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Canvas Welcome Guide for Parents

Warren County Career Center

Last updated August 2022

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Welcome to canvas

Welcome! We are glad that you’re here! This is a guide about Canvas, a tool that students use extensively during their time at the WCCC.

When you sign up for your “Canvas Observer Account,” it gives you the ability to check on your student’s digital classes, not just grades. That makes Canvas different from ProgressBook.

Included in this parent guide is:

What is Canvas?
Ways it can help
How & why parent accounts can be created
How to get the Canvas apps
Parts & terminology you will see in Canvas
Parent tips to using Canvas

Check out the entire guide for a bigger understanding or simply get answers quickly using the index on S lide #3.

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Canvas Welcome Guide for Parents Index

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What is Canvas?

Canvas is the digital place where students find their learning content for classes. Users have access to Canvas through any device with an internet connection or mobile apps.

�Students are able to:

Turn in assignments,
Check grades,
Ask questions and clarify content with teachers,
Collaborate with classmates,
Refer to class calendars to stay up to date with expectations,

Parents are able to:

Check on their students’ progress.
See email & announcements
See grades of Canvas assignments

Teachers are able to:

Give assignments, videos, assessments & general resources,
Post announcements,
Communicate grades & feedback,
Communicate with students w/ email, class calendars and announcements.

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Step ONE: How to “See” your student’s canvas account--

Get a pairing code

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Get an pairing code

Essential Pairing Code information:

Students are automatically enrolled in Canvas courses, so they have an all-access pass to its content. With a little work parents can have access too.

Become an “Observer.” First you need a pairing code.

How to Get a Pairing Code (Directions)

Ways to get a pairing code:

Use a pairing code from your student. Directions
Use the pairing code that was emailed to you. (It is only good for 7 days!)
Use a pairing code from for student’s teacher.

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Want to know more about pairing codes?

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Warning: Pairing codes expire

The pairing code only works for 7 days after it has been created or after it has been used one time!

This is a Canvas thing, not a WCCC thing.
All observers need their own codes.
Link your code to the student account before this time expires or you will need to obtain a new code.
Once you have paired your account to your student, you will remain paired.

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Want to know more about pairing codes?

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1st Method:

USE the code WCCC gave you

(Don’t forget, it’s only good for 7 days!)

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Activate the pairing code that WCCC Gave you

The easiest method to see your student’s Canvas account is to use the pairing code that was emailed to you the first few weeks of school, but don’t delay!

This code is only good for seven days after it has been generated or only for one activation. (This is a Canvas created safeguard that the WCCC has no control over. )

If more than seven days have passed, you will need to proceed to methods 1.2 or 1.3 or contact the school to reissue a code.

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2nd Method:

Have your student prepare a code for you

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Students create a pairing code

1) Students log into Canvas and then click on their “Account.”

2) Then click on “Settings.”

3) The click on “Pair with Observer.”

4) Canvas automatically generates a code. It will look something like this only with a different alphanumeric code.

5) Share this code with your parent. (It will expire after 7 days or after it has been used. )

6) Activate the code by clicking “Ok.”

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Want to know more about pairing codes?

Directions-

Another look

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3rd Method:

Have one of your student’s teachers or Mrs. Milner create a code

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Requesting a canvas observer code

If you have time to communicate your need for an “Observer’s Code,” then asking a teacher or other authorized school official for a pairing code can be an effective method. Authorized staff are considered your student’s:

CT teacher
Academic teachers
Guidance counselor
The IT help desk or
Edtech coach, Mrs. Milner

You will need to:

Provide the student’s name
Have verified consent as a student guardian

The timing of receiving and activating the code is very important.

Don’t forget, as security safeguard, pairing codes are only good for 7 days.

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Step TWO: How to “See” your student’s canvas account--

Create a Parent account

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Create parent canvas account

For Canvas access, Observers need to create their own account.

1. Go to the portal to the WCCC Canvas:

wccc.instructure.com/login/canvas

2. Click on “Parent of a Canvas User? Click Here for an Account.”

3. To create the account, parents need:

A working email
The “Pairing Code”

Pro Tip: Bookmark wccc.instructure.com for faster future login.

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Using canvas on the go

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Get mobile access to the canvas account

There are different Canvas mobile apps for iOs & Android devices for the specialized roles:

Student (red)
Parent (blue)
Teacher (yellow)

To help lessen confusion, each role has the same symbol, but is distinguished by a different color.

Before you download the app to your smart device, please make sure you have the correct app for your role.

Android (Google Play)

Apple App Store

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canvas

Vs. Progressbook

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Canvas Vs. ProgressBook

At the beginning of the year, your were emailed the login info for Canvas & ProgressBook.

What is the difference between the two?

Canvas:

Shows the actual assignments, announcements AND grades
Hosts a handy calendar with due dates.
(Note: Not all grades are in Canvas. Some assignments go directly into PB, skipping Canvas entirely. )

ProgressBook:

Shows all grades for any given class.
Shows the most accurate grade.

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canvas

basics

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What Canvas looks like- Dashboard, Global Navigation & Recent Feedback

Dashboard is your student’s landing point in Canvas & is a good place to go back to if you get “lost” in Canvas. It houses all “Published” classes, the “to do” list, classroom & schoolwide announcements and recent feedback.

Global Navigation Bar: Pictured below

Recent Feedback: You find this in the bottom-right corner of your dashboard screen. It has all recent grades, comments & general feedback.

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Course Name

Dashboard

All Enrolled Courses

All Groups the Student is Enrolled In

Calendar of All Assignments

Email Messages

Canvas Commons (General Help Support)

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What Canvas looks like- COURSE CARDS

Course Card: Every class has its own course card shown on the Dashboard. When teachers post new announcements, discussions, files or assignments, a little circular notification will pop up by the associated icon. (Note: Icons aren’t all in the same order on all the course cards.)

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Course Name

Notification

Announcements

Notification

Files

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What Canvas looks like- to-Do List

To-Do List: This includes all tasks that are required of your student. It reflects ALL present classes & is organized in chronological order.

All items have the due date, number of points it’s worth & the class with which its associated.
Items are linked to the actual assignment.
Each item listed has an icon so you can see at a glance what type of item it is. (Assignments use a paper & pencil symbol.)

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MakE Canvas work for you, the parent!

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getting the most out of your Canvas experience

Here’s a great parent tip video from an actual parent AND Canvas user.

You don’t have time now to watch it all? Here are highlights!

5:15 To-Do List

7:30 Notifications

8:20 Calendar

11:50 Course Home Page

13:25 Modules

15:25 Recent Feedback

16:40 Assignment Submission

18:35 View Grades

22:10 Using inbox to contact the teacher

25:10 Announcements

25:50 Using Canvas Help

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STILL STUMPED OR NEED HELP?

We have one person who handles and troubleshoots all Canvas matters. If you need additional Canvas help, please reach out to:

Winnie Milner
Winnie.Milner@mywccc.org

If you need additional ProgressBook help, please reach out to the person at your child’s Campus:

Atrium Campus:

Stacey Wells
Stacey.Wells@mywccc.org

Main Campus:

Julie Smith
Julie.Smith@mywccc.org

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