • If your gradebook has missing or late policies enabled, checkpoints may complicate your grading. Be sure to test how grades may be impacted!
  • In the Canvas Student mobile app, Discussion Checkpoint due dates do not display in modules or in student to-do lists (but this is on Instructure's roadmap for development later this year).
  • If your course uses DesignPLUS module lists, the checkpoint due dates do not display in the module list (Cidi Labs is aware of this issue and is working on a solution).

Instructions

These instructions will focus only on the aspects related to Checkpoints but be sure to edit any other settings (such as the Topic Title, Topic Content, etc.) when you're editing the discussion board.

  1. In edit mode of a discussion topic, enable the Graded checkbox (in the Options section).
  2. Enable the Assign graded checkpoints checkbox.
    Options section of discussion settings with blue box around enabled "Graded" and "Assign graded checkpoints" settings
  3. Scroll down to the Checkpoints Settings section and update the following settings:
    • Points Possible: Reply to Topic (this will be the points possible for the "initial post")
    • Additional Replies Required (this refers to the minimum number of reply posts; allows up to 10)
    • Points Possible: Additional Replies (this will be the total number of points possible for any reply posts)
      Checkpoint Settings of a discussion with blue arrows pointing to the Points Possible: Reply to Topic, Additional Replies Required, and Points Possible: Additional Replies sections
  4. Confirm the Total Points Possible is equal to the total points possible you want for the assignment (this is an automatic sum of the points possible fields)
    Checkpoint settings example demonstrating the Total Points Possible displaying the sum of "Points Possible: Reply to Topic" and "Points Possible: Additional Replies"
  5. Under Assignment Settings, enter due dates and times for Reply to Topic Due Date (initial post) and Required Replies Due Date (reply posts).
    Assign To section with a blue arrow pointing to and blue boxes surrounding the due date entry fields for Reply to Topic Due Date and Required Replies Due Date.
  6. Once all edits to the discussion topic are done, select either the Save or Save and Publish buttons.

What will grading look like?

When you're ready to grade a discussion with checkpoints, you'll notice two grading fields in SpeedGrader. You'll note the following in the screenshot below:

  1. Reply to Topic: Here you can enter points for the reply to topic/initial post and mark the status as late, missing, excused, or extended (if needed) in the drop down menu.
  2. Required Replies: Here you can enter points for the required replies/responses to others in the discussion board and optionally mark the status as late, missing, excused, or extended (if needed) in the drop down menu.
  3. Current Total: The current total will automatically update based on points entered in "Reply to Topic" and "Required Replies" fields.
  4. View Rubric button: If a rubric is used for grading the discussion, you'll note the button to expand the rubric to use it and enter comments within the rubric. Be aware, however, of the alert below the button stating that rubrics will not auto-populate grades for checkpoints--so you must remember to enter the total in the Current Total field (separate from the rubric)!

SpeedGrader example of a checkpointed discussion with separate fields for Reply to Topic and Requried Replies, a Current Total Field, and a View Rubric button with an alert that rubrics do not auto-populate the grades for checkpoints.

How do students see checkpoint due dates?

From Modules

Once a discussion with checkpoints is saved in the course, students will see the two due dates in a couple of places. If the discussion topic is added to the Modules page, students will see 3 items related to the discussion (similar to how peer review assignments display in modules):

Example module page with a discussion using checkpoints. Letters A-C point toward different areas to be aware of and each item is described in the list below the image.

  1. Link to Discussion: The first item is what typically displays for any discussion (with a dialog/chat icon, a link to the discussion topic, and total points)
  2. Reply to Topic: This item is not clickable but will display the due date for the reply to topic/initial post. It is automatically slightly indented with an arrow indicating that it's related to the discussion above.
  3. Required Replies (#): This item is not clickable but will display the due date for any required replies. In the example screenshot, 2 replies are required so a "2" appears in parenthesis. Below it, you'll see the due date for these required replies and it is also indented with an arrow to show it's related to the discussion above.

From Discussion Page

When looking at the actual discussion page, students will see a link to View Due Dates. Selecting the link will open a tray on the right side of the screen that displays the due dates and required number of reply posts.

On an example discussion, a blue box surrounds the View Due Dates link with an arrow pointing to the expanded Due Dates tray on the right with a blue dashed box surrounding due date information.

From To Do List

When students access your course site, the right side of the home page will always display a To Do list (a list of upcoming assignments). Below is an example of what students will see for a discussion with checkpoints (with separate links and due dates for the reply to topic/initial post and required replies).

Example home page with a blue arrow pointing to a blue box surrounding the To Do List showing two links related to the Checkpoints Example discussion and separate due dates for Reply to Topic and Required Replies.

Additional resources:

The following links are from the Instructure Community (provided by the company that makes Canvas):


Keywords:
canvas, discussion, checkpoints, checkpoint, check points, due dates, due date 
Doc ID:
153053
Owned by:
Canvas G. in University of Illinois Technology Services
Created:
2025-07-07
Updated:
2025-07-16
Sites:
University of Illinois Technology Services