Canvas 101

Canvas 101

Canvas 101 provides faculty with information and quick wins regarding the Canvas learning management system. This resource will introduce you to key Canvas features to meet the College for Creative Studies’ Canvas Minimum Usage Requirements.

Below are a list of topics covered in Canvas 101:

What is an Announcement?

Announcements are a built-in tool in Canvas that allows faculty to post information and updates to all students enrolled in the course. Students can set up their personal notification settings within Canvas to be notified about new announcements via e-mail.

Announcements can be posted right away or scheduled using the scheduler function.

Announcements can be used to update students about a course, send reminders, notify students when grades post, or provide information related to the coursework.

How do I use the Announcements Index Page?

How do I use the Announcements Index Page?

00:07: How do I use the announcements index page? 00:12: In course, navigation, click the announcements link 00:16: The announcements index page is designed with global settings at the top of the page, 00:20: followed by the individual announcements. 00:24: To filter the announcement list to view all or only unread announcements, click 00:28: the drop-down menu. 00:31: To search for an announcement by words. In its title enter words phrases 00:35: or partial words in the search field. 00:39: To add a new announcement, click the add announcement button. 00:46: To mark all announcements as being read. Click the mark wall is read button. 00:51: To view external feeds for announcements click the external feeds link. 00:55: You can add an external feed or subscribe to the announcements RSS feed. 01:01: Announcements are listed in Reverse chronological order with the newest appearing first 01:05: and the older announcements appearing towards the bottom. 01:10: Each announcement includes the title of the announcement, the profile picture of 01:14: the user who posted the announcement 01:17: An unread indicator near unread announcements. 01:21: The announcement post date is listed for announcements. 01:25: Additionally, the number of unread, total replies in the announcement and 01:29: an options icon to manage individual announcement settings. 01:32: Displays 01:34: To apply a bulk action such as locking or deleting click the checkbox 01:38: next to the announcements. To close all selected announcements 01:42: to comments. Click the lock button. To delete all selected announcements. 01:47: Click the delete button. 01:50: To view an announcement, click the name of the announcement. 01:54: To open individual, announcement settings. 01:56: Click the options, icon to delete an announcement. 01:59: Click the delete link. If your course allows comments, you can 02:03: also allow or disallow comments. 02:07: To view the announcements index page. As a student. 02:09: Click the view as student button. 02:13: This guide covered how to use the announcements index page.

How do I add an announcement in a course?

What is a Weekly Module?

Modules are an organizational tool that allows faculty to structure course content by each week. Modules help simplify student navigation through a course.

With weekly modules, faculty can require interaction with course content before moving on to the next module by using requirements settings. Faculty can set module requirements and even lock modules which can be scheduled to open on a certain day and time.

Weekly modules are where students find course content including Overviews, To Do Lists, Assignments, Discussions, Lectures, Demonstration, Resources, etc.

How do I use the Modules Index Page?

How do I use the Modules Index Page?

00:07: How do I use the modules index page? 00:13: In course, navigation, click the modules link. 00:17: The modules index page is designed with global settings at the top of the page, followed 00:21: by individual modules. Course, content items are nested 00:25: within each module. 00:27: Global settings, include collapsing, or expanding all modules viewing. 00:31: A student’s progress in a module bulk publishing, and unpublishing modules, 00:35: and module items, and adding new modules. 00:40: In modules, you can view all the modules in your course. 00:43: Modules are organized by order of progression. 00:47: Modules house, the content items within each module, by default, modules 00:52: are expanded and show all items in the module. 00:55: To collapse the module, click the collapse Arrow. 00:59: Each module header contains the name of the module. 01:02: The header may also contain module, prerequisites, and module requirements. 01:08: The icons in the module, header control, the entire module. 01:16: To publish or unpublish a module, click the published status drop-down 01:20: menu. 01:22: To add a new content item, to the module, click the add icon. 01:27: In the options drop-down menu, you can edit a module. 01:30: Edit the module to rename the module lock, modules, set, prerequisites 01:35: and set modules requirements. In the options, drop-down 01:39: menu, you can also move module items, move the module 01:43: assign the module to students delete the module duplicate, 01:48: the module send the module to another instructor or copy, 01:52: the module to another course. 01:56: You can reorder a module by hovering over the drag handle, next, to the name of the module 02:00: and dragging the module to the desired location. 02:04: Modules can be filled with different types of content, each module item 02:08: also includes an icon with its type page, discussion quiz 02:12: assignment link or external tool and file 02:17: To manage an individual module, content item, click the options, drop-down 02:21: menu. Use the menu options to edit the content item, 02:25: open Speed grader assign the item to specific students, duplicate 02:30: the item if the item supports duplication move, the item indent 02:34: the item up to five levels or remove an indent. 02:37: Send a content to another user. 02:40: Copy content to another course, add Mastery paths 02:44: or remove the content item from the module. 02:48: You can also reorder a module item by hovering over the drag handle, next to the 02:52: name of the item and dragging the item to the desired location. 03:01: Each module contains module content items that may display. 03:04: The item name, the due date, the number of points, the module 03:08: requirement and the module items draft State status. 03:12: A module may also include non-graded items such as pages and non-graded 03:16: discussions. If a to-do date was added to a non-graded item, 03:20: the date displays next to the module item. 03:25: If you use Mastery pads in your course, you can view the modules page and tell, 03:29: which module items are set up for Mastery paths. 03:33: To view the modules index page as a student. 03:35: Click the view as student button. 03:39: This guide covered how to use the modules index page.

