Canvas Quick Tips: 15 Essential Steps for Success

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Canvas is our 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 course 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 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

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

Before experimenting at your curricular Canvas site, please contact Academic Technologies for more information around what third-party tools are available for use with Canvas at Evergreen.


Source: These quick tips were developed by educational content providers, Six Red Marbles.

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.