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Canvas Overview

To Earn Your Course Navigation and Home Page Merit Badge:�1. Create a Sandbox Course if your district allows. �2. Go to Course Settings, then Navigation. �3. Remove unneeded features, then add features you want your student to access. �4. Re-order items according to priority. �5. Set a Home Page. �6. Check your work using Student View.

Course Navigation and Home Page Merit Badge

Canvas is a Learning Management System that can help you deliver content to your students be it in a blended learning setting or during distance learning.

Customizing Your �Canvas Course

As the teacher, you can control which links appear in Course Navigation and other settings. Students will use the course navigation to help find their way around your course.

Updated Rich �Content Editor

Canvas has a simple, yet powerful, content editor that is used for creating new content. The Rich Content Editor can be found throughout Canvas in Pages, Assignments, and more.

Syllabus and� Course Creation

The Syllabus in Canvas makes �it easy to communicate to �your students exactly what �will be required of them throughout the course in chronological order.

Home Page

The Course Home Page is the first view your students will see upon entering your course. You can added images and buttons to provide students with quick access to content.

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Page Creation �and Management

To Earn Your Discussions and Assignments Merit Badge:�1. Open your Sandbox Course created in Part 1.�2. Go to Discussions from the Course Navigation menu, then add a new Discussion.�3. Create a title and add content using the Rich Content Editor.�4. Add an Assignment in the Course Assignments page.�5. Add content to the Assignment using the Rich Content Editor.

Discussions and Assignments �Merit Badge

Pages store content and educational resources that don’t necessarily belong in an assignment. Content such as images or videos can be added using the Rich Content Editor.

Discussions

Discussions allow teachers to create dynamic asynchronous, interactive online conversations for their students. Discussions can be graded or ungraded and customized through settings.

Assignments

Assignments in Canvas can be used to challenge students' understanding and help assess competency by using a variety �of media. There are multiple submission types to choose from.

Speedgrader

As a teacher, SpeedGrader allows you to view and grade student assignment submissions in one place using a point scale or a rubric. SpeedGrader is also part of the Canvas Teacher app.

*Google Cloud �Assignments

Using the Google LTI, you can create an online assignment that when a student opens the assignment Google Drive will create a copy of the file for them to edit and submit.

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Embedding Video

In Canvas

To Earn Your Video and Canvas Commons Merit Badge:�1. Open your Sandbox Course created in Part 1.�2. Create a new page and embed or link a YouTube video using the Rich Content Editor.�3. Access Commons from the left Global Navigation Menu and search for a course or module related to what you teach.�4. Once you find an interesting course or module, copy it into your Sandbox Course.

Video and �Canvas Commons�Merit Badge

Embedding a video on a page in Canvas allows your students to watch the video without leaving Canvas. Ads and suggested videos are removed.

*Studio Video Tool

Studio Video makes it easy for teachers and students to actively collaborate through video by being able to add already created videos or to create your own videos..

Canvas Commons

Canvas Commons allows users to share content with one another. From a single page to an entire course, teachers can share their content with the Canvas community through Commons.

Direct Share

You can directly share Canvas resources such as assignments, discussions, content pages, etc. with others. You can also send those same types of items to a different course you teach.

Course Importing� and Copying

The Course Import Tool allows for easy importing from another LMS, from a Canvas export, or for copying from one course to another. You can also copy only specific content.

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Classic Quizzes

To Earn Your Quizzes and Modules Merit Badge:�1. Create a Classic Quiz or a NEW Quiz. �2. Add directions in the Rich Content Editor and add three questions to your quiz using at least two different question types. �3. Access Modules from the Course Navigation menu and add a new Module.�4. Then add at least three items into the new Module.�5. Check your work by clicking Student View. �

Quizzes and Modules Merit Badge

Classic Quizzes are assignments that can be used to challenge student understanding and assess learning. Quizzes can be graded and ungraded.

NEW Quizzes

New Quizzes allows you to create assessments using a variety of question types. New Quizzes assessments display as assignments.

Modules

Modules allow teachers to organize content to help control the flow of the �course. Modules are easy to customize and offer both flexible structure and content.

Using Modules to Create a Path of Learning for Your Students

Modules can be great for curating content for both in-person blended learning experiences or for a distance learning experience. Still not sure about Modules? �Check out these videos.

Pages, Discussions, Quizzes, Assignments, and much more �can all be added to Modules. Check out these videos to see how we planned and created the content for each module.

For some extra bells and whistles check out how Prerequisites and Requirements can be added to add more control over the flow of content. **Bonus** The last link is a Module Planning Sheet.

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Your Files Space

The Files Space in Canvas allows you to store files and images in Canvas. You can add one or multiple files and restrict �access to files.

Adding a Course

Tile Image

An image can be uploaded to be displayed on your Course Tile/Card on the Dashboard. Accepted files include JPG, GIF, and PNG. Course Tile Images should be about 262x146 px.

Creating Headers

Create headers to visually enhance your Canvas pages and give your students a reference point. You can design headers in Google Drawing, Canva, and Adobe Spark.

Putting It �All Together

Creating Buttons

Create buttons to visually enhance your Canvas pages �and provide structure for the workflow of your course. You �can design buttons in Google Drawing, Canva, or Adobe Spark.

To Earn Your Header and Buttons Merit Badge:�1. Create a header and a button using Canva, Adobe Spark, or Google Drawing. �2. Add your header and button(s) to your Home Page or a Page �in Canvas. �3. Remember in order to make your buttons interactive you will need to link them to either external links or course links.�4. Check your work using Student View.

Header and Buttons

Merit Badge

Before you begin designing, watch this overview video �to get an idea of how it will� all come together once �you have all of your course graphics created.

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Profile & Settings

To Earn Your Canvas Communication Merit Badge:�1. Personalize your profile information. �2. Add a picture to your profile. �3. Customize your notification settings. �4. Create a new announcement.

5. Delay the posting of the announcement. �

Canvas Communication Merit Badge

Profile and User Settings let �you control your personal information in Canvas. Add your picture, update your contact information, and more.

Notification

Settings

Notifications are a way for you to get alerted when a variety �of actions occur in Canvas. Customize your notifications �by course.

Canvas Inbox

The Canvas Inbox displays �all Canvas Conversations. It �is the internal messaging system within Canvas.

Announcements

Announcements allow you to communicate with students about course activities. Announcements can be drafted ahead of time and scheduled to send at a later time.

Calendar

The Canvas Calendar is used �to remind students of events and assignments with �specific dates.

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Canvas For Elementary Facebook Group