STEP 1: Verify Your Course Assignment

• Verify that your assigned courses are listed in CougarWeb and in Canvas
  • If your course is not visible, check with your division office.
  • If your course is not listed in CougarWeb, email the CRN of the missing course to webservices@collin.edu.

STEP 2: Prepare Syllabus and Calendar

• Prepare your syllabus for the upcoming semester
  • Take advantage of the Curriculum resources including a Syllabus Template, Syllabus Depot, and more.
• Prepare the due dates for all your student's work (calendar). Collin College Academic and Master Calendars HERE.

STEP 3: Build in Canvas

• Set your course homepage for each course.
  Set a specific area as homepage in Canvas (such as customized Homepage, Module list, Syllabus, etc). The eLC has created some graphical homepage suggestions. This video will show you how to import it into your course and customize it. Check with your department to see if there is a departmental homepage template.

• These three ~12 minute videos will walk you through the content covered in "eLC Canvas Rookie" workshops. 

• Canvas Intro to Build Video 1
• Canvas Intro to Build Video 2
• Canvas Intro to Build Video 3

• Key concepts:
  • Why organize with Modules
  • How the Grading Scheme and Assignment Groups make sure your gradebook is calculating final grades correctly.
  • Using the Canvas Gradebook.

STEP 4: Purposefully Clean & Organize Course

1. Keep a simple navigation in Canvas
   
   • Hide unused or unnecessary navigation links from students. Customize your navigation. Check your "student view" so you are confident you know what the students will see.
2. Clean up your Canvas Dashboard: Add current classes, Remove old classes (don't worry, they're all still listed in "Courses". Pro Tip: Nickname your courses to make it easier to find individual courses in the Canvas Inbox.
3. Make sure your Canvas notifications are set up in the way that works best for you. By the way, the Canvas Teacher App is free and available on both iPhones and Androids.
4. PUBLISH your course before the first day of class. This gives you access to send emails to enrolled students through the Canvas InBox. Even if the course is published, the default setting is to limit students access to course materials until the first day of class.

STEP 5: Update Students with Resources available in Canvas Commons

The eLC has provided ready-made student resources for you to import directly into your courses. These are available in the Canvas Commons. Watch this video to find, import, and customize these materials.

  Canvas Orientation Quiz:

This quiz covers content from the Student Introduction to Canvas course (https://www.collin.edu/academics/ecollin/studentcanvasresources.html). Students will need to go over Module 3 “Getting to know Canvas” prior to attempting this quiz.

  Collin College Student Resources:

This page contains links to Canvas help, Collin College, eLC, ACCESS, Writing Center, Library, Online Student Handbook, Student Counseling)

  Technical requirements for Canvas:

The page has information on - Using Canvas and orientation for students - Browsers Canvas supports - Basic computer specification for Canvas -SmarterMeasure (self-assessment for students)

  Welcome Note

A sample welcome note (that you can customize)  

Additional Resources

• Canvas Instructor Guides and Videos
  • Within your Canvas course, click on to use Canvas Instructor Guides
  • Visit the eLearning Center Canvas Videos for Faculty
• Appointments with the eLC
  • Whether you’re designing a course, wanting to create a multi-media module, or just need some new ideas on using technology for teaching and learning, eLC staff are available for both one-on-one and group appointments. 

• Want to learn more online? You've got a couple of choices:

• ENROLL HERE for the eLC's Faculty Introduction to Canvas online course.

• Mark Garcia has also created two additional versions of online courses: Canvas Lite and Canvas Scratch

• Click HERE for Current eLC workshops