RHS Tech Tips
Getting Started in Canvas: Course Navigation
Like an ICEBERG, students will see only what is on top while teachers have complete access to all navigation links.
Canvas Implementation: What Are The Essentials?
Canvas Access
Teacher & Student Login
Canvas Website: http://rockhill.instructure.com
Teacher Username: PowerSchool Username
Teacher Password:
You set your password
NOTE: The format for Student Passwords has changed! See below!
Student Username:
K-6: First Initial of First Name and First Initial of Last Name, followed by lunch code
(Example: K-6: AB12345)
7-12: Parent Portal Student ID
(Example: 7-12: 12345678)
You can go to the 'People' navigation link in your Canvas course to see your students' usernames.
Student Password: Birthdate in the format MMDDYYYY (ex: 05031996 for 5-3-1996; Include 'leading zeros' on month and day this school year)
Problems? Contact your Instructional Technology Specialist.
Parent Observer Account
This will allow parents to see student grades, upcoming assignments, and student interaction in a course without interrupting the flow of daily course communication.
Parents can create a 'Parent Observer Account' for their student(s) by selecting the 'Parent of a Canvas User' tab on the Canvas Website.
Mobile: Phone, Tablet & PC
Students can access course materials and post assignments or discussions from any device via the web browser. There is also an iOS Canvas app.
Course Organization
Courses
Consider setting your home page to 'Course Modules'. This way modules will be the first thing students see when they enter your course, and it allows you to organize related materials (i.e. discussions, videos, images, quizzes, etc) for students in chronological order.
You can send announcements to your students in your Canvas courses. All users in your Canvas course will receive notification of your announcements based on their set notification preferences.
Grades
Secondary teachers, make sure to setup your course Gradebook. This includes assignment groups (categories and weights), assignments, and making sure to have due dates and points for each assignment. ParentPortal will be used for quarterly final grade reporting. You will receive more details soon.
Course gradebooks for teachers in grades 3-5 will be automatically generated for each of your Canvas courses by the district. PowerSchool will be used for quarterly final grade reporting. You will receive more details soon.
Canvas has a Gradebook similar to that in PowerSchool. All grades recorded from a Quiz, Discussion, Assignment, etc. automatically go into this Gradebook.
Calendar
Will you use the online environment to modify the calendar throughout the semester? Year?
Make your intentions clear to the students, and consider a commitment to tell them when you make changes to the calendar.
The Calendar automatically syncs with other features in Canvas, such as Assignments, Syllabus, and Grades; so if you create, change, or delete the due date of an assignment on the Calendar, it will show up in all the others and vice versa.
Attention Secondary & Related Arts Teachers!
Additional Tips & Tricks:
- Check what your course looks like in STUDENT VIEW.
- Students cannot enter a course unless it is PUBLISHED.
- Students cannot see a module unless it is PUBLISHED.
- Students cannot see an assignment unless it is PUBLISHED.
- If assignment content is not finalized: Change AVAILABILITY DATE.
- If you are having students upload content in an assignment, you must select ‘ONLINE ' submission type.
- If you want to enter a grade from a paper assignment into your gradebook, you must create a new assignment and select 'ON PAPER' submission type with a due date.
- Check out 'CANVAS HELP' for more support on all Canvas features.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T BREAK ANYTHING! Feel free to create a 'Sandbox' course to build and test anything out along the way before putting it in your 'Student Canvas Courses'!
Want to Know More!
In addition, we will be sharing an 'RHS Technology Tips' newsletter each month that aligns with our Professional Development from the Instruction Department throughout the 2015-16 school year.
Please do not hesitate to contact your school's Instructional Technology Specialist at anytime. We are here to support you!
Your ITS Team,
Chris, Derek, Heather, and Shemia
Website: https://rockhill.instructure.com/courses/296
Location: 660 North Anderson Road, Rock Hill, SC, United States
Phone: (803)981-1000