Beginning of Semester Canvas Checklist |
Follow any of the links to relevant walkthroughs in the Canvas Instructor Guide.
Cross-Listing (Optional) - when you have multiple sections that will have the same content
- Combine multiple sections of the same course or multiple related courses by cross-listing them.
- The content of the “child” will not be displayed, only the content of the “parent” course. If one of these courses already has content that you want to retain, use that course as the “parent” when following the closs-listing directions.
- Here is a video from Canvas on how to cross-list your courses.
Course Set-Up
- Import any content from past courses that you want to use in this new course.
- Adjust your course settings as necessary (including start and end dates/times).
- For an optimal course experience, hide any unnecessary course navigation links, including the course “People” page.
- If you use weighted grades in your course, set up your Assignment Groups.
Content
- Check any content imported from a past course to make sure it is up-to-date.
- Add your syllabus to your course.
- Create and publish graded activities (Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions), along with their due dates, so they are added to the Gradebook and the class calendar.
- Restrict any files you don’t want students to be able to access.
Accessibility (what is accessibility?)
Content Visibility
- Use the Link Validator to make sure any links in the course are still active.
- Make sure all course content items (Files, Assignments, etc.) that you want to be visible to your students are published, and have a green checkmark next to them.
- Make sure all modules containing content that you want to be visible to your students are published, and have a green checkmark next to them.
- Use Student View to double-check what the course looks like to students.
Student Support & Access
- Take any necessary steps to support students whose names may not be showing up as they desire in Canvas – start by hiding the course “People” page from course navigation, and run through other steps outlined in the Being Mindful of Student Middle Names in Canvas checklist for instructors.
- Please do not add students that do not appear in your Canvas roster.
- Compare your Canvas & Banner rosters, and be prepared to share materials with students who don’t yet have access to Canvas.
Welcoming Students Into Your Course
- FYI: Students do not receive notifications about Canvas Announcements in unpublished courses, or before the start date, in published courses. If you want to message your students before your course is published and before its start date, please use their Guilford email.
- Please share your expectations about notifications, as students can change their preferences for receiving notifications about course activity in Canvas.
Issues with or Questions about Canvas
If you're experiencing an issue with Canvas, simply put in a ticket at https://webhelpdesk.guilford.edu, or email its@guilford.edu to receive assistance. Someone who works on Canvas here at Guilford College, either in Hege Library & Learning Technologies or ITS, will get in touch with you about your issue.
Canvas is synced with Banner 3 times every business day (at approximately 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM, approximately). Please put in a ticket if information from Banner is not reflected in Canvas after the next sync.
Learning How to Use Canvas
Hege Library & Learning Technologies staff are here to help you learn how to use Canvas, or help you incorporate new Canvas features and tools into your classroom. We also offer regular in-person workshops on Canvas throughout the school year. Simply get in touch with one of the staff members below for assistance: