This overview page isn't meant to be a comprehensive review of Canvas - but it should provide you with what you need to get started adding content and personalizing the template. You will find several types of content below including a brief written introduction to major parts of the template, screen capture videos covering basic layout and purpose of major sections, explanations about the logic behind the design, and links to relevant Canvas Faculty Guides. In addition, there are places where I felt it would be helpful to add a small article designed to deepen your understanding of the pedagogy surrounding a topic - I have labeled these "pedagogy plus" - of course, you can skip these if you feel pressed for time. If you have further interest in pedagogy and design check out the Teaching Strategies and Ideas for Active Learning page that accompanies this template.

Home

The "Home" page is the first page that students will see when they sign into your course. It is a combination of a course welcome page and a syllabus. Use the "Welcome to our course!" section introduces yourself and the course to students.

The "Syllabus" section of the page provides a place to past in and edit your course syllabus. In addition, you will also notice a list of all assignments at the bottom of the page, a calendar to the right, and a simple overview of how grades are "weighted" in the course - you can edit this to fit your course requirements. The assignment list and calendar will be populated automatically as you create graded assignments, discussions, or quizzes with due dates in your "Modules" section.

Video: Canvas Template: Navigating & Editing the Home Page (15min)

Video: Adding Your Photo to the SON Template Home. Instructors page, and Profile (7min)

Video: Delete Assignments in "Course Summary" List from a course (3min)

Pedagogy Plus: Tips for Building Social Presence in Your Online Class

Modules

The modules section in the template is designed to be a one-stop-shop for all course content. This is where you will go to include links to mini-lectures, course readings, assignments, quizzes/exams, and discussions - basically everything. Direct students to this singular location to find any course material from the course organized by week and appropriately titled to communicate the item type and contextual title (i.e. Assignment: Ethics in Nursing Research Paper"). Example content is included in the first week to provide you with something to get started with as well as "best practice" for creating titles for your content. These elements make it easy for students to find and access your content consistently throughout the semester.

Video: Canvas SON Template Modules Layout, Functionality, & Reasoning (13min)

Video: Adding a Multiple Readings Content Page to Your Weekly Modules (7min)

Announcements

Use this feature to communicate with all students in your course at once. Students can see that they have announcements when they sign in, chose to get these in their email, and under announcements navigation item in their course. Make sure students know they can edit their notifications so they can receive announcements in their Emory email, personal email, or on the Canvas App.

Canvas Guide: What are Announcements?

Grades & Feedback

Students can see their grades under the "Grades" navigation item. When you create an assignment, discussion, or quiz with a grade in Canvas in the "Modules" section it will automatically create a column in the grade book. When creating assignments you can add an assignment description, edit the details, and add rubrics. Rubrics can later be used by you to grade assignments. Students can respond to comments or grades you leave them on Canvas - make sure you set your notifications settings to receive "submission comments" in a place you check frequently so you don't lose track of them, such as email.

Canvas Guide How do I use the Gradebook?

Student View

As you design your course it is recommended that you use the "student view" to review and test what you create - doing so can save you and students a lot of frustration down the road!

Notification Settings & Profile

An important factor in a successful course is communication with students and student communication with you. Make sure to set up your notifications settings to make it easier for you to keep connected to the ongoing conversation of the course. Your profile is also an important part of making a connection with students online - make sure to upload a photo so students can see you when communicating online. Make sure and let students know about setting up their notification settings and profile picture too!

Instructors Button

This button appears below your welcome on the "Home" page. The instructor's button/page can be useful to help students know a little more about you as well as to better recognize other instructors or TA's in the course and what their roles are.

Ask Questions Button

The "Ask Questions" button appears beside the "Instructors Button" on the course "Home" page below the course welcome. When students click this button they are taken to a discussion board where students can ask question anything in the course. If you direct students to ask questions here rather than via email it will not only save you time but it will also help students learn from each other.

Conferences

The conferences navigation item is hidden by default. If you need to have a discussion in real-time or your students are working on group projects and need a place to discuss then this tool can be revealed under "Settings" and "Navigation". See the Canvas Guide "What are Conferences?" for more details and ideas.

Collaborations

Collaborations navigation item is hidden by default. Canvas integrates with Google Documents to allow students to write collaboratively in real time. If you have an assignment that requires student collaborative writing you can reveal the collaborations navigation item by going to "Settings" and "Navigation". See the Canvas Guide "What are Collaborations?" for more details.

Pedagogy Plus: Synchronous Online Classes: 10 Tips for Engaging Students

Support

Email Johnny Woods - Implementing the School of Nursing Canvas Template, Course Design/Development/Assessment, All-Fun-Things, Prizes

Canvas Help Button

Faculty Canvas Guide

Student Canvas Guide