Canvas Quick Start

Welcome to Canvas

Vanguard uses Canvas as the Learning Management System (LMS). Professors can post your syllabus, course resources and a variety of assignments to enhance your educational experience. You will be able to submit work, take tests and view grades; depending on the professors chosen level of usage. Here is a brief overview.

Log into Canvas: https://canvas.vanguard.edu

Default View

The default view is the Dashboard. The screen is made of three parts: Global Navigation, dashboard, and sidebar.

• Global Navigation:
  • Account (Logout, Profile, Notification settings, and Setting
  • Courses – View all assigned courses (past/current/future) and status (unpublished or published).
  • Calendar – View Dated activities and resources. Color coded to match Course Cards.
  • Inbox – contact other Canvas users (professors or classmates). Also, view messages, NOT a replacement for VU email. VU email is the main communication resources used by all departments of the university.
  • Help – Canvas Guides, Canvas Support (24/7), Email Instructor, and IT Helpdesk
• Dashboard pane – Course Cards or Activity Stream (Use Setting menu in top right corner of center pane.)
• Sidebar – Upcoming Events, Calendar, and Grades

Course View

Course view offers five main elements: Global Navigation, Course Menu, Course Content, Breadcrumbs, and Sidebar.

• Course Menu – Beside the Global Navigation, grants access to the course information and activity categories. Collapse or hide using the menu icon () above and to the left of the Breadcrumbs
• Content Pane – Displays the content associated with the category selected in the Course Menu. Modules are commonly used as the Home page.
• Breadcrumbs Navigation – displays the current location and the course code. This code is helpful when seeking assistance from the IT department or your professor. Clicking on the desired portion of the Breadcrumb returns you to the default view for that location.
• Sidebar – As with the Sidebar in the Dashboard view, the current course sidebar offers access to upcoming events and to a course calendar displaying this course’s activity information.

Submitting Assignments

For Canvas, the term “Assignment” refers to any activity for which a student can receive a grade. The most common assignment types include: online submissions, quizzes/tests, discussions, in-class assignments and off line submissions. It is important to follow the professor’s instructions including due dates. At their discretion, professors can accept or reject late or incomplete assignments. Quizzes/Tests are automatically submitted to Canvas if the due date or time limit expires. Therefore, it is also important to complete any submission process in its entirety and confirm the submission. Blue buttons in Canvas are critical especially the Save, Update, or Submit button.

In the above sample, adding an item after selecting the Browse button (circled) selects the file but it is not uploaded to Canvas until the blue submit button (rectangle) is selected.

Other Resources for Canvas

Intro to Canvas Course for Students (self-enrollment):   https://community.canvaslms.com/videos/1124

Canvas Overview for Students Video:   https://community.canvaslms.com/videos/1124