Starting your first online course using Canvas? Get up and running in under 30 minutes with these overview videos. Learn how to use Canvas, set your notification preferences, use the Canvas Student app, navigate the dashboard, and access and submit assignments.
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Need to quickly get up and running with Canvas? These 7 videos will get you started with an overview of Canvas, how to build and manage a course, and how to create and manage course content. View additional Canvas Overview videos or read the Canvas Instructor Guides for additional information.
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If you are new to Canvas, this page will provide you with some essential resources so you can create an account, familiarize yourself with Canvas, and participate in your Canvas courses.
Canvas Guides
The Canvas Student Guide has over 200 lessons that each answer a question that relates to using the Canvas interface as a student. Included below is a selection of lessons that will introduce you to the basics of Canvas. Each lesson also includes Next and Previous links so you can easily navigate to related content.
Account Setup
Before you can do anything in Canvas, you'll need an account and the URL for your institution's Canvas website. View the lessons below for help with setting up your account, logging in, and managing your user settings.
How do I accept an email invitation to join a Canvas course as a student?
How do I sign up for a Canvas account with a join code or secret URL as a student?
How do I edit my profile in my user account as a student
How do I change the settings in my user account as a student?
Canvas Basics
Once your account is set up, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the Canvas user interface. The lessons below will show you how to navigate Canvas and use a few of the tools that link across all your courses.
How do I use the Global Navigation Menu as a student?
How do I use the Dashboard as a student?
How do I use the Inbox as a student?
How do I use the Calendar as a student?
How do I use Files as a student?
How do I add and modify text in the Rich Content Editor as a student?
Course Basics
Within a Canvas course, you can submit assignments, participate in discussions, view grades, and collaborate with other students. What is available in your course will depend on what has been implemented by your instructor. View the lessons below for some of the basics of Canvas courses.
How do I use the Course Home Page as a student?
How do I view Assignments as a student?
How do I submit an online assignment?
How do I view my grades in a current course?
How do I reply to a discussion as a student?
How do I take a quiz? (Classic Quizzes)
How do I take an assessment in New Quizzes?
How do I view Collaborations as a student?
How do I use Conferences in a course as a student?
How do I view Pages as a student?
Canvas Student App
Canvas also has a free mobile app available for iOS and Android that is specifically tailored to students. View information about the Student app below.
How do I download the Canvas Student app on my iOS device?
How do I log in to the Student app on my iOS device with a Canvas URL?
How do I log in to the Student app on my iOS device with a QR code?
How do I use the Student app on my iOS device?
How do I view Assignments in the Student app on my iOS device?
How do I download the Student app on my Android device?
How do I log in to the Student app on my Android device with a Canvas URL?
How do I log in to the Canvas Student app on my Android device with a QR code?
How do I use the Student app on my Android device?
How do I view Assignments in the Student app on my Android device?
Additional Resources
Getting Started with Canvas in 10 Steps (Students)
Getting Started with Canvas as a Student (Video Series)
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Blueprint Courses are courses that are used as template courses. Course content can be locked and then synced to associated courses. As an instructor, you can manage unlocked blueprint course content, lock course content, sync associated courses, and view sync history.
Canvas Guides
How do I manage content for a course associated with a blueprint course?
How do I lock course objects in a blueprint course as an instructor?
How do I sync course content in a blueprint course as an instructor?
How do I view the blueprint sync information for a course associated with a blueprint course?
How do I view the sync history for a blueprint course as an instructor?
FAQ
Can I receive notifications when my course is updated from a blueprint course sync?
Yes. You can manage notification types and how often you receive them in your Canvas notification preferences.
After my course has been updated from a blueprint course sync, what are some things I might need to do?
Verify and adjust content due dates and to whom the content is assigned.
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This flowchart provides a brief summary for instructors for starting a new Canvas course. View the Getting Started with Canvas as an Instructor Flowchart PDF. Last update : 2020-03-13 This PDF can also be accessed from the following Canvas Guides: What is Canvas?
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