Extempore now keeps assessments linked across course sections, so they sync back to Canvas or Schoology as a single gradebook column instead of one column per section. This reduces duplicate assignments and simplifies grading and exports.
Note: This applies only to teachers using Canvas or Schoology, and only to courses that have multiple sections.
Why was I seeing multiple columns in my gradebook?
If you teach multiple sections of the same course in Canvas or Schoology, you may have previously noticed:
The same assignment appearing multiple times in your gradebook
One column per section (Period 1, Period 2, etc.)
Extra work when exporting grades, since you had to manually combine columns
This was a common point of confusion — and it's now been resolved.
What caused this
Canvas and Schoology allow a single course to contain multiple sections (like different class periods). Unlike other LMS integrations, when syncing with Extempore, each section was treated as its own separate class. That meant:
Each section had its own version of an assessment
Each version synced back to the gradebook separately
The result: what felt like one assignment showed up as several gradebook columns, creating extra work when grading or exporting data.
What's changed
As of April 8, 2026, Extempore automatically links assessments across sections so they behave as a single assignment in your LMS gradebook. Behind the scenes, linked assessments share the same Source ID, which allows them to sync back as one unified assignment instead of several.
How it works
Teachers using sections through Canvas or Schoology will see an icon next to the class or section name inside Extempore, indicating that the classes are linked.
Create or import an assessment in any linked class or section, then click Save.
The copy assessment pop-up appears automatically, with the linked sections already selected.
Confirm the copy. This links all versions together under the same Source ID.
Extempore handles the rest. The LMS receives all linked copies as a single assignment.
Once an assessment has been copied or imported across sections, an icon will confirm it's linked:
A blue branch icon indicates the section where the assessment originated.
A yellow link icon indicates the assessment was copied into that class.
What you'll see now
Before:
Assignment – Period 1
Assignment – Period 2
Assignment – Period 3
Now:
✅ One assignment column across all sections
What you need to do
Just follow your normal process — create or import your assessment, and confirm the copy when prompted. Extempore takes care of the rest automatically.
Note: This update only affects assessments created, copied, or imported on or after April 8, 2026. Older assessments that were already split into multiple gradebook columns can't be retroactively relinked.
Still have questions?
If something doesn't look right, or you're unsure how your sections are connected, reach out to your administrator or the Extempore support team — we're happy to help.
FAQ
Q: What if I create an assessment inside a section instead of the primary course?
A: No problem — the same process applies. Creating an assessment from a section works the same way as creating it from the primary course.Q: What if I copy or import an assessment into the main course or a section after the fact?
A: Click the copy icon on the assessment, and you'll see the same pop-up that displays automatically when creating a new assessment.Q: What if I want to exclude a section from an assessment?
A: You can deselect a section the same way you added one in the copy assessment pop-up.Q: How can I tell if an assessment was linked correctly?
A: Linked assessments show an icon to the left of the assessment name — a blue branch icon marks where the assessment originated, and a yellow link icon marks sections it was copied into.