[ARCHIVED] What should students know about Canvas?

[michaels]

I am developing an orientation module to help my online students get off to a strong start. I am putting together a section on using Canvas. I want to go above and beyond the basics, and while the canvas guide videos are great and I am planning to leverage them, I don't want the students just watching a bunch of videos. I would love to hear ideas from people of what the students should know to maximize their Canvas experience.

[Boekenoogen]

One of the biggest things I would tell students is that Canvas is very flexible. Also, it is not very forgiving. Turnitin assignments can a challenge. 

[lturner2]

I like your question, @Jennifer Michaels - it tells me you want to give the students every advantage, and that's commendable. Let me diverge momentarily, however, and tell you one aspect of advice that I usually give to new teachers and that is also included in "Online Teaching Basics" that I prepare - Make your first quiz extra credit, about the syllabus, and make it happen first thing. Remove the anxiety about grades and allow the students to figure out the LMS and all the pop-up blocker issues that come with different browsers and configurations.

If you apply the concept to students, exposure is the key. I would encourage (require...?) students to go in and complete their profile. It's not exactly Facebook snazzy, but it would allow them to tell the world a little about themselves, and most students (ok, people in general) like writing a short autobio and uploading a picture. Any exposure you can generate will help them feel more comfortable, which also indirectly teaches them how to navigate, upload, and browse within Canvas, all before any teacher can inundate them with homework 😃

[michaels]

Thanks  @1larryturner  I am requiring them to update their profile as one assignment and most of the other assignments that they do give them an opportunity to "play around" in canvas with a simple pass/fail grade - if they do it they get credit if they do it correctly they get to do it again until it is correct. I agree with you that exposure is the key.

[crafte]

Hi  @michaels ‌, you might want to review the information posted in these two locations as well:

Canvas Student Tips.pdf 

https://community.canvaslms.com/thread/9749 

[michaels]

Thanks  @crafte  I have a similar Canvas Student Tips (maybe an earlier version) that I am using as part of the orientation but I hadn't seen the Best Kept Secrets - for Students. I will have to check that out. Canvas has so much to offer but it is a challenge getting the students to be aware of it so that they can use it to their advantage.