Canvas

Canvas Training and Tutorials

Face-to-Face Training

ITS offers training (1:1, small group, large group) throughout the summer and school year by appointment and scheduled workshops.
If there is a specific topic you would like to learn more about, please contact Kris.

Canvas Tier One Support

We have subscribed to Instructure’s (makers of Canvas) Tier One Support which provides 24/7/365 support via dedicated online chat and phone support. We have a dedicated number and chat specialist to assist with any questions you may have as you build out your Canvas course.

Other Online Resources

We have created a series of self-paced, online courses that guide you through a variety of topics with the opportunity to earn badges to show your completion. Login to Canvas required.

Canvas Basics – Topics covered include Navigation, User Settings, Communication, Rich Content Editor, and Adding Content
Canvas Syllabus and Assignments – Topics covered include Syllabus tool, creating Assignments, creating Discussions, and using the Calendar
Canvas Grading and Comments – Topics covered include using the GradeBook, Rubrics, and using SpeedGrader
Canvas Advanced – Topics covered include using HTML, Quizzes, Collaborations, and Conferences.
Canvas and G Suite – Topics covered include accessing G Suite in Canvas, using G Suite for assignments, and integration G Suite documents with Canvas
Canvas and Arc Media – Topics covered include adding content to Arc, using Arc in Canvas, and how to interact with Arc through discussions.

In addition, you can find great tutorials (text/image and video) on the Canvas Community web site:

Canvas Guides – search for specific information on the Canvas Guides site
Canvas Instructor Guide – sequential guide to creating a Canvas course
Canvas Video Guide for Instructors – video tutorials on various Canvas features
Canvas Fast Track Video Series – short 2.5 minute videos on specific features within Canvas
Mobile Canvas Guides – sequential guides to using the Canvas iOS and Android apps
Canvas Community – great place to get advise from fellow Canvas users all over the world

Canvas Tier One Support

As an additional Canvas support resource, we have invested in Instructure’s Tier One Support Program. This program provides you with 24/7/365 support from anywhere in the United States. This is a dedicated service for our faculty only.
This service is not a replacement for our support, but an additional support option to aid you during times when you are away or are working at a time when we are not available (e.g., weekends, late nights, vacations). Instructure provides us with a report of who has called and for what issues so that we can provide follow-up and plan additional training for the community.
You can access this service from within Canvas (must login first) by clicking on the Help menu in the lower left corner of your screen.
HelpButton
When you click on the Help menu icon, you will be presented with a series of options (see image below). You can initiate a phone call with a support person by calling the number listed. You can initiate a chat support by clicking on the Chat listing.

Navigation

User Settings

Posting Content via Modules

Add a Module

Click on Modules in Course Navigation Menu (left side of screen)
Click on + Module in upper right corner

Enter the Module Name and click Add Module

Repeat to create additional Modules
Module Name can be modified by clicking on gear icon to right of name.

Modules can be moved up and down by clicking on dots to left of Module Name and dragging to new position.

NOTE: Modules can be used with other organizational formats to create a robust site.

Add Items to a Module

To add items to a Module, click on the + next to the Module Title
The Add Item to <module name> will appear on the screen
A brief explanation of Add Item options:

Assignment – create new assignment (electronic or manual submission)
Quiz – create online quiz or survey
File – upload a file to be made available to course participants
Content Page – create a page of your own content
Discussion – create an online forum for discussion
Text Header – create a header for Module organization
External URL – link to a website outside of Canvas
External Tool – create an embedded object from a tool not part of Canvas (e.g., VoiceThread, YouTube, ChemVantage)

Add File to Module

From Add Item pop-up window, select File
If the file is already uploaded, select file from displayed list
- Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
- Click Add Item to create link and return to Modules page

If the file needs to be uploaded, select New File

To upload the file, you can either
- Drag the file from your Desktop (or other computer location) and drop it onto the Browse button; or
- Click on Browse. Locate the file to be uploaded via the file selection window. Click Open.
Select the Folder in which to store the file. The default storage location is course files.
Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
Click Add Item to upload the file, create the link, and return to the Modules page.

Add External URL to Module

From Add Item pop-up window, select External URL

Enter the URL. This can be a copy & paste or type directly into the text box.
Enter the Page Name. This is the link that will appear in the module.
Check Load in a new tab if you want the web page to load in a new tab
Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
Click Add Item to post the link and return to the Module page

Add a Text Header to Module

From Add Item pop-up window, select Text Header

Text Headers are used to organize content within a module.
Enter the Header in the text box
Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
Click Add Item to post the header and return to the Module page

Add Content Page to Module

From Add Item pop-up window, select Content Page

If the page has already been created, select page from displayed list
- Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
- Click Add Item to create link and return to Modules page

To create a new page, select New Page from the displayed list

Enter a Page Name in the text box
Use the Indentation drop down menu to select how deep to indent the linked file
Click Add Item to create the new page and return to the Modules page
After the Modules page has loaded, click on the page link

After the page loads (it should be blank), click Edit

When the Page Edit window appears, you may begin adding content.

