Canvas: Tips & Tricks

For our remote learning this year, IMSA has recently adopted a new Learning Management System (LMS) called Canvas. Here are some Canvas tips and tricks you may not be aware of. Hopefully, these help you navigate this new system!

1) What-if Grade Entering

Source: PennState

In Canvas you are able to easily see what your overall grade after a hypothetical grade for an assignment is entered. To do this, click on the “Grades” tab for a course and then select your “what-if” grade for an assignment underneath the “Score” column. Though this feature is likely irrelevant in the early semester, it will save a lot of time spent calculating down the road.

2) Get The Canvas App!

The Canvas app allows you to receive push notifications on your phone, check the To-Do list, and even submit certain assignments. After you download the app, you can use the “QR for mobile login” within the “Account” tab to connect your account to your phone easily. Stay up to date with your homework by downloading the Canvas app!

3) Link Calendar

Source: Indiana University

The Canvas Calendar provides a useful overview of the due dates for assignments, and this calendar can even be linked with Google Calendar! To do this, simply click on “Calendar Feed” in the bottom-right corner. Then, copy and paste the link that appears and add that to Google Calendar. In Google Calendar, there will be an option to add a calendar from URL.

4) ePortfolios

The ePortfolio functionality in Canvas lets you organize certain submitted assignments in a singular location. The ePortfolios are found within the “Account” tab. There are many ways ePortfolios can be used; one option is to make ePortfolios of important assignments to help you study for tests. Here is a tutorial on how to use ePortfolios.

5) Troubleshooting

Since Canvas is a new tool for most IMSA students, difficulties will inevitably arise. Here are two strategies to solve possible problems with this unfamiliar territory:

• If Canvas ever does not work properly, such as a missing “submit” button on an assignment, changing your browser is a great troubleshooting technique. Canvas works best with Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, so switching to one of these browsers could resolve your issue.
• If you are not able to submit a quiz or assignment, Canvas recommends you to clear your browser’s cache and cookies. For example, if you are using Chrome, you would accomplish this by selecting the menu icon (3 dots) -> More tools -> Clear browsing data -> check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files checkboxes” -> Clear Browsing Data. For clearing cache and cookies on other browsers, refer to this guide.

Good luck!