Canvas for Faculty

This page is currently under construction.

 

We are here to support you as you start using Canvas. If you have questions, please reach out to our team and we can schedule a time to work together.

Listed below are the most frequently requested Canvas support topics. For information about a topic, select the topic and the content will display. For more in-depth tutorials and information, visit the Canvas Instructor Guides, attend a CTOL training, or ask us for support at ctol@spscc.edu.

The State Board for Technical & Community colleges offers a fully-featured Canvas training, about 20 hours of facilitated asynchronous learning.

In a hurry? You can view an unfacilitated, public version of the Canvas 101 training course.  In this course you will not be able to access certain items like discussions, quizzes, or assignments.

If you’d like to sign up for the full training,  register here for facilitated Canvas 101 training.

  • Navigation menu: Edit your navigation menu to remove unwanted options and decrease clutter. Read the “Navigation Settings” tab below for more info.
  • Set a home page: You can set your home page to be a static page or your course modules. A static page has the benefit of being a welcoming home to your course. For support creating a visually appealing home page, contact ctol@spscc.edu.
  • Assignment due dates: Quickly set your assignment due dates using the "Assignments" tab - How do I bulk update due dates
  • Import content, don’t copy: When you copy and paste content that includes course links, they will not work in the new course. Students will get a message that says “You don’t have permission to view this file.” Instead, always import course content from one course to another. Review how to import content.
  • Customize the Gradebook: Set up automatic late policies, rearrange assignments to be in a logical order, and more - How do I use the Gradebook?
  • Validate Links: You can verify links to course content throughout your course to ensure they are valid (and students can access them). You can check these links using the course link validator to find broken links before students do. 

Accessibility Training

SBCTC offers accessibility training for faculty and staff at Washington community and technical colleges. >

Using the Accessibility Checker

We have an LTI in Canvas that allows you to check the accessibility of your course contents. To use the Accessibility Checker, follow the instructions from Blackboard.

Add Your Syllabus

The first Canvas step for most faculty is to upload their SPSCC syllabus file to the Syllabus page in their Canvas course. Although the Canvas Syllabus page contains a machine-generated Course Summary, SPSCC faculty are required to post their Syllabus document within their Canvas course as well. You can do this easily by editing the syllabus page.

Be sure that your syllabus file is prepared for the course and quarter you're teaching. When your file is completed and stored in a location you can access from Canvas, upload it to the syllabus page via the Rich Content Editor.

Display Your Syllabus File In the Page

It's a great idea to upload and display an inline preview of your syllabus on our course's Syllabus page!

You can change your Course Home Page to reflect one of five layout options: the Recent Activity Dashboard, Pages Front Page, the Course Modules, the Assignment List, or the Syllabus.

Note: You must set a Front Page before selecting the Pages Front Page option. Additionally, only Published pages can be set as the Front Page.

Changing your navigation in Canvas is an easy way to shape your online course. For learning effectiveness, having fewer menu items streamlines the student user experience. By hiding items your students aren't going to use, you simplify the look and feel of your Canvas course.

You can also "hide" content types -- one example would be the Files menu item-- that you would prefer to reveal to students through in-page links or via your modules page.

This video gives you a quick guide to using your settings page navigation tab to order and hide or disable items that aren't essential to your instruction.

When students have an issue related to Canvas, please direct them to the following offices:

Help Desk

  • Login issues (passwords, login errors)
  • Account activation
  • Multifactor authentication<

Learning Support Services

  • Support using SPSCC sponsored software on a basic, tutoring level
  • How to navigate Canvas
  • How to use basic Microsoft software such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

Enrollment Services

  • Registration issues (this is most often "my classes disappeared!" due to a financial issue)

Canvas Ticket

  • Errors and issues directly related to Canvas (that are not covered by the above situations)
  • Students can submit a Canvas ticket by clicking on the info button, then clicking on "Get Support from Instructure"
  • These tickets then go directly to CTOL.

CTOL - Faculty Support

If students come to you with a Canvas question that you are not able to answer, you can email or call CTOL directly. We are able to provide direct support to faculty.  Often a student's Canvas problem needs to be addressed by changing a setting on an assignment or clarifying something with their instructor.