Course Support

Canvas Course Support

Individual Course Support from DFI

If you would like assistance setting up your Canvas course fill out our Canvas course support form and one of our Instructional Support Associates (ISAs) will contact you to assist.

We can assist with:

Importing content from last fall
Utilizing one of the TC templates
Answering any questions you might have about adding content to your Canvas course
Enable/Integrate additional tool

Fill out our Canvas course support form

Do-It-Yourself

This simple 10-step Canvas Quickstart guide is a great resource for faculty who would like to set up Canvas courses on their own.

Faculty Canvas Quickstart Guide

ABOUT OUR TEMPLATES

At DFI we have several Canvas course templates to choose from. Take a look at our template examples below to learn more.

Level 1

Level 1: Universal template

This easy-to-use version of the template provides a TC-branded look and feel for your course homepage and includes a Tech Orientation module to help familiarize students with the learning platform and resources supporting their learning. Starting from Fall 2022, all TC courses are pre-populated with the Universal Template. Follow this instruction to enable the template in your course site.

Demo

Templates Features:

Syllabus	Embed Syllabus Upload pdf
Course Content	Import content from existing courses Add new materials to modules (pages, files, assignments, quizzes, discussion forums) Upload course files Add course readings
Communications	Send announcements Set-up Zoom meetings within Canvas
Grading	Access gradebook Weight grades

Development timeline:

Schedule / request time	Any time
Support needed	OYO
Est. Time to build new courses, upgrade to a more advanced template, or make major content revisions	2 hours OYO

Step	Description
1	Find your Canvas course site
2	Add your Syllabus (pick one of two ways): Upload your syllabus Embed your syllabus
3	Add course content For courses with content from previous terms: Import content Edit existing course modules (include prerequisites, requirements, assignments, and other links as needed Add material to your modules For courses without existing content: Create learning activities [Optional] Create your assignments [Optional] Create your quizzes [Optional] Create your discussion boards Upload your course files Add material to your modules Publish course modules when they are ready.
4	Check course navigation links Note: Select only those items that you are using
5	Set up Zoom meetings within Canvas
6	Set up calendar and office hours In Canvas In Google Calendar
7	Add reading materials for your course Create a course resource list in Canvas Publish a reading list for students to view in Canvas Embed a resource in a Canvas page Embed a resource into a Canvas module
8	Publish course site
9	Add an announcement for your students
10	Open a Media Services Request to request Media Service assistance for your first class

Do a little more...

Step	Description
11	Add an image for the course card
12	Organize your assignments with Assignment Groups
13	Set personal notification preferences
14	Weight final grade by assignment type and create grade posting policies.
15	Access the Gradebook to ensure all required assignments and point values are listed.
16	Test out course site on the Canvas mobile app

Level 2

Level 2: Entry level

This version is similar to Level 1 with the addition of a placeholder for the instructor's contact information, module thumbnails, and useful links to get support. To enable the template in your course site, contact DFI and we can assist you.

Demo

Templates Features:

Syllabus	Embed Syllabus Upload pdf
Front Page (Static Image Home Page)	Course image Faculty contact information Module thumbnails
Course Content	Import content from existing courses Add new materials to modules (pages, files, assignments, quizzes, discussion forums) Upload course files Add course readings
Communications	Send announcements Set-up Zoom meetings within Canvas
Grading	Access gradebook Weight grades

Development timeline:

Schedule / request time	2 weeks before the semester starts
Support needed	OYO
Est. Time to build new courses, upgrade to a more advanced template, or make major content revisions	5 hours OYO

