Community FAQ
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Community FAQ

    • Registering lets you take full advantage of the community, enabling you to:
      • Post new messages and reply to other members' posts
      • Receive email when someone responds to a specific post or topic
      • Exchange private messages with other members
      • Personalize your community experience
      • Post comments on blogs that don't allow anonymous comments
      • Post ideas, vote on the ideas you like best, and post comments
      If you don't register, you can only browse, search for information, and read posts. You won't be able to give kudos, vote on ideas, interact with other community members, or set customization preferences.
      Close

    • How do I log into the Community with my Canvas account?

    • An Accepted Solution is a way for you to choose the reply that best answers a question that you've posted. When you accept a solution, both the question and the solution get special icons and links that take you directly from the question to the answer.

      An Accepted Solutions icon also displays on boards and in search results so you can see which messages have solutions.

      You can mark a solution as accepted only for questions that you've posted (threads you have started). Community moderators can also mark one of the replies to a message as an accepted solution.

      Close

    • To mark a reply as a solution, click Accept as Solution on the reply.

      If you change your mind or if another reply provides an even better answer, you can revoke the first selection and accept the second reply.

      To revoke an accepted solution, click Options > Not the Solution.

      You can choose another solution or leave the question unsolved.

      Close

    • A blog is an online journal written by one or more authors. Blog articles usually appear in reverse-chronological order, so you see the most recent article first, followed by earlier articles. Some blogs have comments from readers, which you can read by clicking the Comments link at the bottom of the article.

      Close

    • How do I create a blog post in the Canvas Community?

      Close

    • Posting a comment on a blog is a lot like replying to a message on a board. If the blog is open for comments, you'll see a post a comment link or a comment count link at the bottom of the article.

      To post your comment:

      1. Click Comment or Post Your Comment.
        You can post a comment to an article or to someone else's comment.
      2. Type your comment in the comment area.
        You can use simple HTML and quote the article you're commenting on.

        Tip: Unless you have special permissions, you can't edit or delete a comment after it's posted, so be sure to preview your comment and spell check first.
      3. Click Post Your Comment.

      Some blogs display new comments almost immediately. Other blogs don't display new comments until the blog author or a moderator approves them.

      Close

    • Some blogs display new comments almost immediately. Other blogs don't display new comments until the blog author or a moderator approves them.

      If your comment doesn't appear immediately, check back in a few minutes. If it still doesn't appear, your comment is most likely in the approval queue.

      Close

    • No, you can't. Be sure to check your spelling and preview your comment before you post it.

      Close

    • To share blog articles with friends, you can use any shared bookmarking, social network, or other tracking service, such as Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, Facebook, MySpace, Google, StumbleUpon, Technorati, or Twitter. However, you must have a valid account with the service.

      To share a blog article:

      1. Go to the article you want to share.
      2. Click Bookmark.
      3. Click the service you want to use.
        The next steps depend on the service.

      Close

    • Yes. You can subscribe directly to a blog or an article, or you can subscribe to their RSS feeds. If you subscribe to an RSS feed, you can use an RSS reader to view new content that's added to the blog. If you subscribe directly to a blog or article, you receive an email alert when new articles or comments are posted.

      ToDo this
      Subscribe to a blog Go to the blog page and click Blog Options > Subscribe.
      Subscribe to an article Go to the article and click Article Options > Subscribe.
      Subscribe to an RSS feed     Go to the blog or article and click Blog Options > Subscribe to RSS Feed.
      Then, save the live bookmark or whatever you usually do to add an RSS feed.

      Close

    • Bookmarks enable you to list community content (boards, articles, ideas, topics, or individual posts) on a special page so you can easily find it again.

      To bookmark a piece of content:

      1. Go to the item you want to bookmark.
      2. To bookmark a location, choose (Location) Options > Bookmark.
        To bookmark a specific post, go to the post and choose (Post) Options > Bookmark.

      To view and manage your bookmarks:

      1. Go to My Settings > Subscriptions & Notifications.
      2. Click My Bookmarks.
        You can click a bookmark to go to the item.
      3. To delete a bookmark, click the check box for the bookmark and click Bookmark Options > Delete Selected Bookmarks.
      Close

    • Subscriptions allow you to opt in to receive email updates whenever new content appears in an area of the community that you're interested in. You can subscribe to a board, a blog article, an idea conversation, or any other location in the community. You can also subscribe to a specific post.

