Canvas LMS
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my Google Files?
I am missing the Commons button.
How do I add a co-teacher to my course?
Canvas SchoolMax Generated Courses
What if I am missing a course in Canvas?
Can I use one course for all classes?
How do I create a course if I do not have SchoolMax Courses?
How do I add the PGCPS Template to my Course?
How do I enroll students into my manually created Course?
Where do I find my Curriculum Instructional Maps?
Where can I find my Digital Textbooks?
Where can I find Canvas courses or modules for my Content?
Who do I contact if I have questions about course content?
Which External Tools are integrated with Canvas?
Can the district add other external tools?
How do I connect District Tools to my course or assignment?
How do I “make a copy” of Google Workspace assignments for students?
How do I troubleshoot Google authorization issues?
Why do my students not see the assignments?
How do I copy/share content from other courses?
Will Canvas read the text to my students or translate the content in another language?
How can I learn more about Canvas?
How can my students learn about Canvas?
What support is provided by Instructure?
General |
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a learning management system (LMS) designed to create, distribute and manage the delivery of educational content. Teachers/Instructors can post content, facilitate discussions and administer formative assessments. Students will be able to see assignments, due dates and class materials in one place. Learning outside of the normal day can be facilitated for K-12 and adult learners.
Who has access to Canvas?
All PGCPS employees who are listed in Oracle and PGCPS students should have access to Canvas. Educators, school-based administrators and select offices also have access to create courses in Canvas.
Contractors, Parents, and Teacher Interns currently are not able to login to Canvas.
Can I still use my Google Files?
Google Workspace integrates with Canvas. This means educators are able to add Google files (documents, slides, sheets and jamboards) to their courses.
Access |
How do I login to Canvas?
- Navigate to the Staff Portal.
- Select Canvas or Clever
- Login with your PGCPS username and password.
Direct Link: https://pgcps.instructure.com/
My login does not work.
Make sure you are using the same username and password you use for other applications such as Oracle, Gmail, and Zoom and that you are accessing the link from the Staff Portal.
If you have recently changed your password, you may have a password sync issue. Reset your password again, wait about 90 minutes and try again.
If you continue to have an issue, please submit a Help Desk ticket. (Include the error message and the fact that you tried resetting your password.)
I am missing the Commons button.
Access to Commons is based on those assigned the role of teacher in Canvas. Teachers are educators in SchoolMAX assigned to at least one course with students attached. Contact the school’s scheduler if the educator doesn’t have a SchoolMAX schedule with students enrolled in their course(s).
If after updating the schedule and waiting overnight for the changes to take effect Commons doesn’t appear, enter a Help Desk ticket.
How do I add a co-teacher to my course?
Teachers assigned as primary and additional educators in SchoolMAX should automatically have access to a course. Teachers who are assigned as educators in SchoolMAX may add other instructional staff to their course(s) using the People tab.
Co-teachers should be added as Teachers or as TA (Teacher Assistants) to retain the same access as the course’s primary educator.
Canvas SchoolMax Generated Courses |
Where do I find my courses?
- Login to Canvas.
- Select Dashboard.
- If you do not see all of your courses, select Courses from the blue navigation bar then select All Courses.
What if I am missing a course in Canvas?
If you are missing a course on your dashboard, try these possible solutions:
- Click on Courses→ All Courses. If that does not resolve the problem go to step 2.
- Verify you are assigned the course in SchoolMax and listed as the primary educator. If courses are missing in SchoolMax contact your school scheduler. If that does not resolve the problem go to step 3.
- If everything is correct in SchoolMax, please submit a Help Desk ticket. (Include the missing course name and section).
Can I use one course for all classes?
Educators should use the automatically rostered courses in Canvas. A course is created for each class you are listed as the primary educator in SchoolMax. As we prepare for grade passback, educators will need to have one course for each class they teach.
Manually Created Courses |
How do I create a Canvas course if I do not have SchoolMax classes?
- On the dashboard, select Start a New Course
- Give the Course a name and associate it with your work location or under manually created courses.
