1. How do I add my syllabus?

Option A: Go to the desired course and click on Syllabus. On the top right-hand side, click on Edit Syllabus Description. Insert a copy of your syllabus by clicking on the File tab on the right-hand side under Insert Content into this Page. Select Upload a New File and Choose File. Find the file on your computer and click Upload. Then click Update Syllabus.

Option B: Go to the desired course and click on Files. Click on Upload, find the file on your computer, and select Open. Make sure the little cloud icon on the right-hand side of the file is green. The Syllabus will show up in your Files area for students. You may also add the Syllabus to the area of your site you would like it to appear in (Modules, Pages, etc.) You can then turn off the Canvas generated Syllabus section completely by following the instructions in question #9.

2. How do I see what students see? Go to the desired course and click on Settings. On the top right-hand side, click on Student View. When you are finished, click on Leave Student View at the very bottom right-hand side of your screen.

3. How do I communicate with my students?

Option A: Log in to Canvas and click on the Inbox icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. Click on the Compose Message icon, then select the course you wish to email. Click on the People icon and select the specific students within the course you would like to email (or choose All Students). Compose a message, attach a file if you wish, and then click on Send. Student replies will be sent to your Outlook email and your Canvas Inbox.

Option B: Post an announcement by going to the desired course and clicking on Announcements. Create an Announcement, attach a file if you wish, and then click on Save. (Note: students who have set their notifications to receive Canvas announcement by email will receive an email. Those who turned off this feature will not).

4. How do I add an assignment to the Gradebook?

Option A: Go to the desired course and click on Assignments. Click on +Assignment and fill out as much information as you want (including a point value if you are going to be using the Gradebook). Change the Submission Type to Online if you want students to submit assignments online. Then click Save and Publish.

Option B: Click on the Calendar icon at the top of the Canvas page, then click within the calendar on the desired due date. Select the Assignments tab, then add a title and change the Calendar drop-down to the desired course. Then click on Submit. For more options (e.g. to add a point value or create an assignment to be submitted online), click on More Options.

5. How do I weight my grades? Go to the desired course and click on Assignments. Click on +Groups and add as many groups as you need (e.g. Papers, Attendance and Participation, Quizzes, etc.). Then click on the +button under each group and create individual assignments. When you are finished, click on the Gear icon at the top of the Assignments page and check the box next to “Weight final grade based on assignment groups”, then put in percentages for each group. Weighted groups will calculate automatically as you add grades to individual assignments. Have an assignment group that does not count towards the total grade? Weight it 0%.

6. How do I grade assignments/quizzes as complete/incomplete? When creating an assignment, set the “Display Grade as” to Complete/Incomplete. When creating a quiz, set the “Quiz Type” to Graded Survey.

7. How do I calculate extra credit? There are a variety of ways to do this, but the easiest ways are to add additional points to an existing assignment or to create an Assignment that is worth zero points, then add points to it in the Gradebook (e.g. 2 out of 0 for 2 extra credit points).

8. How do I hide certain grades from my students?

To hide individual assignment grades from students, go to the desired course and click on Grades. Hover over the Assignment column and click on the dropdown arrow. Select Mute Assignment. When you are ready for them to see their grade, Unmute the Assignment.

To hide the total grade from students, go to the desired course and click on Settings. Under the Course Details tab, scroll to the bottom and click on More Options. Check the box next to “Hide totals in student grades summary”. Then click on Update Course Details.

To not have certain assignments show up at all in the Gradebook, add an assignment and set the “Display Grade as” to Ungraded. You can also add a quiz and set the “Quiz Type” to Practice Quiz or Ungraded Survey.

To turn off the Gradebook, follow the directions in question #9.

9. How do I turn off sections/icons on the left-hand side that I don’t need? Go to the desired course and click on Settings. Select the Navigation tab. Click on the Gear icon next to the section you do not want to see and select Disable. You will still see the section on the left-hand side, but it will be grayed out. Your students will not see anything.

10. How do I enable students to attach files to the discussion board? Go to the desired course and click on Settings. Under the Course Details tab, scroll to the bottom and click on More Options. Check the box next to “Let students attach files to discussions”. Then select Update Course Details.