      To subscribe a piece of content:

      1. Go to the item you want to subscribe to.
      2. To subscribe to a location, click (Location) Options > Subscribe.
        To subscribe to a specific post, go to the post and click (Post) Options > Subscribe

      To view and manage your subscriptions:

      1. Go to My Settings > Subscriptions & Notifications.
      2. Click My Subscriptions to see a list of the items you've subscribed to.
        You can click a subscription to go to the item.
      3. To delete a subscription, click the check box for the subscription and click Email Subscription Options > Delete Selected Subscriptions.
      Close

    • RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." It is a way for you to get the latest content from this community, along with many other sites that you visit, all in one place. With an RSS feed reader, you subscribe to web sites, and those sites feed you new content so you can stay up to date.

      To use RSS, you need a feed reader, such as Google Reader, MyYahoo, or the Live Bookmarks feature of Firefox. There are many free options. After you have your feed reader set up, you can find RSS feeds in the community by going to a board, blog, thread, or message and selecting Subscribe to RSS Feed from the options menu. There you will see a preview of the feed. Most RSS readers give you a button to click at this point. After you click it, the RSS feed appears in your reader as well as new content from that section of the community whenever it becomes available

      Close

    • How do I use My Feed in the Instructure Community?

    • The Canvas Community provides a place for users to search for information, read and post about topics of interest, and learn from each other. In the Community, you'll find:
      • boards where you can post questions and answers
      • blogs where you can read and comment on articles
      • idea conversations where you can suggest ways to improve products and rate ideas that other community members have posted
      • and more...

      Users who do not sign in to the Canvas Community can browse or search the community for information. Users who sign in can post messages or comments, track discussions, and get email notifications on posting activity and other community actions.

      Close

    • What are the Canvas Community Guidelines?

    • How do idea conversations work in the Canvas Community?

    • How do I create a new idea conversation in the Canvas Community?

    • No, you can't. Be sure to check your spelling and preview your comment before you post it.

      Close

    • To share ideas with friends, you can use any shared bookmarking, social network, or other tracking service, such as Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, Facebook, MySpace, Google, StumbleUpon, Technorati, or Twitter. However, you must have a valid account with the service.

      To share an idea:

      1. Go to the article you want to share.
      2. Click Bookmark.
      3. Click the service you want to use.
        The next steps depend on the service.

      Close

    • Yes. You can subscribe directly to an idea or an idea exchange, or you can subscribe to their RSS feeds. If you subscribe to an RSS feed, you can use an RSS reader to view new content that's added to the idea exchange. If you subscribe directly to an idea or idea exchange, you receive an email alert when new ideas or comments are posted.

      ToDo this
      Subscribe to an idea exchange Go to the idea exchange page and click Idea Exchange Options > Subscribe to this Idea Exchange.
      Subscribe to an idea Go to the idea and click Idea Options > Subscribe to this Idea.
      Subscribe to an RSS feed     Go to the idea exchange or idea and click Idea Exchange Options > Subscribe to this Idea Exchange's RSS Feed or Idea Options > Subscribe to this Idea's RSS Feed.
      Then, save the live bookmark or whatever you usually do to add an RSS feed.

      Close

    • To comment on an image:

      1. Click the community member's user name to go to that user's profile page.
      2. A preview of that user's shared images displays in the Photos section.
      3. Click View All My Images.
      4. Open the album that contains the image you want to comment on and click the image.
      5. Click Kudos.
      6. (Optional) Click Add Tag, enter the tag, and click Add.
      7. Click in the comment editor, type your comment, and click Post Your Comment.

      Close

    • Depending on your starting point, you can choose one or more images, choose the album where they'll be located, and upload. There are size limitations, of course, and a community moderator must approve your images before others can see them. You can upload images from:

      • Your Albums page
      • Any of your individual Album pages
      • Post Message, Answer, Comment, Article, and other Post pages
      Close

    • You can change the name, add a description, and apply tags to an image. If you want to edit the image, you need to do that outside the community and upload the edited image.

      To edit information about an image:

      1. Go to your Albums page.
      2. Open the album that contains the image you want and click the image.
      3. Click the Edit button to change the image title, add a description, and enter tags.
      4. To display an image on the front of the album, click Use this image for the album cover.
      5. Click Save.

