Check your Canvas Settings & Knowledge

Now that you have viewed a basic overview of the Canvas Learning Management system, it is time to practice your skills and check for understanding.

Prepare to Use Canvas

Customize Your Dashboard & View All Courses

All Students have the ability to customize the Canvas Dashboard and access all courses (past and present).

To learn more about how to customize your Canvas experience, click on the guides below.

Canvas Dashboard Customization.jpg

All Courses. View all that you are enrolled in.
View Past Enrollments. Click on the link to access past content.
Future Enrollments. Access a list of upcoming courses.
My Groups. Access Canvas groups if you are enrolled in Group discussions and assignments.

Now go ahead and practice navigating to your Dashboard and make sure that you have your favorite courses set-up.

Set Up Your Canvas Profile

Please update your Canvas Profile to display an image across Canvas, and check your contact information.

To update your Canvas Profile, click on "Account" in the Canvas Global Navigation bar and then click the "Profile" link. Check the six areas below to ensure that you have a profile picture or avatar, the correct name, and a short bio.

Jo UCOL Profile.jpg

Check Your Canvas Settings

Next, you will want to check your Canvas Settings. Click on click on "Account" in the Canvas Global Navigation bar and then click the "Settings" link. This will allow you to update your contact information, display name in Canvas, and timezone.

Jo UCOL Settings.jpg

You have completed this skills check if you have updated your Canvas Profile and Settings.

Check Your Notifications

It is critically important that you check your Canvas notifications to ensure that you are getting the information you want to see.

To check your Canvas Notifications, click on "Account" in your Canvas Global Navigation bar and click on "Notifications." You will be taken to a list of notifications that you can opt-in to or opt-out of. Hover over the specific items to understand what the notification means. You will have four options of how you want to be notified. See the image below for an overview of the four options:

Notification Preferences.jpg

At University College, we recommend setting the following notifications to "Notify me right away":

Announcement
Grading
Submission Comment
Conversation Messages

All other notification preferences may be set up according to your preferences.

To complete this skills check, make sure you have updated your notifications accordingly.

Check Grades and Feedback

Obtaining grades and feedback in your courses is essential for your success.

View the two Canvas videos below to make sure that you know where to find your instructor's feedback and how to check your grades.

This first video will highlight how to check your grades.

The below video will highlight peer-review feedback and where to find feedback from your instructor.

How to add Text, Links, Images, and Videos

Your ability to navigate Canvas effectively is important! See below for quick guides on how to add text, add links, embed images, upload videos, and record videos using your editing toolbar.

Editing Toolbar.jpg

How do I add and modify text in Canvas Announcement replies, Discussions, wiki pages, etc?
How do I create a hyperlink in Canvas?
How do I embed images in Canvas?
How do I upload a video in Canvas?
How do I record a video in Canvas?

Additionally, this Canvas video below will help demonstrate effective use of the Canvas discussions.