Quick guide to Canvas
UAF begins our transition to Canvas in earnest this semester. This Teaching Tip is a quick reference guide to help you stay oriented as we make the move.
Tag canvas tutorial
Create Assignments in Canvas Through the Calendar
You can create assignment shells using the calendar in Canvas. Assignments shells added this way are placeholders until all the details for the assignment are added. Planning assignments this way is a quick way to place them into your course…
Edit the Course Menu
Customize your course menu so that it contains only links your students need.
Create a Course Card
Cards are the rectangular images students see associated with each class they are enrolled in. They see these in their Dashboard view. To customize a card for your course, follow these instructions.
Communicating to students as UAF adopts Canvas
Both Blackboard and Canvas will be in use this semester. Learn what the university is doing to help students have a smooth semester start, and make your own communication plan.
Make interactive open content for your class with H5P
H5P is a tool you can use to easily create attractive interactive content for your class without writing code. It is integrated into Canvas for quick creation without leaving the LMS.
Transitioning from on campus to online
Your use of Canvas can help you translate your face-to-face course into an enjoyable online experience for you and your students. Here are a few steps to get you started, including how to build a template to use for each week or module and how to add your lectures right inside the editor.
Building good instructions in Canvas
Clear, easy-to-follow instructions for quizzes, assignments and discussions within your course are key in guiding learners through the assessments you ask them to complete. Find tips for writing good instructions in this Teaching Tip.
The art of the welcome announcement
Sending a welcoming message to students at the beginning of the semester is an important step in designing an effective online course. Intentional design and language choices in the announcement can create a lasting positive impression.
My course content is in Canvas. Now what?
Blackboard courses are currently being migrated to Canvas to help make the transition easier for faculty. Once there, courses will be ready to teach with some lightweight cleanup.
Understanding content organization in Canvas
Content organization functions differently in Canvas than it does in Blackboard. Students will easily learn to navigate your course when you thoughtfully design how your content is presented.
Assessing Canvas as an alternative to Blackboard
This year, UAF has been involved in a UA-wide pilot program to assess the Canvas learning management system (LMS). More than 1,000 students and 45 faculty are currently using Canvas in 66 courses. Read their feedback regarding design and usability.