How do I add the PGCPS template to my manually created course?
- Click on Commons on the blue navigation bar.
- Search for the Elementary, Secondary or Professional Learning Template
- Select the template
- Click Import/Download
- Select your course and Click Import into Course
How do I add students into my manually created course?
You can enroll them by manually adding each email address or providing a self-enroll link.
Curriculum Content in Canvas |
Where do I find my Curriculum Instructional Maps?
Curriculum Instructional Maps and related resources can be found in the Teaching & Learning Hub.
You can access the Teaching & Learning Hub via Clever and from the global navigation menu in Canvas.
Where can I find my Digital Textbooks?
Many digital textbooks are available in Canvas and some remain in Clever. Please refer to the Textbook Vendor Directory for details. Most Canvas apps are available as an External Tool when creating Assignments, others are available via the course navigation menu. Directions are provided on the Textbook Vendor Directory.
Where can I find Canvas courses or modules for my Content?
The Division of Academics has developed exemplar courses which are available in Commons. These courses have ready-made content and can be imported to your course. To see if an exemplar course is available for your content area, please visit the content page in the T & L Hub and use the posted curriculum to develop course content for your PGCPS template. Note: Exemplar course content is not available for every course provided in PGCPS.
Who do I contact if I have questions about course content?
Questions about course content should be directed to the content area teams. You may also refer to the District Contact section of your content area’s page in the Teaching & Learning Hub.
LTI External Tools |
Which External Tools are integrated with Canvas?
Information on the district tools integrated into Canvas can be found on the Digital Tools section of the T&L Hub. You can also view the Textbook Vendor Directory to find the digital textbooks that are available in Canvas.
Can teachers or schools add or request other external tools?
At this time, only district-level tools will be available in Canvas. School-based purchases will not be integrated into Canvas.
How do I connect District Tools to my course or assignment?
Information on how to use the district tools within Canvas can be found on the Digital Tools section of the T&L Hub.
How do I “make a copy” of Google Workspace assignments for students?
Canvas allows you to create an assignment where students get their own copy of the Google Template provided to them. See Adding to Canvas Assignments.
How do I troubleshoot Google Authorization issues?
Select the three dots in the top right of the Chrome browser. Select settings. Choose to reset settings. Then close out of the Canvas window. Open up Canvas in a new tab. Select the Google assignment. Authorize the account.
Course Features |
How do I unpublish a course?
Open your course > click Home > Click Unpublish
How do I delete a course?
Only attempt to delete a course that you have manually created. Additionally, if you did not create the course, don't delete it. To delete a course: open the course, click Settings > Delete Course
Why do my students not see the assignments?
- Make sure your course is published.
- Make sure the module and content are published.
How do I copy/share content from other courses?
You can share content created in one Canvas course to another. You can also send content to colleagues without making them a co-teacher in your class.
Open your course > click on Modules > Select the three dots corresponding to the content you want to share (Module, Page, Assignment, etc.) > Select Copy to > Type/Search/Select the course you want the content to copy to.
Will Canvas read the text to my students or translate the content in another language?
Microsoft Immersive Reader enhances the students reading experience by improving accessibility to boost comprehension. It is available to students on Canvas Pages and Assignments.
Canvas Support |
How can I learn more about Canvas?
We have multiple ways you can learn about Canvas
- Attend a training hosted by the Technology Training Team (T3).
- View the self-paced Canvas 101 | Getting Started Course
- Watch a recorded webinar on the T3 website.
- Visit the Training Service Portal to view a session on the Canvas Help Menu
How can my students learn about Canvas?
Within each course template there is a section there is a Canvas Resource for Students page in the Help and Support section. This page contains videos and directions from Instructure and the Technology Training Team for various Canvas features
What support is provided by Instructure?
PGCPS staff and students have anytime access to the Canvas Support line and Live Chat for Support. Staff can also access the Canvas Guides and Training Services Portal which provides training courses, live training and videos. All Instructure help resources are located in the Help section on the blue global navigation menu.