The Learning Mastery Gradebook provides instructors with a visual summary of student achievement on course learning outcomes. Unlike the Canvas Gradebook, which displays assignment grades, the Learning Mastery Gradebook displays outcome achievement and shows how student performance compares to the mastery levels configured for Montana State University.

How Learning Mastery Gradebook Results Are Determined

Learning Mastery Gradebook uses assessment evidence from assignments, quizzes, discussions, and rubric criteria that have been aligned to learning outcomes.

The process is:

Assessment Evidence → Outcome Score → Mastery Rating

  1. Student(s) complete assessments aligned to course learning outcomes.
  2. Canvas calculates an outcome score based on the aligned assessment criteria.
  3. Canvas compares the outcome score to the mastery levels configured in Canvas.
  4. Canvas displays the corresponding mastery indicator when the score matches a configured mastery level.

Learning Mastery Gradebook vs. Canvas Gradebook

Canvas Gradebook Learning Mastery Gradebook
Displays assignment grades Displays learning outcome achievement
Answers: “What score did the student earn?” Answers: “Has the student demonstrated the outcome?”
Focuses on individual assignments Focuses on skills, competencies, and learning outcomes
Uses points, percentages, and grading schemes Uses outcome scores and mastery ratings

Understanding Outcome Scores and Mastery Indicators

When viewing the Learning Mastery Gradebook, you may see either a number or a visual indicator. These represent two parts of the same process.

Outcome Score

An outcome score is the numeric value Canvas calculates for a learning outcome.

  • It is not an assignment grade.
  • It represents the evidence Canvas uses to determine student achievement.
  • It may be based on one assessment or multiple assessments aligned to the same outcome.

Example:

  1. An outcome uses a 1–4 scoring scale.
  2. A student earns an outcome score of 3.
  3. Canvas compares that score to the configured mastery levels.
  4. Canvas displays the corresponding mastery indicator.

The outcome score is the evidence. The mastery indicator shows what that score means.

Mastery Indicators

Mastery indicators are the colors and icons displayed in the Learning Mastery Gradebook. They represent the outcome rating level configured by Montana State University.

Indicator Meaning
blue bullseye icon Blue indicator Highest mastery rating level configured by MSU
green dot Green indicator Mastery rating level configured by MSU
yellow circle half filled Yellow indicator Developing or approaching mastery
empty red circle Red indicator Below mastery expectations
black circle with diagonal slash Blank indicator with slash Canvas does not have enough outcome evidence to calculate a mastery rating
empty light grey dotted circle Faded/dotted indicator The outcome exists, but there is not enough completed evidence yet to determine mastery

Note: The exact labels, colors, and thresholds are determined by MSU’s configured outcome rating scale.

Why Might I See a Number Instead of an Indicator?

Canvas displays a mastery indicator when the outcome score can be matched to a configured mastery level.

You may see a number instead when Canvas is displaying the calculated outcome score instead of a mastery indicator. This may occur when:

  • The outcome has been assessed multiple times and Canvas calculates a combined score.
  • The calculated score does not match exactly to one of the configured mastery levels.
  • There is not enough information for Canvas to determine a mastery rating.

For example, a student may have an outcome score of 2.7. Because that score falls between configured mastery levels, Canvas may display the number rather than assign a specific mastery indicator.

Why Might Students Have Different Indicators?

Different indicators may appear because students have different outcome states:

  • The student has enough aligned assessment evidence for Canvas to calculate a mastery rating.
  • The student's outcome score maps to a configured mastery level.
  • The outcome has not yet received enough aligned assessment evidence.
  • No aligned assessment data is available.

Relationship to Canvas Insights

The Learning Mastery Gradebook and Canvas Insights work together but serve different purposes.

Learning Mastery Gradebook Canvas Insights
Course-level view Program/term-level view
Shows student achievement of outcomes Shows trends and patterns across outcome data
Helps instructors evaluate learning outcomes Helps identify areas for analysis and improvement

 

Use the Learning Mastery Gradebook to understand individual course outcome achievement. Use Canvas Insights to explore broader trends across courses and programs.

Additional Resources

For information about viewing outcome results in the Learning Mastery Gradebook, see:

How do I use the Learning Mastery Gradebook to view outcome results in a course from the Gradebook?

For information about analyzing outcome data across courses, see:

Canvas Insights

Questions or Support

For assistance with Canvas Outcomes, Learning Mastery Gradebook, or Canvas Insights, contact the ECAT Team at ecat@montana.edu