      Close

    • To insert an image in a post:

      1. Start a new post.
      2. Click Insert Image.
      3. Choose an image source location.
      4. Follow the on-screen instructions

      Close

    • A private image is one that only you (and community moderators with permission) can see. When you upload an image, you can place it in a private album or public album. Moderators must approve all uploaded images before you can use them in a post or display them in your My Images list.

      To change the privacy setting for an image:

      1. Click the image to go to the image page.
      2. Click Image Options > Move Image.
      3. Choose an album and click Move. To make an image private, move it to a private album. To make a private image public, move it to a public album.

      Close

    • You can use image albums to organize photos and other graphics that you've uploaded to the community. By default, you start with two albums: Private and Public. Your community manager determines the number of albums you can create.

      To edit an image album:

      1. Go to your Albums page.
      2. Choose an album.
      3. Edit the album name or description or change the privacy setting as needed.
      4. Click Save.

      Close

    • For your protection, your community requires a moderator to approve all uploaded images before they can be displayed. Although you can see your uploaded images that are awaiting approval or flagged for review, other community members who view your images can only see the ones that have been approved.

      Close

    • You can use any approved image you've uploaded as your personal avatar.

      To use an uploaded image as your personal avatar:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Go to My Settings > Avatars.
      3. Click From the Community or From Uploaded Images.
      4. Click the image to use as your personal avatar.

      Close

    • A knowledge base (also called a tribal knowledge base) is a collection of articles that captures and organizes helpful community information. Knowledge bases are great community resources for several reasons:

      • You can search for knowledge base articles or use special navigation links that let you browse through the community's knowledge bases.
      • After you find an article, you can add your comments.
      • Articles can contain some of the same rich media as other posts, including images and attachments.
      • Each article contains lists of contributors and related links.

      Contributors could be community members whose posts or comments are used in the article, authors who put the article together, or editors who reviewed or refined it. Related links take you to posts that were used in the article or other posts that the authors thought you might find helpful or interesting, including forum messages, blog articles, and ideas

      Close

    • You can view a knowledge base article in a number of ways.

      To go to the knowledge base for a board or forum, click the book icon next to the forum name on the community page. Then, you can browse the list of articles and choose one to read.

      To search for a knowledge base article, enter a search keyword and choose Knowledge Base in the list to the left of the Search button. Then, you can use search results filters to zero in on the article you want.

      To go to an article related to a post, click the Knowledge Base links at the top of the article. You might find links to articles based on the post, links to articles related to the post, or both

      Close

    • You can contribute to knowledge bases by:

      • Writing good answers to questions posted in the community.
      • Accepting good solutions to your questions (this automatically nominates the post to the knowledge base).
      • Nominating good posts you find in the community.
      • Reviewing or editing articles (if you have the right permission)
      • Commenting on published articles. Every time you contribute to an article (by adding more information, providing clarification, or just helping to keep published articles up to date), you receive credit for your contributions.
      Close

    • To edit a knowledge base article:

      1. Click Edit on the article page.

        Note: You only see the Edit button if you have permission to edit the article.
      2. Click in the section you want to edit and make your changes.
        You can edit text, add text, or drag content from the clipping area on the right side of the Editor.
      3. To search for additional material, enter a search term and click Search.
      4. To find tagged material, click the Tags tab and click a related tag.
      5. Format text, spell check the content, and add contributors or related links as needed.
      6. Add a revision note that explains your changes.
      7. Click a save option: Save, Save & Request Review, or Save & Request Publication.
      Close

    • Kudos is a content rating system that lets you vote for the messages you think are the most useful or important.

      Your kudos help to boost the value of certain messages and enhance the reputation of their authors.

      Close

    • You can give Kudos to any posts in the community except your own.

      To give kudos to a message and its author, click Kudos on the message.

      If you change your mind about the quality of the message, you can revoke your kudos.

      To revoke kudos you've given, click the Kudos button again.

      Close

    • It's easy to find out which regular community members and community experts have given kudos to a message.

