Canvas Basics
Tech Guides
About
Canvas is Arizona State University’s fully-featured Learning Management System (LMS) designed to facilitate the delivery of instruction. It enables educators to create and present online learning materials, assess student learning, and provide feedback on skill development and learning achievement. Canvas includes a wide range of tools and features, such as assignments, discussions, announcements, quizzes, syllabi, and enhanced tools for communication, collaboration, and assessment.
Navigate
Why Use Canvas?
- Easy Organization: Instructors can easily manage course materials, assignments, and assessments in one place, making it efficient for both teachers and students.
- Engaging Features: Use interactive tools like multimedia integration and real-time communication, enhancing student engagement and participation.
- Effective Assessment and Feedback: Explore various assessment tools that enable instructors to evaluate student learning and provide timely feedback
- Collaboration Made Simple: Promote collaboration among students through discussion boards, group projects, and shared document editing.
- Assess Engagement with Data Analytics: Canvas offers analytics and reporting tools, giving instructors valuable insights into student performance and engagement for informed instruction
Getting Started
Request your Canvas Course Shell
Request your Canvas course shell well enough in advance to ensure you have plenty of time to develop and update the content.
Request Canvas shell for i-Course, on-campus, and synchronous classes
Request this type of course through your My ASU page under “Teaching and Student Support Tools” or by visiting the course request site https://webapp4.asu.edu/cem-request/. For more guidance, see How to Request an Immersion Course in Canvas
Request Canvas shell for oCourse and iCourse/oCourse combined classes
Request course through the ASU Online Canvas course request form (instead of your MyASU page) to enable technology licensed to ASU Online.
Start-Up Resources
- Course Setup for Canvas
- An ASU Quick Start Guide
- Canvas Course Slack Workspace
- Request a Live (SLN-Based) Canvas Course
- Copy a Canvas Course to Another Canvas Course (using the Course Import tool)
- Designating a Course Home Page in Canvas
- FAQ: Adding Profile Pictures in Canvas
- Add your syllabus to Canvas
- Resources for Designing a Course
- Resources for Teaching a Course
- Resources for Revising a Course
- Resources for Inheriting a Course
Tools and Integrations
Canvas Basics
Assignments
Assignments in Canvas can be used to challenge students' understanding and help assess competency by using a variety of media. See more on Assignments.
- How to create an assignment in Canvas
- How to add/edit points for an assignment
- Assignment due dates vs. availability dates
- How to edit assignment due dates and availability dates in bulk
- How to limit submission attempts for an assignment
- How to add or edit details in an assignment
- How to download all student submissions for an assignment
- Setting up assignment groups in Canvas
- How to add an assignment that includes anonymous grading
- How to Enable the Turnitin Anti-Plagiarism Tool for a Canvas Assignment
- Turnitin Accounts and Quick Submit/Direct Submit How-to
Quizzes
Quizzes in Canvas are assignments that can be used to challenge student understanding and assess comprehension of course material. "Quizzes" are the blanket term for all tests, quizzes, and exams in Canvas. See more on Quizzes..
- General information about Quizzes
- Formula questions
- How to move questions between question banks
- How to randomize quiz questions
- Once I publish a quiz, how can I give my students extra attempts?
- Once I publish a timed quiz, how can I give my students extra time?
- How to make changes to published quizzes
- Proctoring with Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor
- Proctoring with Honorlock (ASU Online)
Discussions
Canvas Discussions allow for interactive communication between two or more people; users can participate in a conversation with an entire class or group. Discussions can be created as an assignment for grading purposes or simply serve as a forum for topical and current events.
- How to set up and manage discussion boards
- How to create a discussion
- How to create a group discussion in a course
- How to create a peer review discussion
- Allow students to attach files to a course discussion
- How to edit a discussion in a course
- How to subscribe to discussions
Troubleshooting/Support
Common issues
- Canvas Basic Browser & Computer Requirements
- Limited-Support for Mobile Browsers & Tablet Devices
- Managing Canvas Notifications
- Quiz Availability Dates
- Embedding Videos on Course Pages
- Managing Student Grade Visibility
- Additional Troubleshooting Resources
Support Pages/Contacts
ASU LMS Support
If you need additional assistance with Canvas, connect with the ASU Experience Center. Help is available 24/7 for your convenience at the following points of contact:
- Phone: 1-855-278-5080 | Local: 480-965-6500
- Live Chat (Faculty/Staff): MyASU "Service" tab
- LMS Support Requests: http://links.asu.edu/lms-support
ASU Course Design/Development Support
Contact the ASU Learning Experience (LX) team with questions regarding course design or educational technologies and their integration.
- Email [email protected]
- Schedule a virtual consultation with a LX technology specialist.
Additional Resources
ASU Resources
- Canvas for Instructors - ASU Knowledge Base
- ASU Canvas Workshops
- ASU Canvas Quick Tips Videos & Resources
- Using MediaPlus in Canvas to Publish a Video
- ASU Canvas Accessibility Resources
- Self-paced Intro to Canvas course
- Canvas Course Management Guide
- Troubleshooting Checklist for instructors
- Canvas Knowledge Articles and How to’s
- Subscribe to the LMS Updates Mailing List
- Canvas for Instructors
- Canvas Instructor Guides
- LMS at Arizona State University
- Running List of Canvas LTIs (AirTable)
- Introducing Third-Party Tools into the LMS