Export grades for the Canvas LMS as a CSV file

Overview

IllumiDesk includes an option to export grades in a generic Comma Separated Values (CSV) format for the Canvas LMS Gradebook. This allows users to export grades from IllumiDesk and import them to the Canvas LMS when the LTI integration option is not available or when grades need to be uploaded to the Canvas LMS Gradebook in bulk.

The steps to export grades from IllumiDesk and import them to the Canvas LMS are summarized as:

- Export the CSV format from the Canvas LMS Course -> Gradebook

- Export grades from the IllumiDesk database as a CSV file

- Upload (import) grades to the Canvas LMS Gradebook within your Course -> Gradebook

1. Export CSV format from the Canvas LMS Gradebook

The goal of this step is to create a file that adheres to the Canvas LMS Gradebook format. This article provides a detailed walk through on how to create the CSV file from the Canvas LMS user interface. You may save the file to any location and name, as long as the command to export grades from IllumiDesk has access to this file.

2. Export Grades from IllumiDesk as a CSV File

The system is ready to export grades after all grading tasks have been completed for your cohort (which could be a combination of auto-graded assignments and manually graded assignments). If you have not completed all grading tasks then complete those first before continuing with the sections below.

Follow these steps to export grades from the IllumiDesk database to a *.csv (default is canvas_grades.csv) file. Run the ild export command to export grades from the database:

ild export \
  --canvas_import=/path/to/my/grades-from-canvas.csv \
  --canvas_export=/path/to/my/grades-for-canvas.csv

By default, the ild export command uses the canvas.csv as the file name to import grades from and the canvas_grades.csv as the exported grades file name. You can override these values with the --canvas_import and the --canvas_export flags to designate the path and file name for the CSV file to import and export, respectively.

If successful, the output in the terminal should look similar to:

[ExportApp | WARNING] No nbgrader_config.py file found (rerun with --debug to see where nbgrader is looking)
[ExportApp | INFO] Using exporter: CanvasCsvExportPlugin
[ExportApp | INFO] Exporting grades to canvas_grades.csv
[ExportApp | INFO] Skipping second row
[ExportApp | INFO] Finding student with ID 358
[ExportApp | INFO] Finding submission of Student '358' for Assignment 'postgres-migration-test'

3. Import (Upload) Grades to the Canvas LMS

The CSV file is ready to upload to the Canvas LMS Gradebook once you have completed exporting grades from IllumiDesk with the ild command. The instructions in this article detail the steps you need to take to upload the CSV file with the exported grades from the IllumiDesk database. However, since you have the grades in the proper format already all you need to do is:

• In Course Navigation, click the Grades link.
• Click the Actions menu and then click the Import button.
• Click the Choose File or Browse button (depending on your browser)
• Locate the CSV file then click the Open button.
• Click the Upload Data button.
• Save Changes