Getting Started with Canvas (Instructors)

Table of Contents

• Accessing Canvas
• Requesting Canvas Manually Created Course
• Understanding Basic Navigation
• Applying an OHIO Canvas Course Template
• Explore Canvas Commons
• Build Your Course
• Getting Help from Canvas
• Getting Help from OIT
• Additional Resources

Access Canvas

• Log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu

Request a Canvas Manually Created Course

• All instructors automatically have one test course available in their Canvas account
  • The test course should appear in the Canvas Dashboard and in the Courses tab in the left navigation menu
  • The test course name will include "Instructor Test Course" and your OHIO ID
• If you'd like additional test courses or would like to request a non-term based course (to use as an orientation, deliver training or professional development, etc.) you can request  Canvas manually created courses

Understand Basic Canvas Navigation

• Note that there is a green  Global Navigation Menu  to access Canvas tools and a white  Course Navigation Menu  to access content and tools specific to your course. 

Apply an OHIO Canvas Course Template

• Explore and apply an OHIO Canvas course template  for a streamlined and consistent student experience. 

Explore Canvas Commons

• Canvas Commons is a repository for course content that enables instructors to find, import, and share resources.
• You can import shared modules, assignments, quizzes, discussions, pages, or files from Commons into your Canvas courses
• You can also share your own course content  with other Ohio University faculty using Commons

Build Your Course

• Start from Blackboard content: Review your options for  moving course content from Blackboard to Canvas
• Start anew: Understand  Canvas features  and use them to build your course content
• Set up your Canvas course syllabus

Install Third-Party Integrations

• Install third-party integrations, publisher content, and add-on tools in Canvas. 

Get Help from Canvas

• Live chat with Canvas support (Faculty)
• Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support  
  • Dial the  Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas  Global Navigation Menu 
  • Contact OIT at  740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, test courses/manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.) 

Get Help from OIT

• Use the  Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) ticket form to submit a help ticket 
• Visit the  Technology Resources and Training  page for available training 

Additional Resources

• Canvas Basics Guide
• Canvas Instructor Guide
• Canvas Video Guide
• Mobile Guides
• Canvas Course Accessibility Checklist
• Canvas LMS Implementation updates
• Canvas Experts Corner Blog