Canvas as our Learning Management System (LMS)

Canvas is the exclusive Learning Management System adopted throughout Tucson Unified School District. All instructional staff are required to utilize Canvas as their primary means of instructional delivery. 

For security reasons, Canvas is the only approved "teacher website platform." Teacher-created websites designed in an external platform  are NOT permitted for instructional use per district leadership. All course materials, assignments, and resources must be loaded into Canvas and accessed by students from the Canvas platforms.

Each Canvas Home Page must have a similar look and the following required elements. An elementary and secondary template will be provided - the template includes the required elements. Customizing your Canvas home page to reflect your personality, interests, or content area is encouraged - however please be sure that it is still easy for students and families to navigate and the required elements are still present. All home pages must include the following:

• Help Desk Link

• Contact your Teacher / Meet the Teacher

• Lunch Lounge Zoom Link

• Assembly Zoom Link

• Student Council Announcements Link

• TUVA Family Handbook 

• Weekly Learning Targets

• Crisis & Community Resources (5-12)

On the sidebar, the following pages must be active and updated/relevant:

• Assignments and/or Modules (depending on how you structure your coursework)

• Announcements page for weekly course announcements/newsletters

• Syllabus (grades 6-12)

Additional required elements are expected at each grade level. Please see the linked pages for required Elementary and Secondary Elements.

• Elementary Canvas Expectations

• Secondary Canvas Expectations

Weekly Learning Targets

Weekly Learning Targets on Canvas is a new addition this year to support our TUVA and TUSD initiatives. This will be a requirement for all instructional Canvas pages, and will take the place of weekly lesson plans.  Learning Targets will be a button on secondary pages and will be embedded on the interactive schedules on elementary pages. To read more about the expectations for Weekly Learning Targets, see the Lesson Plans page below.

Staff Commitments

• Canvas is your exclusive Learning Management System.

• All relevant class information is updated and available on Canvas.

• Assignments (other than those submitted in external curriculum platforms) are completed and submitted through Canvas.

• All grades and student scores (including those that do not count toward the final grade) are posted in Canvas; grades are updated weekly in Canvas.

• All required elements are included on your Canvas pages.