Canvas
Introduction
Canvas is a learning management system (LMS for short). It is an online space where professors can deliver content to their students, interact with students, and assess student performance. Your professor might post reading materials, quizzes, homework assignments, videos, and more on their class Canvas page. Canvas is also a place where you can interact with your professor and peers, such as through a virtual discussion board or by sending a direct message.
To be successful in most courses at El Camino College (or at any California Community College and most universities), you will want to know some of the basics for using Canvas.
Canvas Dashboard & Navigation
The Dashboard is the first thing you will see when you log into Canvas. The Dashboard helps you see what is happening in all your current courses. You can return to your User Dashboard at any time by clicking the Dashboard link in Global Navigation.
Your Canvas Dashboard consists of two main elements:
The actual Dashboard defaults to the course view, which provides access and updates in "favorite" courses.
The Global Navigation Menu on the left provides quick links to all main Canvas areas and can be accessed from any area in Canvas.
How to Use the Canvas Dashboard and Global Navigation Links
In this 4-minute video, you will learn the basics about your Canvas Dashboard and Global Navigation links, as well as some basics about navigating a course, accessing assignments, and checking grades:
Inbox
The Inbox is a messaging tool used to communicate with a course, a group, an individual student, or a group of students. You can use the Inbox to communicate with other people in your course at any time.
You may find the Inbox in the Global Navigation.
Tip: I will reach-out to you and the entire class in the Inbox. The only time I will email you is as a response to an email that you have sent me. Therefore, make the Inbox one of the areas of Canvas that you check daily.
The Inbox is split into two panels and displays messages chronologically. You can view and reply to conversations and sort them by course or inbox type. The Inbox itself does not have any file size limits; however, attachments added to a conversation are included in the sender's personal files.
Click here for more information about the Inbox.
Modules
Modules control the entire flow of our course, along with its content. This is the tab that you should visit the most frequently, as it houses:
Content to learn
Assignments
Supplementary material
Detailed class schedule
Unit requirements
Other important information and links
Click here for more information about Modules.
Tip: No other tab on Canvas will easily show you all of these important features. Therefore, if you rely solely on the Calendar or To Do list to be successful in the course, you might be missing-out on important material. Therefore, when it is suggested to check Canvas daily, this is one of the tabs to check.
Announcements
Announcements allow instructors to communicate with students about course activities and post interesting course-related topics. Announcements are designed to allow instructors to broadcast information out to all members of a course or to all members of sections within a course.
Students may be able to reply to announcements, but replies are not considered to be a conversation and do not appear in the Conversations Inbox.
Tip: I will post an announcement to the entire class at least once a week. These will consist of updates and tips. Therefore, make the Announcement one of the areas of Canvas that you check daily.
Click here for more information about Announcements.
Assignments
In this 3-minute video, you will learn how and where to keep track of your assignments in Canvas:
For this class, the Assignments tab is disabled. You may also find assignments on your modules tab.
Submitting Assignments
In this video, you will learn about the different ways you can submit assignments in Canvas:
Discussion Forums
In this 3.5-minute video, you will learn how to view, reply to, and edit discussion posts.
Tip: Many instructors have different requirements for due dates (replying to the forum's prompt and replying to classmates), number of replies, word count, and other criteria. Be sure to find-out what the specific criteria are for each of your courses.
Quizzes
In this 2.5-minute video you will learn how to access and take quizzes, and view your quiz results:
The Quiz feature in Canvas is used in our class not as a test tool. Look at them as low stakes assignments.
Grades & Feedback
In this 3-minute video, you will learn how to check your grades in Canvas:
In this 3-minute video, you will learn how to leave feedback for your peers on peer review assignments and how to view feedback left on your submissions by teachers or other students:
Attendance
Review this guide to learn how to view your attendance report in our course.
Additionally, the video below provides a brief overview of how to view your attendance. Note that it misses some steps that are described in the guide linked above.
Calendar
Canvas has a built-in Calendar feature to help you keep track of all your course assignments in one place.
Pick whether you want to view the Calendar by Week, Month, Agenda, or the Scheduler.
Month is the default view for the Calendar.
The sidebar allows you to pick which Course(s) Calendar you'd like to view.
How to Use the Canvas Calendar
In this 2.75-minute video, you will learn how to use the Calendar to keep track of important events and assignments:
Chat
In this video you will learn how to access and participate in the Chat tab to interact informally with your classmates:
The Canvas App
The Canvas mobile device (phones and tablets) app does not display the majority of the course content that you will need for to successfully take a class.
Use Canvas on a browser (on a computer) to complete and submit your assignments, etc., view content posted by your instructor, post to the discussion boards, and take quizzes.
Use the Canvas app to receive notifications, message with your instructor, and check your grades.
How to Use the Canvas App
Step One
Download the Canvas Student App onto your phone available at the app store.
Open the Canvas Student App.
On the home page - Click on "Find my school" (see 1st picture on the left).
Step Two
Type "Long Beach City College"
Log in with your Viking Portal username and password.
Step Three
You should see the courses you are currently enrolled-in on your dashboard.
Notification Preferences
Each Canvas user can adjust the Notification Preferences in his or her personal Settings to fit his or her needs. Some users will want to be notified of course events on a more regular basis than others.
How to Change Notification Settings
Click the Settings link in the Help Corner.
Locate and click the Notifications navigation link.
Edit Notification Preferences by clicking the Checkmark, Clock, Calendar, and X icons for each Course Activity.
Watch this 4-minute video on how to manage your Canvas notification settings:
Be sure to set your notifications for your phone app and/or email, so you get updated when an important change in the course happens, such as:
New Inbox message
New announcement
New assignment
Updated due date
Assignment change
Graded assignment
Etc.
Need Help?
Do you need additional help with the above information? Read below for tips and resources.
Contact the Student Technology Help Desk (STHD) for LBCC Canvas questions.
Call the Canvas hotline, which is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week: (844) 602-6284.
Tip: I would recommend saving this number in your phone for if and when you get stressed over Canvas. Looking-up the number will be one less thing to think about.
This Canvas Student Guide provides you with many answers to your questions about Canvas. You should try to troubleshoot your own issue first.
You could also ask your professor for help, but be aware that they might not have answers for more complicated issues.
Do you want additional help with online learning? Check-out one of these tools:
Additionally, click here for a comprehensive list of LBCC support available to you.
Section Completed -- Onto the Next One
Congrats! You have finished this section of the lesson. Take a break and move onto the next section.
Visit the menu bar to find and click-on the next section in this lesson. The menu bar is located on the left of this page (or the top-left by clicking the three lines if viewing on a mobile devices).
