Self-Help Tutorials & Resources

Welcome to your one-stop resource hub for mastering Canvas and enhancing your online teaching experience. Our comprehensive tutorials are designed to guide you through every facet of using Canvas, from the initial setup of your course to advanced features that enhance student engagement.

Our resources also cover essential topics like accessibility, assignments, communication, and more, ensuring you have the knowledge and tools needed to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. Whether you’re setting up your course, grading assignments, or facilitating group work, our tutorials are here to support you every step of the way.

Ready, Set, Go

These tutorials cover everything you need to know to start working in your Canvas course. This section will introduce the basic tools and functions of the platform.

Timely Tutorials

These tutorials are organized by phases of the semester. For example, the “Beginning of the Semester” section covers course building and management.

Artificial Intelligence

The CTLD’s collection of resources on Generative AI will familiarize you with the basics, including how it works, the implications for education, and even how you can use GenAI in your work.

Integrated Apps

Canvas offers third-party apps to enhance courses and student engagement. These tutorials explain using these integrated apps to improve your teaching effectively.

Accessibility

When working on your course, there are several considerations to make to keep your content and activities accessible to all of your students. This section has tutorials on how to use available accessibility tools.

Assignments

Every Canvas course includes activities to assess student progress, such as assignments. These tutorials provide details on various topics, including creating and editing assignments, rubrics, plagiarism checkers, and group work.

Blueprint

Each MSU Denver course is created with a template, the Blueprint, that provides structure and resources for faculty members and students.

Canvas Tools

Canvas provides various integrated third-party apps to enhance courses and student engagement. These tutorials explain how to use these apps effectively.

Communication

Clear and frequent communication between faculty and students is critical in the online environment. This section includes video and text tutorials that explain how to use MS Teams, Canvas, and Yuja to communicate effectively.

Discussions

Discussions are designed to facilitate conversations among students and faculty. This section provides guidance on various topics, including creating and editing discussions, assigning rubrics, and incorporating video.

Grading

Grades are some of the most important information students need access to in your online course. This section will cover how to use the Canvas gradebook and grading assignments.

Group Work and Collaboration

Students learn effectively when they can collaborate and share knowledge with their peers. The tutorials in this section help you recreate those important academic relationships even when students are separated by their computer screens.

Lectures

Lectures are a classic component of higher education courses and feature prominently in many in-person courses. These tutorials will cover creating an analogous experience for students in a virtual setting.

Modules

Modules are a fundamental building block and the main organizational unit of a Canvas course. In this section, you will learn how to create modules and populate them with content to ensure an organized and coherent experience for your students.

Navigation

These tutorials will teach you how to navigate through Canvas. Finding what you’re looking for is the first step to improving your course, so understanding the platform’s layout is key to your success in Canvas.

Quizzes and Tests

Most courses use some quizzes or tests to assess student knowledge and evaluate their learned skills. This section covers how to implement these tools in your course and how to go beyond simple multiple-choice or essay-based assessments.

Readings and Content

Written content is a critical resource in any course, and ensuring it is readily accessible to students is a priority. These tutorials will cover various methods of creating, sharing, or linking to readings and other content in your course.

Videos

Videos are an excellent tool for creating instructor presence in your course and delivering multimedia content to your students. These tutorials will show you how to use all the available tools to create and add video content to your course.