      To see who's given you kudos:

      1. Go to the message page.
      2. Click the Kudos total.
        The Who Kudoed this Message page shows you all the community members who've given kudos to the message.
      3. Click Experts to see kudos given by high-ranking members of the community.
      4. Click the Date Kudoed, User ID, or or kudos link to sort this page by the date the kudos were given, the name of the user who gave kudos or by the kudos count.
      Close

    • There are a few reasons why you might not be able to give Kudos to a post.

      • You've already given Kudos to this message (you can only give them once).
      • You wrote the message (you can't Kudo your own messages).
      • Kudos has been turned off for a message or a forum.
      Close

    • Sometimes a message gets so many kudos that we run out of space to show the number. When that happens, you'll see a Hot Kudos symbol or icon instead of the kudos count on the kudos badge.

      Close

    • Labels are used within a community to help categorize articles in a variety of discussion styles; forums, blogs, Q&A, ideas, TKBs. Labels enable you to categorize the content you write based on the themes or content in the article. For example, in a support Q&A for troubleshooting browser issues with using Canvas LMS on your web browser, you might apply labels like "Chrome", "Firefox", "Safari", or "browser version".

      Unlike tags, labels are created by the Community Admin and typically controlled for consistency and need. Authors must choose/apply labels from a pre-defined list for the node in which the article appears.

      Close

    • To add a label:

      1. Navigate to the post you authored.
      2. Open the post to edit it.
      3. In the Labels field, start typing the label or choose one from the list. If you add multiple labels, you must separate them with commas.

      Close

    • Typically, only administrators or permissioned members can create new labels or edit the label list. When the use of labels is enforced, members must apply a label when submitting posts. Labels can be optionally predefined, giving administrators complete control over exactly which labels are used in their community.

      Close

    • When you subscribe to a label, you will be notified by email when a new post is created with the label.

      To subscribe to a label:

      1. From a particular post with a label, click on the label to filter by that label. (You can also do this from the labels component.)
      2. Click the Options icon and select the Subscribe option.
      Close

    • Private Messenger enables you to send private notes to other community members. Private Messenger has two big advantages over email:

      • You don't have to know the other member's email address to send the note. (Also, you don't have to reveal yours.)
      • You can read and send private messages without leaving the community, making it easy to have a quick conversation with another community member.

      To use the Private Messenger, you must be registered and signed in. You'll see a Private Message (Envelope) icon at the top of your page. If you have any new messages, you'll see the number of unread messages next to the envelope icon.

      Click the message count or envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.

      Close

    • To send a private message:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. Click Compose New Message.
      4. Enter the recipient's name in the Send to area.

        Note: Depending on your role in the community, you might be able to send a message to a group of users based on their role or rank in the community. If so, you can choose a role or a rank.
      5. Enter the subject for the message in the Message Subject area.
      6. Type the message in the Message Body editor.
      7. Click Send Message.
        You can look for the messages you've sent in the Sent tab.
      Close

    • To read a private message:

      1. Sign in to the community.
        If you have any new messages, you'll see the number of unread messages next to the envelope icon.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. To read a message, click the message subject.
      4. To reply to a message, click Reply. Type the reply and click Send Message.
      Close

    • To reply to a private message:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. To read a message, click the message subject.
      4. To reply to a message, click Reply.
        The recipient and subject are automatically entered for you, but you can edit them.
      5. Type the reply in the Message Body editor.
      6. Click Send Message.
      Close

    • You can delete messages one at a time as you read them, or in bulk from your Inbox.

      To delete a private message:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. To delete a single message, click the message to view it and then click Delete.
      4. To delete all messages, click the Options menu and click Delete All.
      Close

    • To see the private messages you've sent:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. Click Sent Messages.
      Close

    • Most users in an online community get along very well. Sometimes, however, you might encounter someone you consider a nuisance. If you are receiving messages that you'd prefer not to receive, you can add the sender to your Ignored Users list. The system blocks all messages from users on your Ignored Users list.

      To add someone to your Ignored Users list:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the message count or envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. Click a message from the user you want to ignore.
      4. Click the Options icon for the user and click Ignore user name.

      To remove someone from your Ignored Users list:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Click the Envelope icon to go to your Private Messages Inbox.
      3. Click a message from the user you want to ignore.
      4. Click the Options icon for the user and click Unignore.
      Close

    • Use Q&As to ask questions or find questions that community experts have already answered.

