This article outlines a few things you can do to make sure you’re ready for the new term.
Before opening your course to students, take a moment to reflect on the last time you taught. How might you enhance your course for the upcoming term? Are there new teaching strategies you might like to explore? Here are a few articles about ways to level up your teaching.
- You may want to choose which courses to display on your Canvas dashboard. Each term’s new courses are displayed there automatically, but you can customize the display each time you log in.
- You may need to copy course content and settings from a previous term into a new term to update the course for the new term without affecting the prior term’s course settings.
- Along with updating due dates, you might make small or significant updates to content, discussions, quizzes, assignments, or even grades.
- It’s also a great idea to review the academic calendar for the upcoming term. Take note of university closures and/or religious holidays that might impact your course plan.
- Don’t forget to publish your course at the start of the term. Students can’t get into your Canvas course site if you haven’t published it!
- This course design checklist outlines all of these and other important tasks to make sure your Canvas course is ready for students.
Zoom, like most applications, runs best when you’re using the most up-to-date version.
If you use the Chrome or Firefox browser plugin to schedule Zoom meetings through Google Calendar, make sure the plugin is up to date.
If you’ve never used your Media Space account, be sure to log in at least once. This allows automatic copies of your Zoom meetings to be stored there.
If you’re holding scheduled Zoom meetings with your class, you may want to schedule your meetings from within Canvas. This will create Zoom meeting links for your course that students can access directly in Canvas.
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Growing with Canvas
This is a self-paced, interactive course with activities for extending your learning in Canvas.
Organizing Content in Canvas
Design for consistency and predictability.
Managing Your Canvas Site
Explore Canvas features and settings.
Communicating in Canvas
Settings & tool features to know.
Assignments in Canvas
What it is & how it works.
Student Interactions in Canvas
All the settings you need to know.
Discussions in Canvas
Settings and use cases.
Using the Home Page in Canvas
Welcome and orientate your students.
Grading in Canvas
An overview.
Using Canvas Modules
Understand the features and settings of Canvas Modules for effective course organization.
Quizzes in Canvas
Your tool for assessment, review, and practice.
Navigating Your New Canvas Course
Where to put your attention first.
Cultivating Student Motivation
Building choice & decision-making.
Active Lecture and Discussion Techniques
Steps for engaged learning.
Engaging Students in Large Classes
Steps to achieve active learning!
Need more help?
Talk now with a teaching support specialist at Portland State University.