Difference between revisions of "Canvas Quick Tips: 15 Essential Steps for Success"

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===Level 1: Basic Canvas===
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==='''Level 1: Basic Canvas'''===
 
+
  
 
===='''''Add your syllabus to Canvas'''''====
 
===='''''Add your syllabus to Canvas'''''====
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Ensure there are clear due dates and deadlines for all assignments, learning activities, and class meetings.
 
Ensure there are clear due dates and deadlines for all assignments, learning activities, and class meetings.
  
===Level 2: Intermediate Canvas===
+
 
 +
==='''Level 2: Intermediate Canvas'''===
  
 
===='''''Record a welcome video'''''====
 
===='''''Record a welcome video'''''====
 
Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to create a short video introducing yourself to students and welcoming them to your course or program.
 
Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to create a short video introducing yourself to students and welcoming them to your course or program.
  
====''Add some asynchronous discussions''====
+
===='''''Add some asynchronous discussions'''''====
 
Asynchronous discussion boards provide a space for students to interact with each other and the course content. Consider adding some asynchronous discussions that help to prepare students for in-class discussions, or that allow students to reflect after class.
 
Asynchronous discussion boards provide a space for students to interact with each other and the course content. Consider adding some asynchronous discussions that help to prepare students for in-class discussions, or that allow students to reflect after class.
  
====''Simplify navigation''====
+
===='''''Simplify navigation'''''====
 
Take a look at the Canvas navigation sidebar on the left-hand side of your Canvas page and make sure that only the tools students will actively use in your course or program are visible in the navigation.  
 
Take a look at the Canvas navigation sidebar on the left-hand side of your Canvas page and make sure that only the tools students will actively use in your course or program are visible in the navigation.  
  
====''Record asynchronous lectures''====
+
===='''''Record asynchronous lectures'''''====
 
Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to record some short (ideally under 10 minute) mini-lectures to supplement in-class activities and help students better understand key concepts.
 
Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to record some short (ideally under 10 minute) mini-lectures to supplement in-class activities and help students better understand key concepts.
  
====''Add rubrics to assignments''====
+
===='''''Add rubrics to assignments'''''====
 
Rubrics can help to simplify grading and make expectations clearer for students. Use the Rubrics feature in Canvas to attach rubrics to the assignments in your modules.
 
Rubrics can help to simplify grading and make expectations clearer for students. Use the Rubrics feature in Canvas to attach rubrics to the assignments in your modules.
  
===Level 3: Advanced Canvas===
+
 
====''Create spaces for students to connect''====
+
==='''Level 3: Advanced Canvas'''===
 +
 
 +
===='''''Create spaces for students to connect'''''====
 
Create an “Introduce Yourself!” discussion thread where students can meet each other virtually and talk about shared interests. Consider creating other spaces where students can connect around shared interests that are either related or unrelated to the class to help build online community.
 
Create an “Introduce Yourself!” discussion thread where students can meet each other virtually and talk about shared interests. Consider creating other spaces where students can connect around shared interests that are either related or unrelated to the class to help build online community.
  
====''Create engaging PowerPoint presentations''====
+
===='''''Create engaging PowerPoint presentations'''''====
 
Avoid death by PowerPoint by incorporating images, animations, and other features into your PowerPoint presentations to make them more appealing to students.
 
Avoid death by PowerPoint by incorporating images, animations, and other features into your PowerPoint presentations to make them more appealing to students.
  
====''Grade and provide feedback with ease''====
+
===='''''Grade and provide feedback with ease'''''====
 
Set up Assignment groups so that assignments are properly weighted for easy grading at the end of the quarter. Use the Speed Grader feature in Canvas to quickly provide feedback to students. Use the “To Do” feature on the righthand side of your Canvas Course homepage to quickly see what assignments have been submitted and need feedback.
 
Set up Assignment groups so that assignments are properly weighted for easy grading at the end of the quarter. Use the Speed Grader feature in Canvas to quickly provide feedback to students. Use the “To Do” feature on the righthand side of your Canvas Course homepage to quickly see what assignments have been submitted and need feedback.
  
====''Try a Canvas collaboration''====
+
===='''''Try a Canvas collaboration'''''====
 
Students can collaborate using Google Docs or Office 365 directly in Canvas. Consider adding a Canvas collaboration as part of a homework assignment or as an activity that students complete in breakout rooms.
 
