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What is Canvas? Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS) that simplifies teaching and learning activities and organizes student coursework in an online environment.
Canvas enables students to:
Connect and communicate with teachers in enrolled courses
Keep track of assignments due and access organized class materials by course
Submit online work in a variety of ways and see teacher feedback
Newport News Public Schools encourages parents and guardians to actively participate in their students' learning. A self-paced Canvas course has been created in order to demonstrate what a student will experience. This brief and simple Canvas course will provide an introduction to Canvas, directions on how to create a parent account to "co-enroll" in courses as an "observer," navigate Canvas, and how to use the parent app to track students' progress. Click the button above to experience Canvas as a student!
In addition to the course above, similar information is also provided on this website. Keep scrolling to learn more about how families can engage in their students' learning through the use of Canvas.
What is an Observer role?
What is an Observer role?
In Canvas, the Observer role is used to enroll guardians to keep them abreast of their child's classes. Observers can be linked to a student, or multiple students, and view the student's data in the course. Observers can see student grades, assignments and events, and course interactions.
As an Observer on Canvas, you have access to a variety of settings that will allow you to adjust page settings for easier navigation and to stay informed of the happenings in your child(ren)'s classroom. Use the links below to navigate to each section to learn more about the settings available to you or click here to join an NNPS Canvas Course for Parents & Guardians.
Pairing Code
Pairing Code
A pairing code is required to begin your observer role. Pairing codes can be generated by the student or provided by the teacher(s). Pairing codes are case sensitive and can only be used once. Families can request a separate pairing code for each observer who wants to link to a student's Canvas account. For more information on pairing codes, view the Pairing Codes - Frequently Asked Questions PDF
Have your student log into Canvas. (1) Click "Account" on the left side navigation. (2) Click "Settings."
On the right side of the screen, select the option "Pair with Observer."
(1) Write down this unique code to create an account in Canvas as an Observer.
Accessing Your Account
Accessing Your Account
Parents can sign up as observers after students have received access to their courses & have been provided a pairing code.
Follow these steps to sign up as an observer:
Go to the NNPS Canvas login page at https://nnps.instructure.com/login/canvas
Select "Parent of a Canvas Account? Click Here for an Account" in the top right corner.
Enter the following information:
-Enter your name in the Your Name field
-Enter your email in the Your Email field
-Enter your password in the Password field
-Re-enter your password in the Re-enter Password field
-Enter a pairing code to link your account to your student in the Student Pairing Code field
-Agree to the terms of use by clicking the You agree to the terms of use checkbox
-Click the Start Participating button
Contact Information
Contact Information
To edit your contact information, sign in to your Canvas account and click on the "Account" icon on the left navigation bar. Then, click "Settings." This is the means of communication used when receiving Notifications from Canvas, so be sure it is correct and updated.
2. On the right side, look for the Ways to Contact section. Any contact information you have provided will be listed here. You can also add additional information such as your mobile number or a personal email. This will allow you to get notifications sent to those accounts.
3. Click +Email Address or +Contact Method to register a new email or mobile number. Enter information carefully and accurately. When you are done, click the blue Register button and follow the steps to confirm your account. Clicking the star next to an email will make it the default email for your account. Clicking the trash can will delete it.
View complete instructions on how to add or update your contact information by visiting the Canvas Guides.
Language Settings
Language Settings
To change your language preference, sign-in to your Canvas account and click on the "Account" icon on the left navigation bar. Then, click "Settings."
2. Next, click on the "Edit Settings" button, located on the right.
3. After clicking on "Edit Settings," you will be able to select your preferred language from the language drop-down menu.
View complete instructions on how to add or update your contact information by visiting the Canvas Guides.
Notifications
Notifications
Sign-in to your Canvas account and click the [1] "Account" icon on the left navigation bar. Then, click on [2] "Notifications."
2. In the Notifications menu, review the options and set your notification preferences.
To view an observed student's name in notifications, click the Show name of observed students in notifications checkbox: [1]. Currently only grade update notifications include observed student names.
To change a notification delivery frequency for a contact method, locate the notification and contact method. Then click the notification icon [2]. You can select one of four delivery frequency types:
[3] Notify immediately: receive these notifications right away. These notifications may be delayed by up to one hour in case an instructor makes additional changes, which prevents you from being spammed by multiple notifications in a short amount of time.
[4] Daily summary: receive a daily summary for this notification type.
[5] Weekly summary: receive a weekly summary for this notification type.
[6] Notifications off: no notifications sent for this notification type.
Notes:
Account-level notification preferences automatically apply to all of your courses. However, you may be able to manage notifications for a single course.
Twitter and SMS notification preferences do not support daily summary or weekly summary options.
Unregistered contact methods display on the Account Notification Settings page but notifications will not be sent until you confirm the registration.
If you – or your student – do not wish to receive multiple Notifications delivered to your provided contact, please adjust preferences accordingly. A time preference for Notifications cannot be set. Summary Notifications delivered on a daily or weekly basis may be sent to your provided contact during non-school-operating hours (i.e. 11PM or 4AM). These messages are auto-delivered by a system and not sent by any particular personnel in the division.
View complete instructions on how to change your notification preferences by visiting the Canvas Guides.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
For Canvas assistance:
Please call 757-928-6979, option 3
Please note: ParentVUE remains the primary site to view your student's grades. Please access ParentVUE here. Need help accessing your ParentVUE account? Please contact your student's home school site.
Please note: ParentVUE remains the primary site to view your student's grades. Please access ParentVUE here. Need help accessing your ParentVUE account? Please contact your student's home school site.
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