To add content to your page, you will use the Rich Content Editor (RCE). The RCE is very similar to what you use in MS Word, DAinfo, and Moodle. You can choose font styles (bold, italics, underline), font size, font color, background color, alignment, indentation, bullets, tables, hyperlinks, and more. You can also easily link to other content within Canvas via the Insert Content into the Page dialog box on the right side of the screen.
When done, click Save or Save & Publish.

Remember nothing is visible to students until published.

Using the Rich Content Editor

Insert Content Into a Page

RCE = Rich Content Editor

The Insert Content into the Page dialog box allows you to add links to any content that has been created in or uploaded to Canvas.
By highlighting text in your RCE window, you can add a link to a specific page or activity from within your Canvas site, by clicking on the Links tab and then selecting the appropriate item. The selected text will flash briefly and a hyperlink will appear to the selected item/activity.
By highlighting text in your RCE window, you can add a link to a specific file from your Canvas site, by clicking on the Files tab and selecting the appropriate file. The selected text will flash briefly and a hyperlink will appear to the selected file.
To add an image, place your cursor at the location within the RCE window and click on the Images tab.
- If the image is already uploaded, select the image name and the image will appear in your RCE window.
- If the image needs to be uploaded,
  - Select Upload a new image.
  - Choose a destination from the Folder drop down menu
  - To upload the image, you can either
    - Drag the image file from your Desktop (or other computer location) and drop it onto the Browse button; or
    - Click on Browse. Locate the file to be uploaded via the file selection window. Click Open.
  - Click Upload and the image will upload to Canvas and appear in your RCE window.
  - Click on the image and use the handles in the four corners to adjust size.
  - Use the alignment buttons on the RCE top menu board to arrange image on screen

Insert Multimedia

RCE = Rich Content Editor

Adding content from YouTube
- Click on the YouTube icon in the middle of the second row of the RCE menu
- Search for your video
  - You can use key words or enter the URL (if you know it)
- Click on the Embed link and select how you would like the YouTube video displayed (link, small video, medium video, large video)
- Video will embed in RCE window
Adding content from Vimeo or YouTube for Schools
- Click on the down arrow next to the YouTube icon and select either Vimeo or YouTube for Schools
- Search for your video
  - You can use key words or enter the URL (if you know it)
- Click on the Embed link and select how you would like the YouTube video displayed (link, small video, medium video, large video)
- Video will embed in RCE window

Add your own media
- Click on the Movie Strip icon

To create your own recording, select the Record Media tab
- Click Allow when the Adobe Flash Player Settings pop-up appears
- Give your recording a Title
  - To record video, click on the camera icon
  - To record audio only, click on the microphone icon
- Click on the red dot to begin recording
- Click on the white square to stop recording
- After the recording has stopped, it will auto-play so you can check the recording
  - If you are happy with the recording, click Save
  - If you are not happy with the recording, click the record button and click Yes when asked to Record again without saving?
- The audio/video recording will appear in the RCE window
To upload an audio/video recording already on your computer, select Upload Media
- Click on Select Audio File to upload an audio only recording
- Click on Select Video File to upload a video recording
- Locate the file you wish to upload and click Open
- The file will upload to Canvas and display in the RCE window

Import Content

Importing Content into Course (pdf)
Importing Content into Course (video)

Course Home Page

Setting a Course Home Page

Setting a Home page for your Canvas Course

You have the ability to decide what students will see when they click into your course. You can change your Course Home Page to one of these five options:

Recent Activity Dashboard
A Page
Course Modules
Assignment list
Syllabus

To set your Course Home Page follow the instructions below:

Open a Course

In the Global Navigation, click the Courses link [1]

Choose Home Page

In the Home Page sidebar, click the Choose Home Page button.

Select Home Page Layout

Click the radio button next to the Home Page layout you prefer.

Set Front Page

If you want to select a Pages Front Page but the link is grayed out, you must first set a Front Page.

Note: Only Published pages can be set as the Front Page. Make sure the page you want to set as the Front Page is published.

Save Home Page Layout

Click the Save button.

How do I set a Front Page in a course?

If you want to change the Course Home Page to the Pages Front Page, you must first set a page as the Front Page.

The Front Page is the first page your students will see when they enter your course. Use this page to show a welcome message, links, images, or other information for students.

Notes:

Before setting the Front Page, the page must be published.
Once you set a Front Page, you cannot remove the Front page. However, you can change the Front Page as much as you would like, or set another page as the Front Page.
Before setting a Front page, the Pages link in Course Navigation will open to the Pages Index. However, once you have selected a Front Page, the Pages link will always open to the Front Page. To return to the Pages Index, click the View All Pages button.

Open Pages

Open Pages

In Course Navigation, click the Pages link.

Use as Front Page

Use as Front Page

Locate your published front page that you want to set as your Front Page [1]. Click the page Settings icon [2] and select the Use as Front Page button [3].

View Front Page

View Front Page

Once set, the Front Page cannot be removed. The Front Page will be indicated by a gray Front Page tag.

You can change the Front Page to any other page in the course by selecting the page Settings icon.

Google and Canvas

Using Google in Canvas

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