Frequently Asked Questions
what is canvas?
Canvas is a web-based learning management system, or LMS. It is used by learning institutions, educators, students, and parents to access and manage online course learning materials and communicate about skill development and learning achievement.
why IS PENNSBURY USING canvas?
Pennsbury is using Canvas because it is one of the most powerful learning management systems currently available. It allows all stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, students, and parents to have a one-stop shop for all course-related content, including assignments, course materials, grades, and feedback.
how do parents access canvas?
Parents will access Canvas via the Canvas login page: pennsbury.instructure.com/login/canvas.
From here, first-time users will create an account. Click here for directions for creating a first-time account.
Returning users will use the email address and password they created upon initial account creation to log in.
what is an observer?
The main use of the observer role is to link a user, generally a parent or guardian, to a student. Observers can be linked to a student or multiple students and view the student's data in the course. Observers cannot submit work on behalf of the students they observe, but they can see student grades, assignments and events, and course interactions. Click here to learn more about the Observer role in Canvas.
what can observers do in canvas?
Observers can:
View and read announcements
View the calendar
Join collaborations, if invited
View personal inbox
Send conversation messages to instructor and student they are observing
View the dashboard
View and read discussions
View grades, view assignment due dates and comments, and print grades
View modules and see due dates and point values
View profile pictures, if available
View syllabus
Observers cannot:
Comment on announcements or discussions
Submit assignments or quizzes
View course rosters
Send conversation messages to students in the course they are not observing
Join groups
View unpublished courses
Reserve appointment slots in the Scheduler
how do i check grades?
Observers can check grades for the student(s) they are paired with from the "View Grades" button on the right side of the Dashboard, which will reveal an overview of the grades for all students paired with that observer in all courses.
Observers can view more detailed grade and feedback information via the "Grades" menu on the left-hand side of each course.
Click here for more information about accessing student grades and feedback in Canvas.
what's the difference between POWERSCHOOL and Canvas?
Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS), which is designed for instructors to post and assess course content and assignments for students assigned to their courses. .
PowerSchool is our Student Information System, which is the hub for student demographic information, daily attendance, and for official interim progress reports and end-of-marking-period report cards.
how do i pair my parent OBSERVER account with my child?
In order to create an initial Canvas account, your child will need to generate a unique pairing code for you from their Canvas account.
hoW do i pair multiple children with my parent OBSERVER account?
Once your account is created and paired with one child, you can pair with additional students, as needed.
Click here for directions for pairing with additional children.
how do MULTIPLE parents engage with canvas?
There is no limit to the number of observers that can be linked to a particular student. Thus, families with multiple parents/guardians can easily create multiple Canvas Observer accounts, all of which can be linked to the same child(ren).
The key to doing this successfully is that each Canvas Observer account must have a unique email address and must use a unique pairing code to initially create the account and/or to pair additional children.
Click here for the steps to register for a Canvas Observer account.
When Will I see My Child's NEw courses at the start of a new school year, semester, rotation, or marking period?
As the school year progresses and students change classes, whether that is due to new middle school rotations or new 9-week or 18-week courses at the high school, the new courses will automatically populate at the start of each new term. New courses should be visible on your Dashboard and on your child's Dashboard one school day before the start of the new course. If a new course is beginning and you do not see the course on your Dashboard by the first day of the new course, please contact the teacher of record, as the appearance of these courses also hinges on the individual teachers manually publishing the course.
My Child and I are still seeing courses from a previous school year. HOW DO I REMOVE COURSES these from my dashboard?
Courses from a prior school year should disappear automatically. However, if you are still seeing courses from a previous school year on your Dashboard, please contact the teacher of record or your child's counselor to have these courses removed.
In the meantime, you can use the ability to favorite courses to control which courses are visible on your Dashboard at any time. Click here for directions for favoriting your courses.
I keep getting a google 404 error when I click links in my email notifications.
The functionality of the Canvas Parent App is more limited than the functionality of the full browser. If you see a Google 404 error when clicking a link from your phone, try to access this link from a computer rather than a phone and you should be fine.