Newbie to LMS (Canvas) as an instructor and OVERWHELMED...

[opweinijieleini]

Greetings fellow Humans, Just want to say I have tried searching old posts and have found a few helpful ones that I saved for specific issues or things, but I am trying to find a true beginners guide. I have used a few LMS as a student but before covid my school did not have a proper LMS. We are supposed to be putting in our courses into Canvas for fall and I am honestly overwhelmed. I went through the Canvas training and I have checked out the community, but I was hoping to find a newb guide designed by instructors (reading or video). I don't know where to begin and I really want to set up my courses cinema hd to work f2f (we are 100% in-person) but also easily transition online when Admins plans inevitably fail and we go back online. I feel like time is my enemy and just like everyone else I have life stresses and 2020 eating my soul. So who or what helped you when you first started in Canvas? Please and thank you. Sincerely, Brainless & stressed out subhuman whack-a-doodle.

[gnoack]

Hi @opweinijieleini 

I would recommend you work through any relevant videos on this page.  If you scroll down there is a section of videos for instructors. These would be a good way to get an overview of how Canvas is organized and how the activities work.

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Video-Guide/tkb-p/videos

You should also become familiar with the tutorial pages here for when you have questions that are more specific.  The tutorials are great and Instructure does an awesome job of keeping them current. 

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/tkb-p/Instructor

[KristinL]

Hi @opweinijieleini -

Are you interested in completing some self-guided learning? If so, there are some options available.

https://www.canvas.net/browse/cn-pd/courses/growing-with-canvas 

https://www.canvas.net/courses/canvas-basics-badge

The Community is full of energetic Canvas users from all over the world. If you have a specialty, age range, or discipline you'd like to reach, please let us know. We can help you connect with those groups and begin collaborating quickly.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello there, @opweinijieleini ...

In addition to the great tips you've gotten from @gnoack and @KristinL already today, I would also recommend checking out these awesome videos from Ashlee Espinosa on YouTube.  I've not watched all of her videos, but she does a great job of explaining how Canvas works and how to set up different parts of your course.  You can find a complete playlist of her videos at:

Canvas LMS Tutorials for Online Teaching - YouTube

Hopefully some of her videos will be of help to you as well.

As always, keep those questions coming.  There are tons of Community members here ready and willing to help you along the way.  Glad you've chosen to join the Community!