[ARCHIVED] Can someone help me start? Don't know what to do?

[mchavez1]

I am a Spanish teacher 9 - 12 and would like to use this program

[KristinL]

Hi  @mchavez1 Welcome to the Canvas!

You ask a big question. Where do I start? (I'm glad you thought to post in K-12. There are some incredible teachers that you will be able to connect to and collaborate with here.) Canvas will be an awesome addition to your classroom, and with time, you'll become more and more comfortable with its format and how it can help you leverage some pretty amazing things with your students.

To get started, I recommend looking through Getting Started with Canvas as an Instructor . It's a well-written guide with lots of links to the critical pieces of information in Canvas. After looking at the guide and its links, please feel free to follow-up with any other questions you may have!

[cbarham]

I'd be happy to help. I am a former high school Spanish teacher, and while I have never actually facilitated a Spanish course in Canvas (because I left the classroom the same year our district adopted it), I have helped with training all of teachers, especially our World Language teachers.

What are you looking for specifically? Example assignments, general advice, how-to information?

[stephanie_pope]

Welcome Monica!

We are so happy you're here! This community is chalk full of fabulous information and people who are truly here to help you. To get started in Canvas (or even the Free for Teachers version), I would ask....What do you want to use Canvas for? How do you envision an LMS in your classroom.

• Do you want a flipped classroom?
• Do you want to build a type of "website" for you class?
• Are you wanting to create a blended/hybrid environment i.e. online content while being in a face to face class?
• Do you need a type of repository to store files?
• The list goes on.....

Once you nail down your true "need" or "objective" we can use that to help you set up your Canvas space. Being intentional in the beginning (during set up) will really help this space better serve your students. These questions can seem overwhelming. And rightfully so because most of these are shifting the pedagogical structure of your classroom. But we are here for you every step of the way: during the thinking/planning, developing, and delivery phases.

Keep us posted!

Stephanie

[ryan_corris]

Great questions to help narrow things down!  @stephanie_pope  Nice Work

[KristinL]

Hi  @mchavez1  

I hope your semester is off to an amazing start. I'm just checking in!

Now that you're a couple of weeks in, do you have any questions? We're here to help! Let us know what you're thinking about, what you'd like to design, or where you'd like to go with your course materials. 

[ryan_corris]

We encourage teachers in our district to look at what they are already doing in their classes prior to implementing Canvas.  Then decide whether those lessons, activities, assessments, etc. can be enhanced within Canvas.  Canvas is a tool, just like a pencil is a tool.  We wouldn't pick up a pencil and try to figure out what math we can get out of it.  Keeping that context in mind, Canvas is a delivery system for what you put into it.  The content you put into it will decide how you use the tool.  Just like good teaching with backwards design, think about your goals and what you want to assess and develop content from there.

That being said start off small!  The teachers in my district that try to do everything at once are the ones that often become overwhelmed,  Find 1-3 features of Canvas that you think might work for you.  Start with those features and get to know them.  Once you are comfortable, add another feature or two.

[Stef_retired]

 @mchavez1 ‌, it's been a few months since you posted your question, and we'd love to hear about your progress. How is it going?

[nbiddinger-c]

In addition to what's already been said, I suggest checking out the Canvas FastTrack Series.  These are specific, quick (3 minute) tutorials.   @lstark ‌ has done an excellent job of providing a way for busy users to find a topic, get the info & get back to working in Canvas.  She's open to suggestions on new topics, as well.