Training & Resources
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I Want to Build Directly in ISU Canvas
Expand each accordion below for videos that will help you build your course content directly in ISU Canvas. (If you instead prefer to bring over your content, you may instead opt to migrate your content from Moodle ISU.)
As you prepare to transition your course, please keep in mind that ISU Canvas does not have a direct equivalent for every activity or question type available in Moodle ISU. To learn more about the differences between specific items, please review this Moodle → Canvas document.
You may also want to consult our Moodle ISU: Packing Up Your Course for ISU Canvas Checklist for Faculty article in TigerTracks.
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After watching this video, you will recognize:
- ISU Canvas storage limits
- What does & does not count against ISU Canvas storage limits
- Which ISU-provided storage options are appropriate for your course content
- Ways to optimize the size of files uploaded to ISU Canvas
- Better practices for file organization & presentation in ISU Canvas
Video 1: Your Next Steps
Apply what you've learned now:
- Know your limits: ISU Canvas courses have a 500MB storage cap. Decide which ISU-supported platforms you'll use for hosting large files.
- Shrink your uploads: Compress large images, PDFs, and other files before uploading. Convert any narrated PowerPoint files to MP4 videos by selecting Save As in PowerPoint, then keeping the resulting MP4 video file on your computer so you can upload it to Panopto via ISU Canvas.
- Choose the right space: Upload videos to Panopto via ISU Canvas (including any narrated PowerPoints you have converted to MP4 video files). Link directly to scholarly PDFs via the ISU Library databases as appropriate.
- Organize with intention: Use descriptive files names and consistent module structures for a cleaner, more accessible course.
After watching this video, you will recognize:
- How to navigate Canvas's Global & Course menus
- How to edit Modules in Canvas
- Features of Canvas's "Syllabus" page
- Features of Canvas's Gradebook & Grading policies
Video 2: Your Next Steps
Apply what you've learned now:
- Plan your page: Decide how you will use the Syllabus page in Canvas, including how its Course Summary section will display activities or assignments with or without due dates.
- Share your full syllabus: Add information to your course's Syllabus page; link or attach whatever longer document or page you may want to use for your full course syllabus. Consider using one of the ITRC's syllabus templates if you are making a syllabus as a Google Document.
- Build your Gradebook: Set up your gradebook, including creating and weighting assignment groups, creating late submission or missing submission grading policies, and any desired extra credit.
- Review your Gradebook: Double-check that your gradebook and assignment settings agree with what you have written in your syllabus. In particular, make sure that your math is correct, as Canvas does not assume that your weights or assignments will total 100%.
After watching this video, you will recognize:
- Features of well-structured assessments
- Canvas's assignment features
- Features of Canvas Discussions
- Features of Canvas's Classic & New Quizzes
- How to reconnect external tools
Video 3: Your Next Steps
Apply what you've learned now:
- Review your assessments: Align each activity, assignment, or quiz with measurable learning outcomes and clear instructions.
- Choose your quiz tool: Evaluate your three options. Classic Quizzes offers the simplest formats but will eventually be phased out by Canvas. New Quizzes offers additional features and question types. Atomic Assessments allows even more specialized and advanced options.
- Recreate certain activities or features: The Moodle ISU to ISU Canvas Transition set of TigerTracks articles detail your options for recreating activities and features that existed in Moodle ISU but do not have automatic equivalents in ISU Canvas. These include Announcements, Attendance, Lesson, Rubrics and Grading Guides, and Workshop, among others.
- Connect external tools: Link any external tools like Panopto, Turnitin, or publisher content to your Canvas course.
After watching this video, you will recognize:
- Any external tools used in your course
- ISU-supported external tools
- How to integrate external tools into your ISU Canvas course
- Best practices for using external tools
- How to reconnect external tools
Video 4: Your Next Steps
Apply what you've learned now:
- Inventory your tools: Make a list of all external tools you plan to use in your course.
- Check for ISU support: Cross-reference your tools with the LMS Integrations of External Apps TigerTracks article to see if your desired tool has already been evaluated or if you need to request a review. (Reviews take at least 4 weeks, and some external tools may be rejected if they do not meet ISU's expectations.)
- Configured Turnitin (if used): Connect and configure Turnitin by selecting the Assignments page in the left-hand course navigation menu, then selecting the 3 dots drop-down menu next to the +Assignment button, and selecting Turnitin. See ISU Canvas: Adding a Turnitin Assignment for Faculty for more details.
- Configure other tools (if used): Connect and configure any other external tools.
