Student Getting Started Resources

Below are some general questions and answers about Canvas, the Student role, and links to resources to help you be comfortable with Canvas. Visit the Student Guides to learn more.

Introduction

What is Canvas?

Canvas is a Learning Management System. To learn more about Canvas terminology and definitions, visit How does Canvas define the terms used to describe its features and functions? 

Because Canvas is a web-based system, it doesn’t need to be installed on your computer. However, you’ll want to make sure that your computer and web browser meet the basic requirements to run Canvas

Canvas also has a free mobile app available for iOS and Android that is specifically tailored to students. You can learn more about how the mobile app features compare to Canvas on the web.

What is the Student role?

In Canvas, the Student role is most commonly used to enroll users who will participate in a course for course credit. Users enrolled as students can view course content and participate in course assignments and communications. Students cannot view and participate in a course until it is published and the course has started.

Canvas for Elementary

Canvas for Elementary is a Canvas setting that displays a simplified interface and experience designed for younger learners. 

Canvas Guides

The Canvas Student Guide has over 200 articles that each answer a question that relates to using the Canvas interface as a student. Each article also includes Next and Previous links so you can easily navigate to related content.

Student Videos

You can also watch videos for students.

User Account Setup

Logging in to Canvas

You can access Canvas through a URL for your institution. Learn more in the article below.

Logging in to the Canvas Student App

After you download the Canvas Student mobile app to your Android or iOS device, you can log in to the app using a QR code or a URL. If you are already logged in to Canvas on the Web, using the QR code instantly logs you in to the app.

You can also log into the Canvas Student mobile app without a QR code:

Canvas Overview

Once you log into Canvas, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the Canvas user interface.

00:07: In this video, you will learn how to navigate your dashboard courses and 00:11: Global navigation menu in canvas. 00:15: When you log into canvas, the first thing you see is the dashboard which 00:19: provides a high level overview of your current courses. 00:23: The dashboard can be displayed in three different viewing options. 00:27: Card view displays a course card, for each of your favorite courses. 00:32: Each card can include clickable icons for assignments and announcements discussions 00:37: and files. 00:40: Listview displays an agenda view of graded. 00:42: Items from your courses as well as any non-graded items. 00:45: Your instructors designate for a course to do list. 00:50: You can also add your own items to the agenda. 00:53: Recent activity, view displays, a stream of recent notifications from all 00:57: your courses, including announcements conversations, assignments 01:01: discussions and peer reviews. 01:05: You can also access the course. Grades page from the course card in recent activity 01:09: views by clicking The View grades button. 01:13: The grades page displays grades for all of your courses. 01:17: To view grade details for a specific course, click the name of the course. 01:22: To view a course. Click the courses Link in global navigation and click 01:26: the name of the course you want to view. 01:29: The course, opens to the homepage set by your instructor. 01:33: You can use the course, navigation, links, breadcrumb navigation, or 01:37: the sidebar to navigate to different areas of the course. 01:42: The sidebar includes a to-do list that displays links to announcements and other 01:46: items that require action in your courses such as assignments. 01:49: Quizzes discussions and pages. 01:54: If your course includes student groups, you can view a list of your groups. 01:57: In course, groups, Click the group name to view the group homepage. 02:03: Few recent assignment feedback. In recent feedback, click the assignment 02:07: name to view feedback in the submission Details page. 02:11: Canvas displays a global navigation menu, that gives you direct access to your 02:15: courses and other areas of canvas. 02:19: Click the account link to log out of canvas, specify your notification preferences, 02:23: upload and view personal files. 02:26: Modify your user settings, manage e-portfolios obtain, 02:30: a QR code to log into the student app view Global announcements 02:35: and enable a high contrast user interface. 02:39: Click the dashboard, link to return to the canvas dashboard. 02:43: Click the courses linked to quickly access your favorite courses and view a list of all 02:47: your courses. 02:50: Click the group's linked to access groups in which you are enrolled or view a list of all your 02:54: groups. 02:56: Click the calendar link to view your personal calendar, and course, calendars. 03:01: Click the inbox link to view and send messages to your instructors and peers within 03:05: canvas. 03:07: Click the history. Link to view a list. Of course content and content areas. 03:11: You have viewed within the last three weeks. 03:14: Click the help link to access help resources for your Institution. 03:19: This guide covered an overview of canvas for students.

Course Basics

Within a Canvas course, you can submit assignments, participate in discussions, view grades, and collaborate with other students. What is available in your course depends on what has been implemented by your instructor. View the articles below for some of the basics of Canvas courses.

Learn more about Canvas features and other basic topics in the Canvas Basics Guide.

Learn more about using Canvas as a student in the Canvas Student Guide.