Canvas EssentialsCanvas is the Learning Management System used by nine of the Maricopa Community Colleges. The CTL is here to provide you everything you need to deliver your resource, hybrid, and online courses.
Getting Help from CTLWe are always more than happy to help you! Please include specific information in your communication to [email protected], such as course section number, student information, the location of the problem and your MEID (if you need enrollment in a course). Call us at 602-285-7444 or 1-888-994-4433 for 24x7 assistance.
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Canvas Quick Tips |
Resources
Creation of SIS CoursesAll courses are automatically created in Canvas. Spring courses are created in mid-March. Summer and Fall courses are created in mid-October. If you don’t see your course, ensure you are listed as the Instructor of Record (you can confirm this by looking at the Class Schedule). If you are not, work with your department chair. If you need a developmental template, send an email to [email protected] and include your MEID as well as the course prefix and number (e.g. EDU250).
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Removal of Developmental CoursesDo you have a developmental, practice or training course you no longer need? Submit a request for removal through the Canvas Course Delete Request. We will delete courses you are the only instructor in and remove you from courses if other faculty are instructors.
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Course ArchivalYou can expect to retain five semesters of courses at one time. Ensure you create course exports and follow proper end of semester tasks so you don’t lose course content when they are archived.
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Toolboxes
Semester Tasks and Best Practices
Course Design Tips
Updates and ReleasesCanvas has a public (Google) calendar which shows all Canvas updates to BETA Releases and Production, including when release notes are published! Follow these updates to prepare for changes and test out cool new features before they are released. Learn more about the Canvas production schedule and test environments.
You can add Canvas Updates to your personal Google calendar so you will always be in the know! Learn how to add a calendar link to your Google Calendar. Go Mobile
Canvas is available on iOS and Android. Search the App Store or Google Play for Canvas Teacher.
Student Readiness
SmarterMeasure® is a 10-15 minute assessment to measure a student's readiness for online learning. The assessment provides valuable feedback in the areas of student:
The test is not designed to exclude students from course--the reports are designed to provide feedback for students regarding their strengths and weaknesses related to online learning. Students and faculty can use this information to set goals and engage in behaviors that will support their success in online learning environments. See a demo of SmarterMeasure. Best Practice Activities We recommend every online and hybrid faculty member consider including the SmarterMeasure® survey as part of their first week activities. Consider these best practice options:
Use SmarterMeasure at PC Steps for Success Student Success Strategies for Online Learning |
Learn to Use Canvas
Use the Getting Started Module Get a jump on your course design with the Getting Started Module. This "Start Here" module includes everything you need to get students going in Canvas and in your course. The template includes a custom home page, getting started module, links to important student resources, Canvas tutorials and much more. This module helps our courses adhere to a few of the Quality Matters standards and can be used with any course format. You can view this module from within Canvas Commons to see what it looks like before using it in your course. From within Canvas, go to Commons on the blue navigation. Search for "Phoenix College Getting Started" and view the materials. If you want to use it, import or download it.
Cheating Prevention with Turnitin, Respondus LockDown +Monitor and ProctorU
Turnitin
MCCD has purchased a District-wide license for Turnitin for plagiarism detection. Creating a Turnitin assignment within Canvas is easy! Respondus LockDown +Monitor Respondus® LockDown Browser + Monitor is a set of software tools that promote academic honesty when taking online tests. Respondus® Lockdown Browser is a custom browser that helps prevent cheating by locking down the testing environment in Canvas. When students use Lockdown Browser to access a quiz, they are unable to print, copy, visit other websites, conduct internet searches, access other applications, or close a quiz until it is submitted for grading. Quizzes created for use with Lockdown Browser cannot be accessed with standard browsers. Instructors can even to require the use of the Lockdown Browser while students are reviewing their exam results to prevent them from printing, copying/pasting exam questions and answers. Respondus® Monitor is a companion to the LockDown Browser software. With the Monitor feature also enabled, students would be required to activate their webcam and microphone while taking a non-proctored exam. Instructors can review details of the student taking the assessment including reviewing the webcam videos. Students can be asked to show identification. Facial detection features flag suspect behavior which helps to ensure that the student who is actually enrolled in the course is the same individual taking the exam and minimizes other forms of cheating. Learn how to use Respondus® LockDown Browser + Monitor. ProctorU ProctorU has signed a master agreement with the Maricopa County Community College District that allows all institutions to receive premier pricing for online proctoring. ProctorU watches students take exams online with live proctors using webcams and screen-sharing technology. The service gives students the convenience of testing at home and instructors the ability to ensure academic integrity. Faculty are under no obligation to use this service, as it is at cost to our students. A Maricopa-wide agreement was undertaken to pass along cost savings to our students - up to 30% off the price each campus could receive individually. Additionally, students eligible for financial aid may use that aid to purchase vouchers for ProctorU services at the college bookstore. Learn more about the ProctorU services including exam fees, preparing students, technology requirements, a sample syllabus statement and more. Useful SoftwareWe have licenses for a number of software titles to help you create engaging, interactive courses including SoftChalk Cloud, Respondus and Screencast-O-Matic. Visit the CTL Software page to obtain more information and licenses.
If you use Respondus to create quizzes, you might want to publish them to Canvas from within the software. Here are instructions to do so. Setting Canvas Server Publishing Respondus to Canvas Formatting word docs for Respondus |