Canvas Training

Training

Use the tabs shown here to choose the type of staff member that best represents you. This will present your personal training pathway. Information includes details of both advised and optional sessions available to you.

As there are over 2,500 staff to train in Canvas, you will be invited to one of only a handful of specific slots that cover similar unit types. You will be expected to prioritise this training wherever possible. This is to ensure that the Faculty is prepared to start teaching with Canvas in September 2025. Units that have no activity will have unit coordinators contacted throughout the Spring and Summer months.

Support

Throughout this training and transition process, you will have access to in-person support where you can ‘drop in’ to work alongside a member of the eLearning team. We will also offer bespoke appointments via a booking form for those staff with unusual or non-standard courses.

As a unit coordinator, you must ensure that content migrated from Blackboard to Canvas (via IT Services) is well-organised, functional, and accessible.

Canvas offers improved navigation, but re-organising the transitioned content is essential. Your training includes:

1. Online Pre-Work – Familiarise yourself with Canvas layout and verify content migration.
2. Canvas Unit Construction Workshop – Learn the Canvas structure and begin organising your course.
3. Ongoing Support – You will then be able to access an online workshop version and attend in-person drop-in sessions with eLearning staff.
4. Summer Training – Attend three courses on interactive teaching in Canvas: Canvas Basics (optional), Canvas Assessments (ESSENTIAL), and Canvas Studio (optional).
5. Later in the summer, you’ll attend the Canvas Unit Deployment Workshop to finalise and deploy your unit for the 2025-26 academic year, ensuring it meets teaching standards.

If you collaborate closely with teaching staff, they are welcome to join you in both the Canvas Unit Construction and Canvas Unit Deployment Workshops.

Semester 1 & Full-Year Units: Follow the training pathway from early/late spring through summer to prepare for September.

Semester 2 Units: Attend Canvas Basics and Canvas Assessments in summer. Workshop dates for unit Construction and deployment will be available from late summer to mid-winter.

If you need to use Canvas for uploading materials, managing assessments, or communicating with students, follow this training path.

If you’re heavily involved in course structure and management, consider attending the Unit Coordinator pathway with your coordinator.

Canvas Essentials Series (Summer Training)

1. Canvas Basics (Essential)
   • Navigating Canvas at UoM
   • Creating and publishing content
   • Adding videos and links
   • Communicating with students (messaging, discussion boards, calendars)
2. Canvas Assessments (Essential)
   • Creating quizzes and file submission assignments (with plagiarism checks)
   • Marking and providing feedback
     Prerequisite: Basic Canvas knowledge
3. Canvas Studio (Optional)
   • Managing a personal video collection
   • Embedding videos in courses or as interactive assignments
     Prerequisite: Basic Canvas knowledge

As PS staff, you’ll likely assist students and staff with Canvas. This training will equip you for day-to-day tasks and support needs.

Early Spring: Orientation to Canvas

• Navigate Canvas and understand content structure
• Add basic content
• Learn UoM’s Canvas deployment goals
• Practice organising migrated content to anticipate common queries

Summer Training

1. Canvas Basics (Optional) – Recommended if you need a refresher or missed orientation. Covers:
   • Navigation and course structure
   • Creating and publishing content
   • Adding videos, links, and student communication tools
2. Supporting Assessment in Canvas (Essential) – Prerequisite: Orientation to Canvas or Canvas Basics
   • Finding and deploying assessments
   • Marking, feedback, and similarity reports
   • Managing grades, DASS extensions, and group work
3. Canvas Studio (Optional) – For those managing video collections or using video assessments.