Students can collaborate using Google Docs or Office 365 directly in Canvas. Consider adding a Canvas collaboration as part of a homework assignment or as an activity that students complete in breakout rooms.
  
====''Experiment with third-party tools!''====
+
===='''''Experiment with third-party tools!'''''====
 
There is a wealth of third-party tools and integrations in Canvas. While it is not advisable to try to integrate too many new tools at once, consider trying out one or two tools a quarter to slowly build up your knowledge of available third-party tools and integrations.
 
There is a wealth of third-party tools and integrations in Canvas. While it is not advisable to try to integrate too many new tools at once, consider trying out one or two tools a quarter to slowly build up your knowledge of available third-party tools and integrations.
  

Revision as of 16:27, 26 August 2020



Canvas-logo-grn300.png

Canvas is our primary Learning Management System (LMS). Here are 15 essential steps for successful site setup.

Level 1: Basic Canvas

Add your syllabus to Canvas

Use the Syllabus feature in Canvas or upload your syllabus as a PDF.

Choose your modular structure

Refer to the proposed modular structure in the Canvas template to determine whether thematic, weekly, or daily modules work best for your course or program.

Add assignments and readings to Canvas

Be sure that any work students need to do for the course, including assignments, readings, and any other learning activities, is clearly reflected in the modules.

Choose your meeting structure

Determine the appropriate balance of synchronous and asynchronous time and think about how you are going to use your synchronous meeting times in a way that maximizes interactivity and engagement with students.

Check your dates

Ensure there are clear due dates and deadlines for all assignments, learning activities, and class meetings.


Level 2: Intermediate Canvas

Record a welcome video

Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to create a short video introducing yourself to students and welcoming them to your course or program.

Add some asynchronous discussions

Asynchronous discussion boards provide a space for students to interact with each other and the course content. Consider adding some asynchronous discussions that help to prepare students for in-class discussions, or that allow students to reflect after class.

Simplify navigation

Take a look at the Canvas navigation sidebar on the left-hand side of your Canvas page and make sure that only the tools students will actively use in your course or program are visible in the navigation.

Record asynchronous lectures

Use the video feature in Canvas or a third-party video recording tool to record some short (ideally under 10 minute) mini-lectures to supplement in-class activities and help students better understand key concepts.

Add rubrics to assignments

Rubrics can help to simplify grading and make expectations clearer for students. Use the Rubrics feature in Canvas to attach rubrics to the assignments in your modules.


Level 3: Advanced Canvas

Create spaces for students to connect

Create an “Introduce Yourself!” discussion thread where students can meet each other virtually and talk about shared interests. Consider creating other spaces where students can connect around shared interests that are either related or unrelated to the class to help build online community.

Create engaging PowerPoint presentations

Avoid death by PowerPoint by incorporating images, animations, and other features into your PowerPoint presentations to make them more appealing to students.

Grade and provide feedback with ease

Set up Assignment groups so that assignments are properly weighted for easy grading at the end of the quarter. Use the Speed Grader feature in Canvas to quickly provide feedback to students. Use the “To Do” feature on the righthand side of your Canvas Course homepage to quickly see what assignments have been submitted and need feedback.

Try a Canvas collaboration

Students can collaborate using Google Docs or Office 365 directly in Canvas. Consider adding a Canvas collaboration as part of a homework assignment or as an activity that students complete in breakout rooms.

Experiment with third-party tools!

There is a wealth of third-party tools and integrations in Canvas. While it is not advisable to try to integrate too many new tools at once, consider trying out one or two tools a quarter to slowly build up your knowledge of available third-party tools and integrations.



Need Help?

  • When using Canvas and you encounter an issue, click on Help in the lower left corner of the Canvas site.
    • This opens a pop-up window with different help options such as:
      • Search the Canvas Guides - view help documentation by Instructure (the makers of Canvas)
      • Report a Problem - submit a help ticket via Canvas which goes to your Academic Technologies team
      • Ask the Community - a lively forum with answers to many Canvas questions
  • If you are unable to access/log in to Canvas, submit a help ticket to Academic Technologies or from the upper right corner of your MyEvergreen page.