Unwrap These: Canvas Tips & Tricks for Instructional Leaders

JaimeJackson
Instructure
Instructure
‎12-19-2024 09:54 AM
0
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Unwrap These...

Canvas Design Tips & Tricks for Instructional Leaders

What’s Included in This Post?
• Streamlining Your Workflow
• Enhancing Course Design
• Maximizing Feedback and Insights

 

As we approach the end of 2024, we’d like to gift you some wisdom. Here are a few tips and tricks that have made a significant impact on our instructors’ teaching and workflow. Our Strategic Consulting Team has gathered these valuable insights to help you finish the year strong and set the stage for even greater success in 2025.

Streamlining Your Workflow

Hyperlinking Text

Did you know you can hyperlink text in Canvas just like in messaging apps? Simply highlight the text you want to link, press Cmd+V (or Ctrl+V on Windows), and the hyperlink will apply automatically. Poof! This small, efficient step eliminates the need to use Cmd+K first, saving time and streamlining your workflow.

Gradebook Efficiency

One of the hidden gems of Canvas is the "Total Column Options: Move to Front" feature in the Gradebook. Though not a new addition, it remains a powerful tool, allowing instructors to quickly access the total grades column, making grading and review significantly faster.

  1. Open the Gradebook: In your Canvas course, navigate to the "Grades" section from the course navigation menu.
  2. Locate the Total Column: Scroll to the far-right side of your Gradebook. You should see the "Total" column, which displays the cumulative score for each student.
  3. Use the "Move to Front" Option: Hover over the column header (the "Total" column).
  4. Click the three vertical dots (also known as the "Options" button) in the upper-right corner of the "Total" column.
  5. From the drop-down menu, select "Move to Front".

Once moved to the front, the "Total" column will appear at the beginning of the Gradebook, making it much easier to access and view overall student grades without scrolling through multiple columns. This simple adjustment saves time by bringing the most important data into view, allowing for quicker grading and review.

Enhancing Course Design

Customizable Course Navigation

This year, instructors have leaned heavily on the ability to customize course navigation. By tailoring the navigation bar to include only the most relevant links, instructors can create a more intuitive and focused experience for their students. "Less is more!" Instructors have shared that this simple adjustment has helped reduce confusion and improved course engagement.

Here's how to do it:

  1. Open Course Settings: In your Canvas course, go to the "Settings" section from the course navigation menu.
  2. Go to the Navigation Tab: In the Settings menu, click on the "Navigation" tab.
  3. Rearrange or Hide Links: To reorder links, drag and drop them in the preferred order. To hide unnecessary links, click on the three vertical dots next to the link and select "Disable" or drag the link to the bottom half of the list. Remember, you can always re-enable it later by dragging it back to the list.
  4. Save Your Changes: Once you’ve arranged your navigation links as needed, scroll down and click "Save".

Prerequisites and Requirements

Prerequisites and requirements have proven to be indispensable for structuring course modules effectively. By setting specific requirements for module progression, instructors can guide students through content in a logical order, ensuring they master foundational concepts before advancing. This feature not only enhances learning but also supports student accountability.

PRO TIP: Align your rubrics to specific standards or learning objectives to ensure consistency and clarity in grading. This not only saves time by streamlining feedback but also helps students understand how their work meets key criteria, promoting transparency and accountability in their learning progress.

 

Maximizing Feedback and Insights

SpeedGrader and Feedback

SpeedGrader continues to be a cornerstone for efficient grading. By enabling instructors to view, annotate, and provide feedback on assignments all in one place, this tool streamlines the grading process. Pairing it with rubric templates ensures consistency and clarity in evaluations, saving time while maintaining quality feedback for students.

Admin Analytics for Cross-Listed Courses

As a Canvas Admin, Admin Analytics can be a powerful tool for quickly identifying cross-listed courses and their associations. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to Admin Analytics.
  2. Filter by Teacher or Course.
  3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of Course Status and select "Download Data as CSV file." Note: This will provide a quick and easy list of all the courses a teacher has and what courses they are cross-listed with.
  4. Alternatively, click on the bar graph for published and unpublished courses.
  5. From there, download the data to untangle the cross-listed course associations.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up 2024, these Canvas tips are a gift that keeps on giving. By incorporating these time-saving strategies into your workflow, you'll enhance both your efficiency and the learning experience for your students. 

What were your favorite Canvas discoveries in 2024? Let’s continue sharing and growing as we move into the new year!

 

Our team of dedicated strategic consultants helps customers deepen and elevate their use of Instructure Learning Platform products to meet pedagogical goals across their organization by offering expertise, strategic advice, customized consultation, and targeted coaching. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM, or @Kelley_Lozicki, Manager, Learning Services, or by email kloziciki@instructure.com.

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