Teaching with Canvas
Instructor Guide
Canvas is Arizona State University’s learning management system (LMS) used to organize course content, communicate with students, and manage assessment and feedback. Instructors use Canvas to build course sites, share syllabi and announcements, collect student work, and post grades in a secure, centrally supported environment that ensures consistency and accessibility for students across courses.
Table of Contents
- Why Use Canvas?
- Accessing Canvas
- Requesting Your Canvas Course Shell
- Troubleshooting / Support
- Additional Resources
Why Use Canvas?
At ASU, Canvas serves as the central hub for course communication, materials, and assessment. At a minimum, instructors use Canvas to:
- Share the syllabus and key course information
- Post announcements and communicate with students
- Distribute and collect assignments
- Provide grades and feedback
Many instructors also use Canvas to organize course content, facilitate discussions and group work, and integrate instructional tools.
Accessing Canvas
You can access Canvas in any of the following ways:
- From MyASU, select the Canvas link.
- From your MyASU class schedule, click the course title to open Canvas directly.
- Go directly to https://canvas.asu.edu in your web browser.
Once logged in, you’ll see all Canvas courses associated with your ASU account.
Requesting Your Canvas Course Shell
Canvas course shells at ASU are created through the Canvas Enrollment System (CES). Canvas courses are not created automatically, so instructors must request their course shell before building content or making the course available to students. Requesting your course early gives you time to design, test, and refine your course before the term begins.
Important Things to Know Before You Order
Before submitting a request, it’s worth thinking through a few details up front. These choices affect how your course is set up and are easiest to address during the request process.
- Combined or cross-listed sections: If multiple sections should live in a single Canvas course (for example, cross-listed courses or combined iCourse and oCourse sections), request only one Canvas shell and include all relevant SLNs.
- Required Canvas integrations: If your course needs access to a specific LTI or third-party tool (such as Harmonize, Yellowdig, or similar tools), note that request in the Special Instructions field.
- Copying content from a previous course: If you want the new course shell populated with content from a previous Canvas course, you can choose that option during the ordering process. If you’re not ready to decide, you can also import content later directly within Canvas.
Unsure what to request?
If you’re not sure which option fits your situation, feel free to email [email protected] before placing an order. We’re happy to help you think through your options, and a quick check-in ahead of time can save work later.
What to Request
CES offers three main options for requesting Canvas courses:
- Request a new Canvas course. For a scheduled class with a 5-digit Section Line Number (SLN). Student rosters sync automatically and continue to update throughout the term. These courses are archived after a set period (currently two years after course completion).
- Request a Canvas training / development / organization course. For non–SLN-based use cases such as course design, training, or internal work. These shells are not tied to student rosters and are not archived, so they are suitable for ongoing work. The three course types function similarly but are categorized for clarity:
- Training Course (TRN): Used for training or workshops. No roster is attached. Enrollment is managed manually by the instructor.
- Development Course (DEV): Used to design and test content, or to build materials that will later be copied into a live (SLN-based) course.
- Organization Course (ORG): Used for ASU faculty, student, or staff organizations. No roster is attached; enrollment is managed manually by the instructor.
- Request multiple course creation. Allows you to submit a CSV file to request multiple Canvas courses at once. Recommended only for advanced users or for bulk course creation.
How to Request a Course
The most direct way to request a Canvas shell for an upcoming course is through the Canvas Enrollment System (CES). At a high level, the process looks like this:
- Navigate to the Canvas Enrollment System: https://ces.apps.asu.edu/.
- Select Request a new Canvas course and click Start.
- Choose the appropriate term and enter the 5-digit SLN.
- Review and edit course details such as the course name and course code
- Indicate whether you want to copy content from a previous Canvas course. (Note: If you skip this step, content can also be copied using the Import Course Content tool at a later time.)
- Include any technology integrations you need in the Special Instructions field
- Use the Add TA/Instructors option as needed. (Note: If you skip this step, additional instructors and TAs can also be added from within the Canvas shell at a later time.)