What is an Overview Page?

An Overview page is a page that lives in the weekly modules and provides students with a roadmap for the weekly course expectations. The Overview page can be used to provide contextual information or a brief introduction about the week’s theme or content, provide critical information about the week, provide weekly learning outcomes that tie back to larger course learning outcomes, and student To Do Lists.

What are Weekly Learning Outcomes?

Weekly learning outcomes are actions that students should demonstrate each week that will lead them to obtaining the larger course learning outcomes. Weekly outcomes keep the course content on track and provide sequencing for scaffolded learning.

It is best to keep 3-5 weekly learning outcomes in mind for each week’s course content.

What are Weekly To Do Lists?

Weekly To Do Lists provide students with a list of items to accomplish related to the course content for each week. To Do Lists help keep students on track and provide a one-stop area for finding the week’s requirements. To Do Lists should include all student tasks required for the week.

What is a Canvas Assignment?

A Canvas Assignment is a page that provides an assignment’s criteria or project brief, a description of the activity/task, an explanation to why the activity/task is taking place, assignment submission requirements, due date, point values, and a rubric.

Assignments should count as assessments towards the students’ final grade in a course, and relate back to the weekly learning outcomes and larger course learning outcomes.

Canvas assignment pages can be configured to have scheduled due dates, points, group work, and file uploads for student assignment submissions.

When published with point values and due dates, assignments populate in the Canvas Gradebook where grades are recorded.

How do I use the Assignments Index Page?
How do I create an assignment?

How do I create an assignment?

00:07: How do I create a new assignment? 00:09: On the Assignments Index page, there are several ways to create an assignment.To create a shell in an assignment group, select the plus sign in the group header. 00:19: In the “Add Assignment” modal, provide a name and other details. 00:23: Click the save button to create the assignment shell for it to be visible to 00:27: students, click the save and publish button instead. 00:32: To create an assignment with in a group and set its details, click the plus sign in the group header. 00:38: Fill the desired fields in the modal. Then click the more options button. 00:43: Add content including instructions and prompts in the Rich Content Editor, or RCE. 00:49: Set the assignment details. 00:52: Click the save button or if you are ready for the assignment to be visible to students, 00:56: click the save and publish button. 01:00: Click the assignments Link in the course or breadcrumb navigation to return to the assignments 01:05: index page. 01:07: To create an assignment with its details, click the add assignment button. 01:12: Give the assignment a name and compose its content in the RCE. 01:17: Set the assignment details for grading, submissions, and due dates. 01:22: Click the save button or if you are ready for the assignment to be visible to students, 01:26: click the save and publish button. 01:30: Click the assignments Link in the breadcrumber course navigation to return to the assignments 01:35: index page. 01:37: This guide covered how to create a new assignment in my course.

What are Assignment Groups?

Assignment Groups are a cluster of assignments that can be organized and weighted to determine the students’ basis for a final grade in a course.

Assignment Groups allow faculty the ability to cluster like assignments together and assign a percentage of the course total. For example, you can create an Assignment Group for discussions which make up 30% of the final grade in the course. Assignment groups allow this 30% to be assigned to the discussions group, and Canvas will run the math calculations in the Gradebook for the grade total for each student.

In order for Assignment Groups to calculate properly in the Canvas Gradebook, Assignment Groups must total 100%. See the example below.

Basis for Final Grade:

  • Discussions – 30%
  • Assignments – 40%
  • Final Project – 20%
  • Participation – 10%
How do I add an assignment group in a course?

How do I add an assignment group in a course?

