According to USU’s Center for Instructional Design and Innovation (CIDI), “Canvas is [USU’s] learning management system. In other words, it is a platform for hosting course content, delivering online quizzes, accepting online assignment submissions, disseminating grades and feedback, and more. All USU students, faculty, and staff have access to Canvas and can login to Canvas at canvas.usu.edu.”

Canvas Expectations

When teaching in-person courses, all English Department teachers are required to maintain a minimal presence on Canvas. At a minimum, teachers are expected to post the syllabus, major assignment descriptions, and student grades to Canvas.  This practice ensures that all students have access to key course information and their grades; additionally, a Canvas presence is beneficial in the event that we have to move online mid-semester.

Composition Canvas Shells

First-year GIs are provided with a Canvas course template (shell) that incorporates the current GI curriculum, while second-year GIs are given a bit more freedom to design their Canvas courses as they see fit. Resources are available for Professors, Lecturers, and GIs for both the ENGL 1010 and ENGL 2010 courses. All instructors are welcome to access Canvas materials provided to GIs and should contact either the DOC or Associate DOC.

GIs can make minor modifications (e.g., shift a due date) to their Canvas shells to best fit their needs. However, as you modify your Canvas shell, keep in mind that no major elements (e.g., creating a new assignment) of the curriculum should be changed without approval from the DOC or Associate DOC.

Below are some examples of how you might use Canvas:

• Making course readings available to students;
• Posting Announcements AND/OR Discussion Boards;
• Providing student resources;
• Uploading slides and handouts;
• Connecting students with Library resources.

For more information about how to alter a Canvas shell or for any assistance you may need, refer to the section on Canvas Help.

Canvas Accessibility

Please ensure that any materials posted to Canvas are accessible (https://cidi.usu.edu/topics/accessibility/). Please utilize Canvas’ Ally Tool for guidance on how you and your students can make your course more accessible (http://cidi.usu.edu/tools/ally/). For more assistance, please contact CIDI at accessibility@usu.edu or 435-797-5535.