What is Canvas?
Canvas is Northwestern Michigan College’s Learning Management System (LMS). While Canvas’s features are expansive, learning the basics is straightforward.

How do my courses get in Canvas?
Course shells are created automatically one day after instructors have been officially assigned to a course. If you have been assigned to teach a class, your courses are very likely already in Canvas and ready to be developed.

How do I access Canvas?
With single sign-on (SSO), it’s easy! Once you are logged in to your MyNMC dashboard, click on the Canvas link and you should see your courses listed in the dashboard section of following page.

As an instructor, what are my basic use requirements for Canvas?
Instructors are required to use Canas to post their contact information and add the appropriate information to the Canvas course syllabus page, as well as record grades and assess outcomes (both are elements of Canvas’s gradebook functionality).

Do instructor’s use Canvas for anything else?
YES! Most instructors use their Canvas course shells as a course content repository, student communications hub, place to share important web links, and where assignments are posted and turned in. More advanced Canvas users may also use Canvas for quizzes (automated grading!), attendance, and much more. If you can think of it, Canvas probably has a feature to help you do it, and the Ed Tech Department can help you.

So: gradebook and outcomes. How do I set them up and use them?
Glad you asked! Here is a link to a Canvas gradebook tutorial page. This tutorial takes you through nearly everything you need to know about the gradebook and assessing outcomes. If you desire more personal assistance, please let us know.

Let’s say I want to really explore what Canvas can do. Where do I start?
For the tech savvy, we recommend jumping right in and seeing what you can do. Our Growing with Canvas for NMC Instructors, Canvas Corners with Ben Post, and the Canvas Tutorial Pages are all great resources for if you get stuck. If you desire more direct assistance, let Ed Tech know and we can schedule one-on-one meetings or get you signed up for our professional development teaching solutions program.

I have multiple sections of the same course. Do I have to recreate my Canvas content for each section?
Definitely not. If you are teaching the same content to multiple classes, Ed Tech can cross-list your sections for you, which links all of your sections together and allows you to administer them through one “parent” course. Please submit a helpdesk ticket if you would like to cross-list your sections, as instructors cannot do it on their own.

I plan to create a lot of content for my course. Can I transfer it over to my next semester course?
Absolutely. It only takes a few clicks! Here’s a tutorial on how to accomplish it.