Step	Description
1	Find your Canvas course site
2	Add your Syllabus (pick one of two ways): Upload your syllabus Embed your syllabus
3	Populate home page [Optional] Replace the cover image in the Home Page welcome presentation Update Contact Me (name, room #, email, etc.) Update Office Hours Update thumbnails Replace week/session/module dates [Optional] Replace Home Page module thumbnail images
3	Add course content For courses with content from previous terms: Import content Edit existing course modules (include prerequisites, requirements, assignments, and other links as needed Add material to your modules For courses without existing content: Create learning activities [Optional] Create your assignments [Optional] Create your quizzes [Optional] Create your discussion boards Upload your course files Add material to your modules Publish course modules when they are ready.
4	Check course navigation links Note: Select only those items that you are using
5	Set up Zoom meetingswithin Canvas
6	Set up calendar and office hours In Canvas In Google Calendar
7	Add reading materials for your course Create a course resource list in Canvas Publish a reading list for students to view in Canvas Embed a resource in a Canvas page Embed a resource into a Canvas module
8	Publish course site
9	Add an announcementfor your students
10	Open a Media Services Request to request Media Service assistance for your first class

Do a little more...

Step	Description
11	Add an image for the course card
12	Organize your assignments with Assignment Groups
13	Set personal notification preferences
14	Weight final grade by assignment type and create grade posting policies.
15	Access the Gradebook to ensure all required assignments and point values are listed.
16	Test out course site on the Canvas mobile app

Level 3

Level 3: Intermediate level

Level 3 includes all features of Level 2 yet the TC static banner is replaced with the Welcome presentation/sliding banner at the top and a navigation bar is added at the bottom to provide quick access to modules. To enable the template in your course site, contact DFI and we can assist you.

Demo

Templates Features:

Syllabus	Embed Syllabus Upload pdf
Front Page (Interactive Banner Home Page)	Course image Course video Faculty bio Faculty contact information Course schedule Class location and meeting time Getting started section Module thumbnails
Course Content	Import content from existing courses Add new materials to modules (pages, files, assignments, quizzes, discussion forums) Upload course files Add course readings
Communications	Send announcements Set-up Zoom meetings within Canvas
Grading	Access gradebook Weight grades

Development timeline:

Schedule / request time	3 weeks before the start of the semester
Support needed	DFI consultation / collaboration required
Est. Time to build new courses, upgrade to a more advanced template, or make major content revisions	15-20 hours 10 hours DFI building shell and brainstorming 10 hours OYO populating course

Step	Description
1	Request template
2	Find your Canvas course site
3	Add your Syllabus (pick one of two ways): Upload your syllabus Embed your syllabus
4	Populate home page: Update the homepage title Update Welcome Presentation Add course title, instructor name, and instructor department [Optional] Replace the cover image in the Home Page welcome presentation [Optional] Set a cover video in the Canvas Course Template Welcome presentation Add course description Add faculty description [Optional] Replace a faculty picture in the Canvas Template Edit the course schedule Update Contact Me (name, room #, email, etc.) Update Meeting Times. Note: Include zoom link if using a recurring link. Update Office Hours Update Getting Started [Optional] Upload a course introduction video on the Home Page with the Canvas template [Optional] Embed a Padlet for student introduction on the Home Page with Canvas Template Update thumbnails Replace week/session/module dates [Optional] Replace Home Page module thumbnail images
5	Add course content: For courses with content from previous terms: Import content Edit existing course modules (include prerequisites, requirements, assignments, and other links as needed Add material to your modules For courses without existing content: Create learning activities [Optional] Create your assignments [Optional] Create your quizzes [Optional] Create your discussion boards Upload your course files Add material to your modules Publish course modules when they are ready.
6	Check course navigation links Note: Select only those items that you are using
7	Set up Zoom meetings within Canvas
8	Set up calendar and office hours In Canvas In Google Calendar
9	Add reading materials for your course Create a course resource list in Canvas Publish a reading list for students to view in Canvas Embed a resource in a Canvas page Embed a resource into a Canvas module
10	Publish course site
11	Add an announcement for your students
12	Open a Media Services Request to request Media Service assistance for your first class

Do a little more...

