Blended Learning With Canvas
Bryan Station Middle School, 10/24/19
Link to Smore Agenda
Exploring Canvas
Examples of Canvas integrated with Content Platforms:
- enVision Geometry -- created by Steven Greene, Frederick Douglass High
- Collections English II -- created Hannah Johnson, Frederick Douglass High
- FCPS Curriculum Documents: Secondary -- example of a PD course containing images, videos, etc.
Note: In some cases, you may not have access to certain Google items. Also, I strongly encourage that any assignments and quizzes that count for a grade should be created/collected in Canvas.
Quick Start Guide to Building a Canvas Course
- Open IC course or create a course manually from the Dashboard.
- Click on Modules on the left side of the course navigation sidebar.
- Click +Module at the top right of the screen.
- Add the item you want to build by clicking the + sign at the top of the Module -- choices include Page, Assignment, Quiz, Discussion, etc.
- Edit the item by adding text, images, videos, Docs, Slides, etc.
- Save the item.
- Add, develop, and save additional items as desired.
- Publish any Modules you want students to use.
- Publish any Items you want students to use.
- Publish the course (button is on Home page) when you're ready for students to access. If you are using a manual course, use Settings to create a course enrollment link to share with students.
Modules
Icon for adding Modules, which are used for organizational purposes
Items
Icon for adding Items such as Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, etc.
Publish
Icon to indicate if something is published. A green checkmark indicates that something is published. Notice that the area above in gray does not show a green checkmark. It only has a circle with a slash, instead. In this example, the Item is published but the Module itself is not. Students cannot see items inside unpublished Modules.
More Canvas. More Functionality.
- Create Your Own Course -- In the blue sidebar, click on Dashboard. On the right side, select the button that says, Start a New Course. You may have to scroll down to the bottom of the page if you cannot find the button on the right. It will depend on the display settings of your monitor.
- Canvas Training with Course Template -- this link is to a template I downloaded and begin editing. The templates are available in Canvas Commons (toward bottom of blue sidebar) for downloading. Templates may be found by searching FCPS templates.
- Import Material Into Infinite Campus Course Shells -- use these directions if you want to take and entire course -- or select material from other courses -- the import tool will allow you to copy in entire modules or individual assignments, quizzes, etc.
- Cross-List Courses -- cross-listing allows a teacher to combine multiple course sections into one master course. If you teach Algebra I during three different class periods, those students can be combined. It means only updating the one course. If you prefer to keep separate courses, use the import tool to "share" content.
Video: Canvas Demo
Check out this video created by Michelle Rauch, instructor at Eastside Technical Center. Michelle teaches Media classes and is a huge proponent of using Canvas with students.
Canvas Demo
Steps for Downloading a Canvas Course Template
- Go to Dashboard and create a new course (I recommend giving it a name such as Canvas Training Sandbox or something along that line. Anything you build in it can be imported into another course shell). Remember the name you give it.
- On the blue sidebar, scroll down to Commons and click on it.
- Search for FCPS templates.
- Preview the template by clicking on various Modules, pages, etc.
- Import your preferred template by clicking on the Download/Import area in the upper right of the screen. You will need to search for the newly created course by name. Select it from the list.
Two Ways to "Make a Copy" of a Google Item in Canvas
One thing teachers love about Google Classroom is the ability to Make a copy of a document, presentation, etc. for students to use. However, Canvas provides a similar option.
Two Ways in Canvas
- Assignment -- essentially the same as the function in Google Classroom. In the Submission Type area of the Assignment settings, select External Tool. Click Find and choose Google Drive Cloud Assignment. From there, you'll be able to browse into your Google Drive and locate the item you wish to attach.
- Force a Copy -- Option to allow students to submit work in a traditional way through Canvas. Share a link to a Google item that has been edited to force a copy. When students click on it, they will be required to Make a copy. They can edit the document and then submit as an Assignment. (To allow for this, the teacher creates the Assignment and then uses the Submission Type of Online.)
Force a Copy Trick for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, & Drawings
Paula Setser-Kissick
District Digital Learning Coach
Fayette County Public Schools
Email: paula.setserkissick@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: blogs.fcps.net
Location: 1126 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Phone: (859) 381-4144
Twitter: @p_setserkissick