Mastering the Canvas Dashboard

Canvas LMS is designed to streamline course management, but its Dashboard—your central hub for courses and updates—can sometimes be confusing. This guide walks you through every feature, customization option, and troubleshooting step to help you work efficiently.

1. Accessing the Dashboard

After logging into your institution's Canvas portal, you'll land on the Dashboard, which provides:

• Course Cards (visual tiles for quick access)
• Navigation Sidebar (links to courses, calendar, inbox, etc.)

⚠️ Note: The Dashboard displays up to 20 favorited courses on desktop (10 on mobile). If some courses are missing, you may need to adjust favorites (see below).

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Don’t rely on the courses appearing on your Canvas Dashboard. Be sure to click “All Courses” and set favorites.

2. Dashboard Views: Card, List, or Recent Activity

Canvas offers three ways to view your Dashboard. Switch between them using the three-dot menu (⋮) or toggle button (top right):

A. Card View (Default)

• Displays courses as visual tiles with:
  • Course name & code
  • Customizable image/color (click ⋮ on a card to change)
  • Star icon to favorite/unfavorite
• Best for: Quick access to frequently used courses.

B. List View

• Shows a compact vertical list with:
  • Course name, term, and recent activity (e.g., unread announcements)
  • Due date indicators
  • Star toggle for favorites
• Best for: Faculty with many courses (avoids scrolling).

C. Recent Activity View

• Focuses on real-time updates:
  • New submissions, grades, or feedback
  • Announcements and discussion replies
• Best for: Tracking student engagement across courses.

3. Customizing Your Dashboard

A. Managing Course Favorites

Only favorited courses appear on the Dashboard. To adjust:

1. Click "Courses" in the left sidebar.
2. Select "All Courses."
3. Click the star icon next to courses you want to pin/hide.
   
   

B. Color Coding & Organization

• Change a course card's color by clicking the Three dots ⋮ in the top right corner of the Course Card then selecting Color then select Apply 
  
  
• Reorder cards by dragging and dropping.
  
  

4. Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ Favorite Courses Not Appearing?

• Ensure you haven't exceeded the 20-course limit (desktop).
• Try switching views (e.g., List View may show more courses).
• Clear browser cache or try a different browser.

❌ Missing Recent Activity?

• Check if the course is favorited.
• Verify announcements/assignments are published (not draft).

❌ Mobile App Issues?

• The mobile app only shows 10 favorited courses—prioritize key courses.

Final Tips

• Use List View if you teach many courses.
• Bookmark the Calendar to stay on top of deadlines.
• Hide unused sidebar tools via Settings Navigation for a cleaner look.
  
  

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 Academic Technology Support Team