Navigating Canvas at the University of Delaware: A Comprehensive Guide

Canvas is the central learning management system (LMS) used at the University of Delaware (UDEL). It serves as a hub for course materials, assignments, communication, and grades. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help students, faculty, and guests navigate Canvas effectively at UDEL.

Accessing Canvas

To access Canvas, simply visit the University of Delaware's Canvas login page. You will need your UDEL credentials (username and password) to log in.

Key Features and Functionality

Canvas offers a wide range of features designed to enhance the learning experience. Here are some essential functionalities:

Course Dashboard

Upon logging in, you will be directed to the Dashboard, which provides an overview of all your current courses. Each course is represented by a card, displaying the course name, instructor, and any recent activity. From the Dashboard, you can quickly access your courses and stay updated on important announcements and assignments.

Course Navigation

Each Canvas course has a navigation menu on the left-hand side, providing access to various course components. Common navigation links include:

Home: The course homepage, often displaying announcements, a course overview, or a welcome message.
Announcements: A dedicated space for instructors to post important updates, reminders, and information about the course.
Assignments: A list of all assignments, including due dates, submission instructions, and grading rubrics.
Discussions: A forum for students to engage in online discussions with their classmates and instructors.
Grades: A record of your grades on assignments and exams, as well as your overall course grade.
People: A directory of all participants in the course, including students, instructors, and teaching assistants.
Syllabus: A document outlining the course objectives, learning outcomes, grading policies, and schedule.
Modules: A structured organization of course content, often arranged by week or topic.
Files: A repository of course documents, readings, and other resources.
Quizzes: Online assessments, including quizzes, tests, and exams.
Conferences: A tool for virtual meetings and lectures.
Collaborations: A platform for students to work together on group projects.

Communication Tools

Canvas provides several communication tools to facilitate interaction between students and instructors:

Announcements: Instructors can use announcements to communicate important information to the entire class.
Discussions: Students can participate in online discussions, ask questions, and share their thoughts on course topics.
Inbox: A messaging system for private communication between students and instructors.

Assignment Submission

Submitting assignments through Canvas is a straightforward process. Simply navigate to the Assignments section, select the assignment you wish to submit, and follow the instructions provided by your instructor. You can typically upload files, enter text directly into a text box, or submit a link to an external website.

Grading and Feedback

Canvas provides a centralized location for viewing your grades and feedback on assignments. You can access your grades by clicking on the Grades link in the course navigation menu. Instructors can provide feedback on your submissions through comments, annotations, and rubrics.

Common Issues and Solutions

Accessing Past Enrollment Courses

If you are trying to add an instructor to a past enrollment course, you may find that the "+People" button is grayed out. This is because the "+People" button is disabled after the course has been moved to a read-only status, which occurs two weeks after the official end of the term.

If it is within a year of that time, you, as a teacher, can extend the course end date to a current date in Settings to make the course active again and add the user to your course. For more information about term dates, review the Canvas guide, "How do I change the start and end dates for a course?". Please note that making these changes will make your course active again for all participants, including students.

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Adding Non-UDEL Users

Faculty can sponsor non-UDEL users to use Canvas by creating a guest account. The user will be sent an invitation to complete the registration process.

Adding Third-Party Applications

The steps to add a third-party application or external tool vary from application to application. Some are already available to enable in your course through the Navigation tab in the course Settings, for example, publisher online tools.

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