00:07: How do I add an assignment group in a course? 00:10: In course, navigation, click the assignments link? 00:14: Click the add group button. 00:17: Type the assignment group name in the group name, field. 00:20: If you want to, wait the final grade for students using assignment groups, the percentage 00:25: will appear in percent of total grade field. 00:28: Click the save button. 00:31: View your assignment group. 00:33: To manage an assignment group, click the group’s options, drop down menu. 00:38: To edit the assignment group, click the edit link, you can edit the assignment 00:43: group name and the weighted percentage if applicable After 00:47: you’ve added assignments to your assignment group, you can also edit the assignment 00:51: group to set assignment group rules. 00:54: To delete the assignment group, click the delete link. 00:58: To move all content from an assignment group into another group. 01:01: Click the move contents link. 01:05: To move a reorder. An assignment group on the assignments page, click the move 01:09: groups, link, 01:11: If you want to delete an assignment group that has assignments in it, canvas 01:15: will ask you, if you want to delete the assignments, default or movie 01:20: assignments to another group. 01:22: When you are finished, click the delete group button. 01:26: This guide covered how to add an assignment group in a course.

How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

What is a Canvas Discussion?

A Canvas Discussion is a native tool within the Learning Management System that is available for all Canvas courses. Faculty can create focused and threaded discussions to promote student interaction, and the exchanges of ideas or critiques in an online format.

Discussions can be configured to have scheduled due dates, points, group work, be graded, and provide feedback to students from the faculty or from student peers.

Discussions can be graded. When published with point values and due dates, discussions populate in the Canvas Gradebook where grades are recorded.

How do I use the Discussions Index Page?

How do I use the Discussions Index Page?

00:07: How do I use the discussion index page? 00:12: In course, navigation, click the discussions link. 00:16: The discussions index page is designed with global settings at the top of the page, 00:20: followed by the discussion groups. Individual discussions 00:24: are nested within each Discussion Group. 00:27: Global settings include a drop-down menu to filter all or unread discussions 00:31: and a search field for searching discussions by title or discussion author. 00:35: You can also add a new discussion and edit discussion settings. 00:40: Discussion groups can be expanded and collapsed by clicking the arrow next to the 00:44: name. Discussions are organized into three main areas. 00:52: Pinned discussions. These are discussions that you want your students to see at 00:56: the top of their page. Pinned discussions can be arranged in any order. 01:00: Students will only see this section heading. 01:02: If there are discussions within this section, 01:06: Discussions. These are current discussions within the course. 01:09: Discussions can remain open indefinitely Or you can specify a 01:13: date range as designated by the available from until date. 01:17: Discussions with replies are ordered by most recent activity, discussions 01:22: with no replies are ordered by creation date. 01:24: Students will only see this section heading if there are discussions within this section, 01:30: Closed for comments. These discussions have been manually closed for comments 01:34: or the discussion is past the available from until date. 01:38: These are discussions that are only available in a read-only state. 01:42: Closed for comments. Discussions are also ordered by most, recent activity. 01:46: Students will always see this section heading, even if there are no discussions 01:50: within this section, 01:53: Each discussion displays whether or not it is a graded discussion. 01:56: The name of the discussion the date on which the last discussion reply 02:00: was posted. 02:02: Additionally, you can view the number of unread total posts in the discussion, 02:06: the discussion State published or unpublished. 02:08: And whether or not you are subscribed to the discussion. 02:13: You can also view availability dates for graded and ungraded discussions. 02:18: The unread icon next to a discussion indicates an unread discussion. 02:23: The number of unread total posts is not included for group discussions and discussions 02:27: that have no discussion replies. 02:31: The peer-review icon. Also displays, if a graded discussion has been assigned 02:35: peer reviews, 02:37: Discussions can also include availability dates availability. 02:40: Dates can make a discussion available for only a specific period of time. 02:46: To manage an individual discussion, click the options icon. 02:50: From the options drop-down menu, you can edit the discussion close the discussion 02:55: for comments, assigned to discussion pin, or unpin the discussion. 02:59: Open Speed grader duplicate, that discussion, send 03:03: a discussion to another instructor copy, the discussion to another course, 03:07: add the discussion to a Mastery path or delete the discussion. 03:13: To view discussion, details and replies, click the name of the discussion. 03:18: If you use Mastery pads in your course, you can tell which items are set up in 03:22: modules as Mastery paths or conditional content items. 03:27: To view the discussions index page as a student. 03:29: Click the view as student button. 03:33: This guide covered how to use the discussions index page.

What is the Canvas Gradebook?

The Canvas Gradebook helps faculty easily view and enter grades for students. Depending on the grade display type, grades can be viewed as points, percentage, complete or incomplete, GPA scale or a letter grade.

When Assignment Groups are leveraged, assignments in the Gradebook can be weighted to emphasize the importance of one project or group of assignments. When using Assignment Groups, Canvas will automatically calculate grade totals for students.

Note: Grades that appear as “-” in the Gradebook do not count towards a student’s final grade in the course. If a student is missing work or the faculty does not accept late work, assignment grades should be entered as “0” or “F” in order for that missed/late assignment to count towards the student’s final grade.

How do I use the Gradebook?
How do I arrange columns in the Gradebook?
How do I filter columns and rows in the Gradebook?
How do I create and manage filters in the Gradebook?

How do I create and manage filters in the Gradebook?

