General Canvas FAQs

This article covers frequently asked questions from faculty about using Canvas at our college, providing quick solutions to common issues.

Learn more about Canvas Terminology and other Help Articles.

How are courses created in Canvas?

Courses are automatically generated in Canvas based on information from the college’s course registration system. There's no need to manually create a course. If your course doesn't appear, reach out to your Dean.

How do I copy content from a previous course to a new one?

Linked here, If you are allowed to create Canvas courses, you can copy a course and create a new course shell. Copied courses are added to the same subaccount as the course that is copied.

Note: You can choose to copy everything or select specific items like assignments, quizzes, or modules.

How to Import Course content

How do I use Gradebook in Canvas?

How do I use the Gradebook
How to view your students' total grade in Canvas

Linked here, How to use the Course Setup Checklist.
Note: Students cannot access courses until they are published live.

How do I set up my course homepage?

Linked here, If you are enrolled in a course as an instructor, the Course Home Page is the first page students see when they open the course. The Home Page also helps students understand how they can navigate through the course. You can customize the Home Page to create a specific workflow for your students.

How do I use the Course Navigation Menu as an instructor?

Linked here, the Course Navigation Menu is a set of persistent links located on the left side of every course page, providing streamlined access to various areas of the course. This menu remains visible as you and your students navigate different parts of the course, ensuring quick access to essential course components such as Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Grades, Modules, and more. Customizable by instructors, the Course Navigation Menu allows you to hide or reorder links based on course needs, improving organization and user experience. Each link leads to a specific course area, enabling seamless transitions between activities, resources, and assessments.

How do I create assignments in Canvas?

Linked here, how to create assignments in Canvas.

How do I create quizzes in Canvas?

Linked here, how to create quizzes. 

Note: There are two kinds of quizzes in Canvas: new quizzes and classic quizzes. SPC only uses New quizzes. 

What are item banks and how do I use them with my quizzes?

An item bank in Canvas is a collection of reusable quiz questions that can be organized and managed for easy access during quiz creation. Instructors can create, edit, and categorize questions within item banks, allowing for a more efficient quiz-making process. By utilizing item banks, teachers can maintain a diverse question pool, randomize questions for assessments, and ensure consistent evaluation across multiple quizzes. This feature enhances flexibility and efficiency in assessing student understanding within Canvas's New Quizzes tool. To learn more click the linked article here.

How do I use Speedgrader to grade student work?

Linked, how to use Speedgrader

Video: Speedgrader discussion grading tip in Canvas

Link: How to sort student list in Speedgrader

How do I use Modules to organize content?

Linked here, learn how Modules in Canvas are organizational structures that allow instructors to group course content, such as assignments, quizzes, and resources, into a cohesive learning pathway. Modules help facilitate course navigation by providing a clear sequence for students to follow, enabling them to access materials and complete tasks in a structured manner. Instructors can customize modules by setting prerequisites, locking items until certain conditions are met, and assigning due dates, enhancing the overall learning experience.

How do I add multimedia content to my course?

Linked here, an explanation on how to embed videos, upload audio, and add external resources like websites or documents to enrich course content.

How do I use discussion boards effectively?

Liked here, a guide for faculty on creating discussion boards, setting up discussions, and moderating conversations.

How do I provide accommodations for students?

In Canvas, instructors can add accommodations for students during assessments to meet individual learning needs, such as extended time or multiple attempts. Specifically, in New Quizzes, accommodations allow instructors to adjust quiz settings for all course quizzes or specific assessments for particular students.

To add accommodations in New Quizzes, instructors can:

• Adjust time limits by either extending the time by a percentage or by adding a specific amount of extra time.
• Enable unlimited attempts for students requiring multiple chances to complete the quiz.
• Apply accommodations globally across all quizzes in the course or customize them for individual quizzes.

These accommodations are set in the Moderate page of New Quizzes, where instructors can also monitor student progress and make additional adjustments if needed. This ensures that accommodations are applied consistently, enhancing accessibility and fairness for students with specific needs.

For more detailed instructions, you can view the Canvas guide on adding accommodations in New Quizzes here.

How do I create and use rubrics for grading?

• How do I manage rubrics in a course?
• How do I add a rubric in a course?
• How do I add a rubric to an assignment?
• How do I add a rubric to a graded discussion?
• How do I add a rubric to a quiz?
• How do I align an outcome with a rubric in a course?
• How do I use free-form comments instead of ratings in a rubric in SpeedGrader?
• How do I use a rubric to grade submissions in SpeedGrader?
  
  

How do I add Teaching Assistants or Co-Instructors to my course?

This article provides information on how to add users to your Canvas course.

How to Undelete Course Content?

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to restore deleted course content. Linked here.

Note: Modules Cannot be restored but the content within them can be recovered.

How do I customize course notifications?

Guide faculty on setting up personal notification preferences for updates on assignments, discussions, and student submissions.

What other time-saving tips and tricks are there for Canvas? 

Check out our Tech Tip Tuesdays! These are 1-5 minute Canvas video tutorials designed to improve and streamline your instruction! 

What should I do if I experience technical issues with Canvas?

You can use the Help feature within Canvas to access guides.

You can also contact The Academic Technology Support Team, their information is  below. 👇

Have Questions? Contact the Academic Technology Support Team

ATST@spcollege.edu 

 Phone at 727-341-3500 

(Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).

After-hours or weekend assistance? Contact the Technical Support Center at 727-791-2795 or onlinehelp@spcollege.edu

Want to Schedule a One-on-One or Group Session on Canvas or other instructional technology issues or opportunities?

Schedule 1:1 Support Help with a Member of the MyCourses4Faculty Team