How To: Set Up Your Canvas Course to Meet Basic Usage Requirements

The first time you navigate to Canvas Commons, you may be prompted to "Authorize" your account to use Canvas Commons. If you see this, you will need to click the "Authorize" button to access Canvas Commons. You will only have to do this the first time you access Canvas Commons.

A green banner will appear across the top indicating that the import is being processed.

To verify the import, navigate to your course and view your new "Home" page.

Need assistance with this step? Submit a service request.

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Set Up Simple Syllabus in Canvas

Simple Syllabus is a dynamic tool adopted by Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) to streamline the creation and distribution of course syllabi. By integrating directly within Canvas, it allows faculty members to design, update, and share their syllabi in a more efficient manner, aligning with FSW's commitment to enhancing educational resources. With user-friendly features and compliance with institutional standards, Simple Syllabus offers a modern approach to a vital component of the academic experience at FSW.

Visit the How To: Setup Simple Syllabus in Canvas guide for step-by-step instructions. 

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Configure Assignment Groups and Assignment Group Weights in Canvas

Open your Canvas Course. Then, click on the "Assignments" link located in the Course Navigation Menu.

When you navigate to the "Assignments" area, you will see all the current assignment groups created in your course. If you have an empty class, the only thing displayed will be the default group titled "Assignments" with no items in the group. 

To begin, make sure you have a copy of your syllabus available for reference. Then, create an assignment group for each weighted category listed in the syllabus. 

To create an assignment group, click on the "+ Group" button in the top right.

In the window that appears

1. Type in the name for the group as it appears in the syllabus
2. Click "Save"

Repeat the steps above to create all the weighted groups in Canvas as they appear in your syllabus.

If you want to rename an existing assignment group, click on the kabob icon in the top right of the assignment group.

In the menu that appears, click on "Edit".

In the window that appears, delete the current group name, then type in the new assignment group name you wish to use and click "Save".

The assignment group will now have the updated title.

After you have all the groups created as they appear within your syllabus, you will need to set the percentage each group is worth. 

On the "Assignments" page of your course, click on the top right kabob button and select "Assignment Groups Weight".

In the menu that appears, click on the box to the left of "Weight final grade based on assignment groups" so there is a checkmark in it. 

Once enabled, you'll see all the assignment groups you created, each with a field where you can enter the numerical weight for that category.

Be sure to click "Save". 

You can verify that the changes have been made successfully by looking at each assignment group. You will see the percentage that the group is calculated at to the right of each group title. 

Please note, weighting assignment groups is not required. If you would prefer non-weighted assignment groups, you can simply uncheck the "Weight final grade based on assignment groups" box. 

The next steps will take you through creating assignments within those groups.

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Create Assignments in Canvas

Using the Course Navigation Menu, navigate to the "Assignments" area of your Canvas course.

When you open the "Assignments" section, you'll see all the groups you created earlier. This is where you'll build the assignments students will submit. To create your first assignment, click the "+" button within the appropriate assignment group.

This will open the "Create Assignment" window.

(1) The "Type" should be set to "Assignment".

(2) The "Name *" field should match the title of the work listed in your syllabus that you're collecting in class. This ensures that when it's time to enter grades, you can easily identify which assignment in the Canvas gradebook corresponds to the collected work.

You can leave the "Due at" field blank, but adding a due date helps students stay on track. When a due date is entered, the assignment will appear in their "To Do" list in Canvas, making it easier for them to manage their workload.

(3) Set the "Points" field to match the number of points the assignment, quiz, or exam is worth according to your syllabus.

(4) Click 'Save and Publish' to create your first assignment placeholder. This makes the assignment visible to students.

You can use the same method to create placeholders for in-class tests, exams, or quizzes. Be sure to set each one to the "Type" labeled "Assignment." Now, go through your syllabus and create placeholder assignments for all the work you plan to collect from students.

Be sure that as you are adding the assignment placeholders, you are clicking the "+" button in the correct assignment group for each assignment. 

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Use the Gradebook in Canvas

When it comes time for you to enter the students' grades into Canvas, navigate to the gradebook area of your course by clicking on "Grades".

On the gradebook page of Canvas, you will see your students listed in the first column vertically, and all the assignments you just created are displayed horizontally across the top.

To enter a grade for a student, click in the cell of the corresponding assignment and student you want to grade, and type in their grade. 

You can press "Enter" on your keyboard after entering a grade for one student to move to the next student's assignment box automatically.

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Get Additional Support

eLearning is here to support you through this process. You can reach out to Canvas Support 24/7 by clicking on the "Help" link from the Canvas Global Navigation Menu. 

From all of us at the eLearning department, thank you for your time.

Need additional assistance? Request a consultation with a Canvas expert.

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