00:00:How do i create and manage filters in the Gradebook? 00:04:In Course Navigation, click the Grades link. 00:08:To view or manage gradebook filters, click the Apply Filters button. 00:13:Click the Create & Manager Filter Presets link. 00:17:To create a new filter, click the Create Filter Preset expand arrow icon. 00:23:Depending on how your course is setup, you can filter gradebook content by assignment groups, grading periods, modules, sections, student groups, submissions, start dates, and end dates. 00:38:To save the filter for future use, enter a filter name in the Filter preset name field. 00:44:To add a filter type, click a filter type drop-down menu 00:49:You can select a specific filter type in which to filter gradebook content. The filter type field format and listed options vary depending on the selected filter type. If you selected the Sections filter type, course sections display in the Sections drop-down menu. To view content for a specific section, click the section name. 01:10:If you selected the Assignment Group filter type, course assignment groups display in the Assignment Groups drop-down menu. To view content for a specific assignment group, click the assignment group name. 01:23:If you selected the Module filter type, course modules display in the Modules drop-down menu. To view content for a specific module, click the module name. 01:34:If you selected the Student Group filter type, course student groups display in the Student Groups drop-down menu. To view content for a specific student group, click the student group name. 01:46:If you selected the Grading Periods filter type, you can view all grading periods or a specific grading period. 01:53:If you selected the Submissions filter type, you can select a specific submission type. 01:59:If you selected the Start Date or End Date filter type, you can view assignments with a start date or end date on or after a specific date. To view assignments with a start or end date on or after a specific date, add the date in the Date field. 02:15:To save the filter preset, click the Save Filter Preset button. To clear the filter presets, click the Clear button. 02:24:In the Apply Filters menu, view the saved filter preset. 02:29:In the Saved Filters Preset sidebar, existing filters display. To rename a filter, enter a new name in the Filter preset name field. To manage a filter preset’s filter type, click a Filter Type drop-down menu. 02:45:To delete the filter, click the Delete Preset button. 02:49:To create a new filter, click the Create Filter Preset expand arrow icon. 02:55:View the filtered gradebook content. Applied filter names display in the Applied Filters section. 03:02:To remove a filter, click the filter option drop-down menu and click the Remove Filter option. 03:09:To remove all filters, click the Clear All Filters link 03:13:To view gradebook settings, click the Settings icon. 03:17:This guide covered how to create and manage filters in the Gradebook.

How do I use SpeedGrader?

What is a Rubric?

A Rubric is a way to set up an outcome-based or custom assessment criteria for scoring/grading. Rubrics are typically tied to weekly outcomes or course learning outcomes and can help align assignments and assessments in your course.

Rubrics can also facilitate the grading process, make assignment criteria clear and known to students, and clarify expectations and communication with students regarding their coursework.

Faculty can create and attach a rubric to an assignment in Canvas for quick and easy grading in the Canvas SpeedGrader. When attached to an assignment, the rubrics are visible to students on the course assignment pages, so there is no confusion as to the expectations of an assignment.

How do I add a rubric to an assignment?

How do I add a rubric to an assignment?

00:06: How do I add a rubric to an assignment?

00:09: Open the assignment.

00:11: Click the Add Rubric button below the assignment details. You can either create a new rubric or attach an existing one.

00:19: To create a rubric, give it a title. Then edit the included default criterion by clicking the Edit icon.

00:27: Edit the criterion; then click “Update Criterion”.

00:31: To edit a rating, click the Edit icon.

00:35: Edit the rating; then click “Update Rating”.

00:39: To add a new rating for the criterion, click the Add icon.

00:43: To add a criterion, click Add Criterion. Then select whether to create a new criterion or to duplicate an existing one.

00:51: Fill the fields to create a new criterion.

00:54: To use the rubric for grading in SpeedGrader, select the “Use this rubric for assignment grading” checkbox, select other desired options options, then click “Create Rubric”.

01:05: Instead of creating a new rubric, you can use an existing rubric from this or another course where you are an instructor. To do this, click the Find a Rubric link.

01:15: Select a course or account in the first column. In the second column, select the name of a rubric.

01:22: Scroll to the bottom of the rubric and click the “Use This Rubric” button.

01:27: To edit an unused rubric or to select rubric settings, click the Edit icon.

01:32: To use the rubric for grading in SpeedGrader, select the “Use this rubric for assignment grading” checkbox. Select any other desired options and click the “Update Rubric” button.

01:44: This guide covered how to add a rubric to an assignment.

What is a Weekly Wrap Up Page?

A Weekly Wrap Up page is a page that is used to reiterate concepts, themes, or topics that were covered during that week of the course. A Wrap Up provides a conclusion to the week and ties up any loose ends for students.

Wrap Up pages are also a great place to include information about what’s to come for the following week.