Research Guides: Canvas for Students: Overview: Basic Tools & Features

Overview of Basic Canvas Tools and Features

Elements of Canvas

Syllabus

Your instructor will publish the syllabus for your class here.

Announcements

Your faculty may use announcements to send reminders about upcoming assignments, meetings, etc.
Students can comment on announcements, and a record of all Announcements are kept.

Modules

To navigate course content, go to Modules. Most instructors will map out the course through this tool, and will create Modules according to weeks, themes, or projects. Some instructors may require that you complete one Module before progressing to the next.

Assignments

Assignments can include Discussions, Quizzes and Assignments where students are asked to turn in a variety of forms (text, URL, media, files). Assignments can be viewed from the Assignments tool in the navigation, or through the Modules.
The Rich Content Editor can be used to type directly into Canvas, and embed media into your text entry.

Assignments Overview

Assignment Submissions

Discussions

Discussions is a way that students can participate in asynchronous conversations. These may be used by your instructor in a variety of ways, from reading responses to critiques of visual work.
In a discussion post, you will have access to the Rich Content Editor and can insert images and media.
Discussions can allow threaded replies, where you can reply to someone else’s post.

Discussions Overview

Quizzes

Instructors may use Quizzes to assess learning, or survey students in the class. Results will be automatically calculated as you take the quiz.

Quizzes

Grading

Many of your instructors will grade your work through Canvas. Any Discussion, Quiz or Assignment that is graded will record the grade in your Gradebook for the course. To check your grades and progress, click on Grades.
You can use the What-if grade feature to estimate what grades you need to make on each assignment in order to receive your desired grade. See the third video below for a demonstration.
Some of your instructors may use Turnitin for assignments submitted online. Learn more at Turnitin's Student Hub.

Feedback Overview

Grades

What-If Grades

Changing Contrast for Visibility in the Canvas Interface

The WU default contrast setting for Canvas may make some aspects (like the My Media tab) difficult to see (circled below). You have the option to change the default contrast setting for higher visibility.

Example of default contrast

To change your contrast setting, click on "Account" in the universal Canvas menu at left. In the pop-out menu that appears, toggle the switch at the bottom to "Use High Contrast UI," then reload the page.

Locating the option to switch to high contrast

Your default Canvas view will have changed to a high contrast setting. This setting will remain selected unless you switch back to the default view, you will NOT need to do this each time you sign into Canvas.

Example of high contrast