Step	Description
13	Add an image for the course card
14	Organize your assignments with Assignment Groups
15	Set personal notification preferences
16	Weight final grade by assignment type and create grade posting policies.
17	Access the Gradebook to ensure all required assignments and point values are listed.
18	Test out course site on the Canvas mobile app

Level 4

Level 4: Advanced level

This is the most advanced level which has all features of Level 3 yet the module thumbnails open a module overview page laying out all learning activities and materials. To enable the template in your course site, contact DFI and we can assist you.

Demo

Templates Features:

Syllabus	Embed Syllabus Upload pdf
Front Page (Interactive Banner Home Page)	Course image Course video Faculty bio Faculty contact information Course schedule Class location and meeting time Getting started section Module thumbnails
Course Content	Import content from existing courses Add new materials to modules (pages, files, assignments, quizzes, discussion forums) Upload course files Add course readings Overview pages
Communications	Send announcements Set-up Zoom meetings within Canvas
Grading	Access gradebook Weight grades

Development timeline:

Schedule / request time	This requires consultation with DFI to determine how long it will take to build.
Support needed	DFI consultation / collaboration required
Est. Time to build new courses, upgrade to a more advanced template, or make major content revisions	30-40 hours 20 hours DFI building shell and brainstorming 20 hours OYO populating course

Step	Description
1	Request template
2	Find your Canvas course site
3	Add your Syllabus (pick one of two ways): Upload your syllabus Embed your syllabus
4	Populate home page: Update the homepage title Update Welcome Presentation Add course title, instructor name, and instructor department [Optional] Replace the cover image in the Home Page welcome presentation [Optional] Set a cover video in the Canvas Course Template Welcome presentation Add course description Add faculty description [Optional] Replace a faculty picture in the Canvas Template Edit the course schedule Update Contact Me (name, room #, email, etc.) Update Meeting Times. Note: Include zoom link if using a recurring link. Update Office Hours Update Getting Started [Optional] Upload a course introduction video on the Home Page with the Canvas template [Optional] Embed a Padlet for student introduction on the Home Page with Canvas Template Update thumbnails Replace week/session/module dates [Optional] Replace Home Page module thumbnail images
5	Add course content: For courses with content from previous terms: Import content Edit existing course modules (include prerequisites, requirements, assignments, and other links as needed Add material to your modules For courses without existing content: Create learning activities [Optional] Create your assignments [Optional] Create your quizzes [Optional] Create your discussion boards Build Overview pages Design your Overview pages [Optional] Embed a video to the Overview page [Optional] Link learning activities to the Overview page Upload your course files Add material to your modules Publish course modules when they are ready.
6	Check course navigation links Note: Select only those items that you are using
7	Set up Zoom meetings within Canvas
8	Set up calendar and office hours In Canvas In Google Calendar
9	Add reading materials for your course Create a course resource list in Canvas Publish a reading list for students to view in Canvas Embed a resource in a Canvas page Embed a resource into a Canvas module
10	Publish course site
11	Add an announcement for your students
12	Open a Media Services Request to request Media Service assistance for your first class

Do a little more...

Step	Description
13	Add an image for the course card
14	Organize your assignments with Assignment Groups
15	Set personal notification preferences
16	Weight final grade by assignment type and create grade posting policies.
17	Access the Gradebook to ensure all required assignments and point values are listed.
18	Test out course site on the Canvas mobile app

Promoting an Inclusive Hybrid Classroom

Hybrid learning settings add additional challenges to students’ educational and personal experiences. It is important to acknowledge inclusivity and accessibility in the hybrid learning environment to ensure all students can equitably access, use, and understand the content.

Check out TC’s Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) list of adjustments you can make to your course content to make it accessible to more students.

View the list of adjustments

Canvas Course Support

Individual Course Support from DFI

Do-It-Yourself

ABOUT OUR TEMPLATES

Level 1: Universal template

Templates Features:

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Level 2: Entry level

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Level 3: Intermediate level

Templates Features:

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Do a little more...

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Level 4: Advanced level

Templates Features:

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