      If you're an expert in an area, or just want to share what you know about a topic, Q&As are a great way to answer someone else's question and track the questions that are still awaiting answers.

      Close

    • How do I ask a question in the Canvas Community?

    • To answer a question:

      1. Click the question you want to answer.
      2. Click Reply.
      3. Type your answer.
      4. Add attachments, format the text in your answer, and check your spelling, if needed.
      5. Click Post.
      Close

    • When community members answer one of your questions, you can choose the answer or answers you think are the most useful, helpful, or accurate and mark them as a solution. If you have two answers that give part of the solution, you can accept both.

      To accept an answer to a question:

      1. Go to the answer that you want to accept.
      2. Click Options > Accept as Solution.

      Close

    • To view your questions and answers:

      1. Go to your profile page.
      2. Under the My Questions or My Answers, click View All.
      3. On the My Questions and Answers page, click tabs to see your questions and answers.
        Note: If you're a category expert, you'll see a Questions I Can Answer tab, which lists all the unanswered questions in your area of expertise.
      4. Click a question or answer to view it.
      Close

    • How do I use the Guides in the Instructure Community?

      Answer text
      Close

    • How do I add a comment in the Canvas Community?

    • Changing your avatar is an easy way to personalize your community identity. You can change your avatar as often as you like.


      To change your avatar:

      1. Sign in to your community account.
      2. Go to My Settings > Avatars.
      3. Choose a new avatar in one of these ways:
        • Choose an avatar from the Community collection. (Choose an avatar collection and click the avatar your want.)
        • Use an image from your Image Gallery. (Click From My Albums and click the image you want.) You can only use this option if you have uploaded images that have been approved.
        • Use an image from the web. (Click From the Web and enter the URL for the image. Then, click Set Avatar).
      Close

    • You can tell other community members as much or as little about yourself as you want. You can enter a short biography, your location, your interests, or anything else (within community guidelines, of course) to your community profile.

      To tell other community members about yourself:

      1. Sign in to your community account.
      2. Go to My Settings > Personal Profile > Personal Information.
      3. Enter information about yourself in the Biography field. You can also enter your name, location, company info, and any other information you want to share.
      4. Click Save.

      By default, community users will not be able to see this information.

      To make your information visible to others:

      1. Click Preferences > Privacy.
      2. Select who you'd like to have access to view your information.
      3. Click Save.
      Close

    • You can customize the look and behavior of the community in many ways, including time zone and language preference, text size, menu behavior, message order, and privacy settings.


      To set your viewing preferences:

      1. Sign in to the community.
      2. Go to My Settings > Preferences.
      3. Click through the various preference tabs and make the changes you want.
      4. Click Save on each tab where you make changes.
      Close

    • You can close your account and remove your personal information from the Canvas Community. After you close your account, you cannot re-open it or reclaim your user name. If you later decide to re-join the community, you must re-register and start from scratch.

      1. Click your Profile icon.
      2. Click the My settings link.
      3. Click the Close Account tab.
      4. Click the Close Account button.
      Note: Closing your account will immediately log you out of the Canvas Community.
      Close

    • A tag is a single keyword or phrase that describes the topic, theme, or subject of a post. You can add as many tags as you want and so can other community members. For example, in a post about quizzes, you might add these tags: quiz, assessment, moderation, matching, fill in the blank.
      Be sure to use commas between tags.

      Close

    • A tag cloud displays tags used frequently within the community or within an area of the community. The more frequently a tag is used, the larger it appears in the tag cloud. By looking at a tag cloud, you can get a sense of what the hot topics are in a given area.

      Close

    • Tagging is a way to help other users discover interesting posts. It's also a way to organize content in the community that you think is related. When you apply tags to a post, you add to the value by providing another way for people to find it.

      Close

    • Some users will tag posts for their own convenience in finding them later. Other users enjoy helping categorize interesting posts for the benefit of the community. Users who tag lots of posts gain status by appearing on Tag Leaderboards.

      Close

    • To add a tag:

      1. Navigate to an interesting post or comment.
      2. Click in the Add field and type your tags (separated by commas).
      3. Click Add Tag.

      Close

    • You can find messages you've tagged by visiting your profile and clicking the tag. You can also click on a tag on any cloud and look at the Most Tagged section.

      Close