Teaching and Learning Resource Center

Create Microsoft 365 Cloud Assignments

The Microsoft 365 Cloud Assignment gives instructors the opportunity to distribute worksheets or template files to students, and collect them for grading with SpeedGrader. The cloud assignment can be set up by selecting the External Tool submission type.

When students open the assignment, Microsoft 365 will create a copy of the file as the student's submission. Students can open the document in Microsoft 365 and make changes per the assignment instructions. When they are ready to submit the assignment, they can return to the Canvas assignment page and submit the assignment. The copied document is also added to the student's OneDrive folder for the course.

Limitations

The Microsoft 365 integration currently includes a few limitations when creating assignments:

  • You cannot use Microsoft 365 files in an external tool for group assignments.

  • If you want to use a Canvas rubric for the assignment, you must add the rubric before setting the External Tool submission type. To do this:

    • Create the assignment with any other submission type, save the assignment.

    • Add the rubric.

    • Edit the assignment to select the External Tool.

  • If you want your assignment to be moderated, you must set up the moderated assignment before setting the External Tool submission type. If you need to return to the moderate page after the External Tool is added, open the assignment and add /moderate after the assignment URL.

    UX Tip

    If a user is not able to view a file, check the document viewing permissions in Microsoft 365 to ensure that user has the permission to view that document.

You can grade Microsoft 365 assignments in Speedgrader.

For step-by-step directions, see How do I create a cloud assignment with an Microsoft 365 file?