What is Canvas?

Canvas is a password-protected learning management system that is accessed via the internet. It is a comprehensive and integrated suite of tools that includes course development and management tools, content creation and management tools, communication and collaboration tools, and assessment tools.

Canvas can be the hub for online content and activity in any type of course, from face-to-face to fully online. The instructor can decide which tools to use and can control how the student progresses through the online material.

Canvas has been at use at MiraCosta College since 2015, and was selected to be the college's sole course management system in 2016. All California Community Colleges are now using Canvas, as well as many CSUs, UCs, and other colleges and K-12 systems in California and beyond.

Canvas Interface Overview Video

Duration
6:00

If you're not very familiar with Canvas, or would just like a refresher, watch the video below to see how Canvas is laid out and how to navigate Canvas.

300 - Canvas Overview from Instructure Canvas Community on Vimeo.

If you do not see a current course on your Dashboard, or you're seeing too many past courses on your Dashboard, you always favorite or unfavorite a course to customize your Dashboard. Review the How do I customize my Courses list as an instructor? Canvas Guide for steps for how to do this.

Canvas Guides

You can find answers to many Canvas questions in the Canvas Instructor Guides and in the Video Guides. We encourage you to bookmark these pages and refer to them whenever you have a question about Canvas. Here are a few that might be helpful as you start getting more familiar with Canvas:

How do I use the Dashboard as an instructor?
How do I view course cards in the Dashboard as an instructor?
How do I use the To-Do list and sidebar in the Dashboard as an instructor?
How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as an instructor?
How do I edit my profile in my user account as an instructor?
How do I add a profile picture in my user account as an instructor?

Getting Help with Canvas

You and your students can always get help with using Canvas by clicking on the Tech Help icon in the toolbar at the bottom of the left-hand global navigation menu. There you'll find a phone number with 24x7 live phone support, links to the Canvas Guides, a link to report problems with Canvas, and much more including MiraCosta-specific contact information. Please note that the Tech Help options may vary between faculty and student users.