Fundamentals of Canvas

Assignments

In Canvas there are multiple ways in which an assignment can be submitted, depending on how your instructor configured the assignment in Canvas.

Canvas assignment

• Read about submitting an assignment in Canvas

• Watch this short video about Assignment submission

• Read about Assignments

• Watch this short video about Assignments

Google Drive cloud assignment

• Read about submitting a Google Drive cloud assignment.

NB: Since mid September 2017 everyone at the VU has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here for a step by step instruction on how to do this.

Chat

The Chat feature is for real-time communication with your instructor and/or classmates. Chat can be used for real-time conversation with course users. Any user in the course can participate in a chat conversation. All content in a course chat can be viewed by anyone in the course. Note: If you cannot see the Chat tab in your course, your instructor has restricted this feature.

• Read about Chat

• Watch this short video about Chat

Calendar

Your Calendar in Canvas shows all your courses and groups. The Calendar is a great way to view everything you have to do for all your courses in one place. You can view calendar events by day, week, month, or agenda list. You can also export your Calendar content to your phone's calendar app. Note: keep in mind that the Calendar is not synchronized with your personal schedule on VUweb. Your personal schedule can be found on VUweb and at rooster.vu.nl. Only use the Calendar for created assignments and events within Canvas.

• Read about the Calendar

• Watch this short video about the Calendar

Collaborations

You can use Google Drive to create a collaboration with a Google Document, Spreadsheet, or Presentation. You can select individual users, groups, or both as part of a collaboration.

• Read about Collaborations

• Watch this short video about Collaborations

NB: Since mid September 2017 everyone at the VU has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here for a step by step instruction on how to do this. Note: If you cannot see the Collaborations tab in your course, your instructor has restricted this feature.

Discussions

Both instructors and students can start and contribute to discussions in Canvas.

• Read about Discussions

• Watch this short video about Discussions

Files

The Files feature is where you can keep documents and media files that are either independent of course sites or course-related. As a student, Files allows you to store files and assignments within Canvas. You can upload one or multiple files, view all details about your files, and preview files.

You may have access to files (documents, images, media, etc.) in three different feature areas:

1. User files, located in your user account

2. Course files, located in each course where you are enrolled (if your instructor allows you to view Course Files)

3. Group files, located in each group where you are a member

• Read about Files

• Watch this short video about Files

Grades

The Grades page in a course displays all grades for all course assignments. You can also view scoring details, comments, and rubrics. To see grades, while you are in the course site, click Grades in the left-hand navigation. View the scoring details for an assignment by clicking the checkmark icon. If there are comments, click the bubble icon to view. Note: be aware that your official, final grades can be found on VUweb.

• Read about Grades

• Watch this short video about Grades

Groups

Groups are a great way to share files, conduct discussions, and even video conference between team members.

As a student, you can create your own Student Groups for study groups, discuss an assignment, etc. You can be part of more than one student group. Note: If you cannot see the People tab in your course, or if you cannot see the Add Group button, your instructor has restricted this feature.

• Learn more about Groups

• Watch this short video about Groups

Pages

The Pages feature helps you collaborate with other students in a group. To add a page, click Pages in the left-hand navigation, click View All Pages, and click + Page.

• Read more about Pages

Quizzes

Take a Quiz to test your knowledge of the material in a course.

• Learn more about Quizzes

• Watch this short video about Quizzes

Canvas Guides

Of course there are many more possibilities and functionalities in Canvas than those listed above. The Canvas Guides contain a lot of explanatory documents and videos on all Canvas features, created by the Canvas Documentation Team. Click on the Help button at the bottom of the Global Navigation Menu on the left side of your screen (in Canvas). There you will find the Canvas Guides. You can also click here to go to the Canvas Guides directly.

Feedback

Problems using Canvas? Send an email to the Studentenbalie, give them a call (020-5985020) or drop by - Hoofdgebouw VU.