Become familiar with the new Dashboard

If this is first time you are logging in to EssayGrader v4.0 you will be presented with an empty dashboard. Even if you are an existing user, it will look startingly different. Let's dive in!

A short tour

Let's take a tour of the new Dashboard. The numbered markers in the screenshot below match up with the numbered sections in our tour. We'll see each of these again in more detail as we continue the EssayGrader version 4.0 walkthrough.

1. There's no place like home

From anywhere within the EssayGrader platform you can always get back to the Dashboard by clicking the Home button in the top left within the sidebar.

2. Upload Submissions

EssayGrader is all about bringing student submissions into dedicated workspaces. You have three options with a 4th coming soon.

• You can import from Google Classroom or Canvas
• You can create your own custom workspace manually
• Soon you will be able to connect your Schoology account as well, so stay tuned!

3. Setup Rubrics

From this section below the Workspace import panels you can bring up the rubric library (your own and the templates included in our platform library).

You can also create a rubric from here, which allows you to:

• Choose from templates
• Upload or import
• Use AI to do it for you
• Create your own from scratch.

If you wish to quickly navigate to the Rubric library from anywhere within the platform, click the Rubrics icon in the top left just below the Home icon.

4. The Sidebar

The sidebar sticks with you as you navigate through the EssayGrader platform. Here you'll find:

• links back to the Dashboard (Home) and to the Rubric library
• your workspace(s) and associated folders
• a subscription and referral section (discussed in section 7 below)

If you are new to the product, you'll have the opportunity to create a folder structure by setting up a workspace. If you are an existing user, your manually created or LMS-connected data will migrate to the new workspace model and you'll see it as an existing folder structure in the sidebar.

5. Up Top

Get help by clicking on the help icon, or access your account details by clicking on your avatar (you can change the graphic within the My Account settings).

Also from the avatar menu you can access information about your current subscription plan along with details on your upgrade options, as well as a page showing your currently linked LMS integrations.

And that's it! The next article will show you how to manually create a workspace by bringing in student work before we move on to linking your LMS as another workspace creation option.

6. Support chatbox

Sticking to the bottom right of the screen is the support chat box powered by Crisp and monitored 24/7 by an AI chatbot and during business hours (Eastern Time – Toronto/New York) by humans.

Make sure you provide your email address so that responses that come in after you may no longer be online will be delivered to you via email. Otherwise, you won't see responses until the next time you visit the platform and check the chat box.

7. Your current plan and more...

Down to the bottom left you'll see a small section dedicated to your subscription and an opportunity to onboard your school, district/board, or institution.

Your current usage is displayed so you always know how many more essays can be graded under your plan. There is also an Upgrade Plan button that will pop up a screen that shows the different plans, their features for comparison, and pricing with the option to upgrade on the spot.

Finally there is a link to a form you can fill out if you'd like us to connect with your school about an institutional free trial so they can check out EssayGrader as well.

Continue the walkthrough: Create a workspace manually >>>

Updated on: 09/20/2025