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.
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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.
Reimagining feedback to be feedforward
Feedback can be a powerful influence on achievement, particularly when students are able to participate in the conversation. Find out how Canvas allows for quick, easy, personalized 'feedforward' collaboration in the gradebook.
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.
Skeuomorphism – How to use it or lose it
Skeuomorphism is where an object in software mimics its real-world counterpart. Learning Management Systems are riddled with skeuomorphism and this affects your course structure. Embracing the strength of online courses as learning environments requires the intentional use of skeuomorphism and modern web design.
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.