9 Reminders for Instructors Teaching Online Courses

HELP WITH CANVAS FEATURES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAYING ENGAGED & CREATING A PRESENCE

1

PUBLISH

YOUR COURSE

Publish your course and anything you want students to see or have access to.

HELP GUIDE
How do I publish a course?

2

WELCOME

STUDENTS

Post a welcome announcement or video
Make sure your profile photo has been updated in Canvas

HELP GUIDES
How to add a profile picture in my user account as an instructor?
How do I add an announcement?

3

POST

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Use Announcements throughout the semester

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Announcements can be delayed
+ Students can reply to announcements

HELP GUIDES
How do I add an announcement?
How do I delay announcements?
How do I enable replies to announcements?
How do I post on my mobile device: iOS | Android
Sample announcement
Tips on Using Announcements

Simple drawing of person with arrow pointing to multiple other people to represent teacher and discussions with students

4

ENGAGE IN

DISCUSSIONS

Respond to at least 15% of student posts on the discussion board (where all students can see)
Provide individualized feedback in SpeedGrader in addition to posting on the discussion board

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Use SpeedGrader to view all of a student’s posts in one place

HELP GUIDES
How do I create a discussion as an instructor?
How do I create a group discussion in a course?
How do I grade a discussion in SpeedGrader?

5

UNDERSTAND

CANVAS GRADES

Configure grades to match your syllabus (points vs. weighted, drop policies, etc.)
Use Zeroes ("0") in the grade book when students don’t turn something in or it won’t count against them

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Use the Hide/Post tool to hide grades for an assignment and then release all scores and feedback at once

HELP GUIDES
How do I hide grades for an assignment?
How do I hide/post grades from SpeedGrader?
How do I add an assignment group?
How do I create a weighted grade book?
How do I drop an assignment or create rules for an assignment group?

Paper with a grade of C plus and feedback written on it

6

PROVIDE QUALITY

FEEDBACK

Provide prompt and meaningful feedback on assignments (feedback that is clear, positive, specific, and focused on observable behavior that can be changed)

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Use SpeedGrader to provide annotated feedback on submission assignments

HELP GUIDES
How do I use SpeedGrader to annotate submission assignments
How do I use SpeedGrader on my mobile device: iOS | Android
How do I let students know how to find their annotated feedback?

vector image of computer with viewer glasses on screen

7

MONITOR

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Contact inactive students

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Student activity information can be located in the People and Analytics tools in Canvas
+ Use Message Students Who to contact students from the Grade Book (who scored poorly, haven’t submitted, etc.)

HELP GUIDES
How do I view analytics through the course card in the People tool?
How do I view analytics for an individual student in Analytics?
How do I use Message Student who?

8

OFFER

OFFICE HOURS

Offer synchronous online meetings with students at least once a week (or the equivalent of in shorter semesters)

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Zoom is a free video conferencing solution

HELP GUIDE
Information about Zoom

help button (square with button on top and help written on it)

9

FIND

HELP

Use the Canvas Help button 24/7 for help guides and online chat

GOOD TO KNOW

+ Keep an eye out for CAS Online and Academic Technology’s weekly email Canvas Teaching Tips

HELP GUIDE
How do I get help with Canvas as an instructor?
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences OATS Teaching Tips

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