Setup for a Microschool

[LAURAMcCarthy]

Hi! I run a microschool (Grades 7-8) and we are considering using Canvas FFT as our LMS next year. I have 4 instructors and 18 students. My question is, how do we go about setting up our account(s)? Does each instructor set up their own teacher account? And then each instructor adds the students? Or should we set up one instructor account with one shared login that we all use? If the latter, I assume we can add as many courses within that one account as we need? I know there is a limit on the size of each course (500MB) but not on the number of courses, correct? As the admin I would like to be able to have access to everything, is that possible? Thank you in advance for your help! 🙂

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

Hi @LAURAMcCarthy ,

Welcome to Canvas!

When it comes to using free for teacher in your circumstance, I recommend that each of your teachers create their own accounts with their own courses, just so everything stays organized for them. However, do understand that since free for teacher does not provide you with access to admin-level permissions, you do not have the ability to view all the courses associated with your teachers unless you either create the courses yourself and add the teachers afterwards, or if the teachers add you to the courses. You also do not have access to change any theming, act as users, and enable or disable feature options at the account (admin) level, as those are managed by Instructure for FFT.

When it comes to courses, yes, the maximum limit for courses on Free for Teacher is 500MB. However, you are welcome to create as many courses as you would like to create, as well as enroll as many students as you would like to enroll.

However, if you are looking for admin-level permissions across an entire Canvas instance, you would need to request a demo for your organization and get information on pricing. However, to my knowledge, the minimum of account licenses you're able to purchase is around 200-300 users starting. However, I would see what sales would say, as it's always possible for things to change. That being said, since you only have 18 students and 4 instructors, I feel that Free for Teacher would be a great fit for you! And of course, if you have any questions, you're always more than welcome to come back to the community and ask! We're always happy to help you get started. I'll also provide a few links to some resources below to help you get started with using free for teacher.

https://www.instructure.com/canvas-free-for-teacher/orientation

https://www.instructure.com/canvas/free-for-teacher/account-comparison

All the best!
Noah

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @LAURAMcCarthy,

While everything that @NoahBoswell is accurate, I would caution how much you get involved with using Canvas Free For Teachers for what you have described. This is because as you start to use it in this way, you may find that permissions or functionality is limited (for example, you would not have admin access to everything and that can make support more challenging) and that you need more control and access. I am basing that on the support that I have provided in the Community to individuals that are using FFT.

Before starting to use Canvas FFT, I would recommend that you check out  Canvas Account Comparison - Instructure Community - 387052 . This will give you a high-level overview.

-Doug

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

Hi @LAURAMcCarthy ,

Welcome to Canvas!

When it comes to using free for teacher in your circumstance, I recommend that each of your teachers create their own accounts with their own courses, just so everything stays organized for them. However, do understand that since free for teacher does not provide you with access to admin-level permissions, you do not have the ability to view all the courses associated with your teachers unless you either create the courses yourself and add the teachers afterwards, or if the teachers add you to the courses. You also do not have access to change any theming, act as users, and enable or disable feature options at the account (admin) level, as those are managed by Instructure for FFT.

When it comes to courses, yes, the maximum limit for courses on Free for Teacher is 500MB. However, you are welcome to create as many courses as you would like to create, as well as enroll as many students as you would like to enroll.

However, if you are looking for admin-level permissions across an entire Canvas instance, you would need to request a demo for your organization and get information on pricing. However, to my knowledge, the minimum of account licenses you're able to purchase is around 200-300 users starting. However, I would see what sales would say, as it's always possible for things to change. That being said, since you only have 18 students and 4 instructors, I feel that Free for Teacher would be a great fit for you! And of course, if you have any questions, you're always more than welcome to come back to the community and ask! We're always happy to help you get started. I'll also provide a few links to some resources below to help you get started with using free for teacher.

https://www.instructure.com/canvas-free-for-teacher/orientation

https://www.instructure.com/canvas/free-for-teacher/account-comparison

All the best!
Noah

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @LAURAMcCarthy,

While everything that @NoahBoswell is accurate, I would caution how much you get involved with using Canvas Free For Teachers for what you have described. This is because as you start to use it in this way, you may find that permissions or functionality is limited (for example, you would not have admin access to everything and that can make support more challenging) and that you need more control and access. I am basing that on the support that I have provided in the Community to individuals that are using FFT.

Before starting to use Canvas FFT, I would recommend that you check out  Canvas Account Comparison - Instructure Community - 387052 . This will give you a high-level overview.

-Doug

[NoahBoswell]

@dbrace , Absolutely, 100%.

I also recommend too, @LAURAMcCarthy , that if you're going to be creating more than just a few courses, you mayyyy want to consider requesting a demo with Canvas to get more information on pricing and things like that to see if a paid canvas account would be a better fit for you.

[LAURAMcCarthy]

Thank you Noah and dbrace. I did get the pricing info and it is definitely out of our range. I am wondering if it would be possible for the teaching team to just have one shared login and password in FFT to enable me to have access to everything and be able to control grading scales and such? Please let me know. 

Regards,

Laura

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @LAURAMcCarthy,

Technically that would be possible but:

1. it would not follow best practices for security
2. it would be a violation of Instructure's "Terms of Use" policy
   • https://www.instructure.com/policies/terms-of-use

   • 2.1 REGISTRATION DATA. In registering for the Services, you agree to (1) provide true, current, and complete Registration Data; and (2) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data to keep it true, current, and complete. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your Account. You may not share your Account or password with anyone, and you agree to notify Instructure immediately of any unauthorized use of your password or any other breach of security. You agree not to create or access an Account using a false identity or information, or on behalf of someone other than yourself. You agree that you shall not have more than one Account at any given time. You agree not to create an Account or use the Instructure Properties if you have been previously removed by Instructure, or if you have been previously banned from any of the Instructure Properties.

3. This is something that I have experienced in our paid-for instance of Canvas when using the same user account on different computers or different web browsers at the same time. If you are logged into Canvas more than once (in your situation, person 1 and person 2 at the same time) and you log out (person 1 is finished so they log out), the other login session will also be ended (person 2 will be logged out). This means that if person 2 was still doing something, depending on what they were doing, it could cause problems (for example: if person 2 was in the middle of typing a "long" comment while grading a student's submission).

-Doug