Flexible Assignment Deadlines: Rolling Deadlines with Checkpoints Model

Rolling Deadlines with Checkpoints

The rolling deadlines with checkpoints model structures complex assignments into manageable stages with defined milestones and a firm final deadline. This approach supports iterative learning by ensuring students receive feedback while there is still time to apply it. By combining flexibility with clear progress markers, checkpoints help students stay engaged and prevent them from falling behind on large or cumulative tasks. 

Assignments are completed within a broader submission window, supported by required checkpoints (e.g., proposal, outline, draft). A final cutoff ensures progress and timely feedback.

Why Use It

This model supports complex work that benefits from iteration while preventing students from falling behind. The checkpoints give structure and accountability within the flexible timeline. Milestones track progress with clear deadlines to ensure fairness and consistency across students. This model is best for:

• Research, writing, or design projects
• Scaffolded assignments with multiple parts
• Upper year or project-based courses

Why This Works for Students

From a student’s perspective, this model reduces cognitive load by having large tasks broken into achievable steps. Supports self-regulation by setting clear milestones to help students plan and monitor progress. Improves learning quality by using the received feedback for later iterations.  Builds equity so students who experience temporary disruptions are less likely to fall irreversibly behind. Finally, maintains clarity by having final deadlines to prevent projects from becoming open-ended.

Example: You teach a third-year course with a major research project completed over six weeks. Enrolment is approximately 120 students. You have assigned a research project that follows the model of rolling deadlines with checkpoints outlined as the following:

Component	Canvas Tool	Due Date Structure
Project Proposal (5%)	Assignment	Due Week 7 (soft), available until Week 7 +2 days
Annotated Bibliography (10%)	Assignment	Due Week 8 (soft), available until Week 8 +2 days
Draft Submission (Ungraded or Low-stakes)	Assignment	Due Week 9 (soft), available until Week 9 +2 days
Final Project (25%)	Assignment	Due Week 11 (firm hard deadline)

Canvas Tools for Rolling Deadlines with Checkpoints

This model uses standard Canvas tools available in all courses and scales well to medium and large enrolments when checkpoints are clearly defined.

• Assignments - to create checkpoints and the final submission
• Due Dates and Available Until - to structure rolling windows and final cutoffs
• Modules - to visually sequence checkpoints
• Assignment Groups - to weight checkpoints appropriately
• Rubrics - to keep expectations consistent across stages
• SpeedGrader - to provide focused, timely feedback

Key Takeaway

Rolling deadlines with checkpoints are most effective when assignments benefit from iteration, feedback, and pacing support. Clear milestones and final cutoffs help students plan their work, reduce cognitive load, and maintain momentum. The goal is not open-ended flexibility, but structured progress that supports learning and accountability.

For support and guidance on designing flexible and inclusive courses connect with the Flexible Learning Team (FLT) at the Gwenna Moss Centre.

---

Article Series: See all articles related to Flexible Assignment Deadlines

1. Structuring Your Courses with Flexible Assignment Deadlines
2. Flexible Assignment Deadlines: Grace Window Model
3. Flexible Assignment Deadlines: Drop Lowest Assignment Model
4. Flexible Assignment Deadlines: Rolling Deadlines with Checkpoints (this article)

---

^{Title image credit: Serena Assie, Instructional Designer, GMCTL
This article was created with the assistance of AI tools, as described in the GMCTL AI Disclosure Statement.}

This resource is shared by the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning (GMCTL), University of Saskatchewan, under a CC BY-NC-SA license.