- Pay particular attention to the Add Sections option to include multiple SLNs in this Canvas shell.
- Click Continue to review your request and Submit. You’ll receive an automated email when the course is ready to access.
For detailed instructions, refer to our guide Canvas: Requesting a Course Shell.
Start-Up Resources
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: Instructor Getting Started Resources
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I use the Syllabus as an instructor?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I use the Course Home Page as an instructor?
- FAQ: Profile Pictures in Canvas
- University Resource: Designing a Course
- University Resource: Teaching a Course
- University Resource: Revising a Course
- University Resource: Inheriting a Course
Tools and Integrations
Canvas Basics
Assignments
Assignments in Canvas can be used to challenge students' understanding and help assess competency by using a variety of media. See more on Assignments:
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I create an assignment?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: What is the difference between assignment due dates and availability dates?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I add or edit points for an assignment?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I add or edit details in an assignment?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I limit submission attempts for an assignment?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I bulk update due dates and availability dates as an instructor?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I add an assignment group in a course?
- Canvas LMS Instructor Guide: How do I add an assignment that includes anonymous grading?
- How to Enable the Turnitin Anti-Plagiarism Tool for a Canvas Assignment
- To scan a single student's document for plagiarized content: Turnitin Accounts and Quick Submit/Direct Submit How-To
Quizzes
Quizzes in Canvas are assignments that can be used to challenge student understanding and assess comprehension of course material. "Quizzes" is the blanket term for all tests, quizzes, and exams in Canvas. See more on Quizzes:
- Moving questions between question banks:
- Classic Quizzes: How do I move/copy a question from one question bank to another?
- Classic Quizzes: How do I move multiple questions from one question bank to another?
- New Quizzes: How do I move a Classic Quizzes question bank into a New Quizzes item bank?
- New Quizzes: How do I move or copy a question from one item bank to another in New Quizzes?
- Randomizing quiz questions:
- Extra attempts:
- Extra time:
- Formula questions:
- Making changes to published quizzes:
- Classic Quizzes: Once I publish a quiz, how do I make additional changes?
- New Quizzes: How do I edit a quiz in New Quizzes?
- Real-time assessment proctoring:
Discussions
Canvas Discussions allow for interactive communication between students. Students can participate in a conversation with an entire class or group. Discussions can be created as an assignment for grading purposes or simply serve as a forum for topical and current events.
- How do I use the Discussions Index Page?
- How do I create a discussion as an instructor?
- How do I create a group discussion in a course?
- How do I use peer review discussions in a course?
- How do I allow students to attach files to a course discussion?
- How do I edit or delete a discussion in a course?
- How do I subscribe to a discussion as an instructor?
Troubleshooting / Support
- Phone: +1 (855) 278-5080 | Local: (480) 965-6500
- Email: [email protected]
- Live Chat: Access via the "Service" tab on My ASU
- Canvas Support: If you experience a technical issue with Canvas, submit a ticket through Service Now
- General IT Support: Visit the "Service" tab on My ASU to request IT support
- Slack Community: Join the #asu-it-community for additional support
- Knowledge Articles: Available on the ASU Service Catalog site
For time-sensitive concerns, call the Help Center for 24/7 IT support
Additional Resources
- Use the Canvas Instructor Guide for specific issues in Canvas
- Enroll in the Self-paced course: Intro to Canvas
- Attend an ASU Learning Experience (LX) team workshop: Workshops | Learning Experience
- ASU LX Quick Tips: LX Resources | Learning Experience
- ASU Training: Canvas Quick Start Guide
- ASU Training: Canvas: Manage your course
- ASU Knowledge Base: Canvas for Instructors
- ASU Knowledge Base: "Canvas" Articles
- ITAC/Experience Center: List of Canvas LTIs (AirTable)
- MediaPlus Resources
Common issues
- What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products?
- What are the limited-support guidelines for mobile browsers on tablet devices?
- Canvas Notifications
- How do I embed a video in a page in a course?
- Student Grade Visibility Flowchart
- Additional Resources: How do I contact Canvas Support?