Canvas Up

Canvas, by Instructure, is a rapidly growing learning management system offered as a cloud-native SaaS platform. Established in 2008, and launched on the market in 2011, Canvas is used by more than 2,000 universities, school districts, and institutions around the world. In about 7 years, it has risen to the second most adopted LMS in the industry.

Learn More-

Canvas Information
Canvas Stories
Canvas Overview Video

Overview

The abilities of Canvas are extensive, hosting a full range of LMS tools, but below you will find just a few of the features that drew our attention:

• Clean, intuitive, modern interface built on current and sustainable web standards
• Smart communication workflows
• Integrated media recording and insertion
• Microsoft Office 365 integration
• Mobile friendly
• True multi-platform compatibility
• Easy content sharing and reuse
• Thorough analytics, reporting, and availability of data
• Learning outcomes integration
• Collaborative workspaces
• Social media integration
• Time-saving assessment tools (for online and face-to-face classroom experiences)
• Student-centered learning features
• Integrated support
• Reliable, stable, fast performance
• No down time for updates, and frequent issue resolution
• To learn more, go to the Canvas LMS web site.

Highlighted Features

• Commons Collaboration
• Communication (works along with Office 365- GEM)
• Integrated Help Resources
• Learning Modules
• Media Recorder (available throughout Canvas)
• Polls (Canvas App)
• Scheduler
• Speedgrader
• Threaded Comments (available throughout Canvas)

More on Canvas Features

All faculty and staff now have access to Canvas. Follow the instructions below to login to Canvas.

Canvas Login

• Canvas link- https://jsu.instructure.com 
• Username- Full JSU email address (ex- abcd1@jsu.edu)
• Password- Use the Forgot Password link to set your password. The Forgot Password link is on the Canvas Login Page. The password reset link will be sent to GEM (Office 365 Mail).

Canvas Training

• Canvas Basics Self-Paced Training Course
• Canvas Webinars

Canvas Tutorials Related to Transition

Canvas Course Shells- Instructors have access to many course shells in Canvas. Some of these shells are for development. Fall 2019 course shells are 'live' and will be used with students in Fall 2019.

Importing Blackboard Export File- A Bb Export File is a specific computer-only readable file. The Bb Export File includes Tests, Pools, Rubrics, and Files for importing into Canvas. This file is different from the zipped file created by exporting files in the Bb Content Collection. The content collection zipped file must be imported from the Files tool and not with the Import Course Content tool.

Importing Blackboard Tests, Pools, Rubrics, and Files- Import these Bb elements by importing the Bb Export File.

Uploading Blackboard Content Collection- If a zipped file was created from the Bb Content Collection, the file must be uploaded in Canvas Files. Trying to upload this zipped file using the Canvas Import Course Content process will result in an error.

Copy a Canvas Course- Whether copying a DEV course to a 'live' Canvas course shell or copying from one semester to another, the Canvas Course Copy process is straight forward.

Rebuilding a Blackboard in Canvas- A step-by-step tutorial from exporting Blackboard (Bb) content for Canvas import and rebuilding a course in Canvas.

Bb to Canvas Terminology Comparison- Many of the tools in Canvas are similar in terminology and usage as those in Blackboard. Other tools use different terminology and function in unique Canvas-style ways.

Canvas Curiosities- Good, bad, or otherwise, Canvas has a few interesting features and processes. Review this list for important details which may make the Canvas experience better.

Share a Canvas Course (content)- Canvas features an easy way to share a course or any course element to a colleague or Canvas user across the World. Using this method, courses may be shared without being enrolled in a course or requesting assistance from Online@JSU.