What is Canvas?
Canvas is an online learning management system (LMS) developed by Instructure, a company with headquarters in Utah. Canvas is the LMS used by all public schools in Utah. Canvas easily connects instructors and students in a virtual classroom environment, while managing enrollments, grades, and document sharing.
The Cool Things You Can Do With Canvas
What is a Canvas Shell?
A Canvas “shell” is the term used for each of your courses in Canvas. A shell is like an empty binder, just waiting for you to insert pages of content. Shells for each of your different courses and sections are automatically created and assigned to you before the start of each semester. Each of these shells appear in a list on your Canvas Dashboard (we’ll show you what the Dashboard looks like on the next page). For any questions about which courses are assigned to you, please contact your Associate Dean or Course Coordinator.
You Probably Don’t Have to Start with a Blank Canvas!
Whenever possible, don’t start in Canvas with a “blank canvas” (an empty course shell). In other words, work with your Course Coordinator or Associate Dean to use existing content or courses. You are likely not the first person to teach the course, and content from a previous course can be imported into your Canvas shell. Editing existing content is much easier than starting from scratch.
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