Canvas is Sac State'sLearning Management System (LMS).
You will use Canvas to access course materials for most of your courses, submit assignments and projects, access live or recorded lectures, take quizzes and exams, review your grades and progress in your course(s) and communicate with your instructors and peers.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware is the device (i.e. computer, tablet, smartphone) and equipment (webcam, headphones, etc.) you will use when accessing a course. Software refers to the programs and other operating information used by a computer (i.e. wifi connection, web browser, Microsoft Word, etc.).
Get Hardware You Need
If you do not have a computer at home or work, there are a variety of University-supported tools and resources that our campus technology division, Information Resources and Technology (also known as IRT) offers to students:
Computer - You will need access to a computer or mobile device and the Internet. Most late model computers have adequate processing capabilities for online courses. A laptop with wireless capability will provide maximum flexibility for accessing the course when on or off campus. View the minimum device standards for CanvasLinks to an external site..
Operating Systems - Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Canvas only requires an operating system that can run the latest compatible web browsers. Your computer operating system should be kept up to date with the latest recommended security updates and upgrades.
Internet Access
If you plan to connect to the Internet from home, you will need Internet access via either a wired network or stable wi-fi connection.
Internet Speed
Along with compatibility and web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments.
Minimum of 512kbps
Webcam and microphone
A webcam and microphone will be required in most online or blended classes. Most newer computers will have a webcam built in, but an external microphone is highly recommended for clearer audio content. Headphones with a microphone (like iPhone headphones or earbuds) work great.
Supported Browsers
A browser is the program you use to access the web (i.e. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.). The latest versions of the following desktop browsers are supported for your online work in Canvas courses. Please note: Although Safari is listed as a supported browser, we don't recommend Safari browser since there are known issues with display of images and playback of video. Please download and install an alternative browser as a backup.
Chrome
Firefox
Edge
Safari - Although Safari is listed as a supported browser, there are known issues with display of images and playback of video. Please download and install an alternative browser as a backup.
The My SacState portal is your point of entry to campus resources including your Student Center to register for courses, view your class schedule, purchase textbooks, access your university email (Saclink Email), and access Canvas.
Your Canvas Dashboard will display. Click on the course card or course name to open your course.
Access from the Canvas Student App
The Canvas Student AppLinks to an external site. provides students access to their Canvas courses and groups on an iOS or Android mobile device. With the Canvas Student App you can:
Access and view course materials
Submit Assignments
Participate in Discussions
View Grades
Access course Calendar, To Do list, Notifications and Inbox
You will still need a computer to complete many activities and assignments but the mobile app is handy to quickly check grades, assignment guidelines, and look at the syllabus!
Once you enter Canvas, the first page you will see is the Canvas Dashboard which by default will display your courses in a Card View, where each card corresponds to a course. On the left hand navigation menu you will have access to several options including: account, dashboard, courses, groups (if your instructor has added you into a group), calendar, inbox, library and help. The right hand side of your screen lists your to-do items (or assignments that are coming up in classes). The location of these items may vary if you access Canvas from a mobile device using the Canvas Student AppLinks to an external site..
The Canvas Dashboard
Your Canvas Dashboard displays course cards for a variety of courses including: courses you have registered for the current term (that you are enrolled in), department or program specific courses, and on occasion, a past term course that has remained open because your instructor has customized its end date.
Each course appears as a rectangle with an image which is called a 'Card'. To open a course, click on the Card.
My course(s) is not displaying on my Canvas Dashboard?
In order for a course to display on your Canvas Dashboard there are two main conditions that need to be met:
The Course is Published - your instructor(s) must publish the course
Course Start Date - most courses are visible to students on the default term start date which is normally two weeks before the start of the fall or spring semester. However, if your instructor has customized the course start date, then access to the course may be earlier or later than the term date.
Once your instructor(s) publishes the course(s) and the course start date has begun, you will be able to click on the course name/card and gain access to course materials from your Canvas Dashboard.
To verify the publish status of your courses follow these steps
Login to Canvas
Click the Courses icon from the menu on far left (global navigation menu)
From the panel that displays, click All Courses
Courses that are unpublished, will read "No" under the Published column
Once your instructors publish their courses, the published status will change to "Yes" and you will be able to see them display on your Canvas Dashboard.
Why does my Canvas Dashboard list courses I have already completed?
Student access to courses normally ends two weeks after the grading period has ended. If you are still seeing a past term course on your Canvas Dashboard, your instructor may have customized the course end date, for a variety of reasons (such as providing a specific student access to complete an incomplete). Your instructor will need to edit the course end date to remove student access.
In the meantime, to keep your Dashboard organized and display only the courses you are actively working on, you can “Unfavorite” a course to remove it from your dashboard. Follow these steps:
Click the options menu (three dots) on the top right of the course card.
From the Move tab, click “Unfavorite.” Note: If the “Unfavorite” option does not appear, then proceed to the steps below to select your favorite courses from the Courses button.
Click Submit to save changes.
All courses including unfavorited courses are available from the "All Courses" page. If you need to add the course back to your Dashboard or favorite another course follow these steps:
From Global Navigation menu to the left, click Courses.
From the panel that displays, scroll down and select All Courses.
Click the star to the left of the course(s) you wish to add. Favorited courses display an orange star while unfavorited courses display a white/gray star.
Select Dashboard to see your changes.
Course Cards
From the Dashboard, each course appears as a Card. You can access the course by clicking on the card. Icons on the card provide 'At a Glance' information regarding announcements, discussion posts, and assignments. New updates are indicated by a blue circle. The number of updates appears inside the blue circle. The Icons tell you where to look for updates.
Megaphone = New Announcements
Dialogue Speech Bubbles = New Discussion Posts
Paper and Pen = New Assignments
Organize and Customize your course cards
You can drag and drop your course cards in any order you like. You can customize course cards in a way that makes sense to you. Click on the ellipsis (3 dots) in the upper right corner of the card. From the Menu, you can:
Your Account Profile will be the same for all of your Canvas Courses. The information you share will be viewable by all Canvas users, including your instructors and peers. The information you enter here is the beginning of your professional networking, select images and share content that reflects your academic and professional presence.
Update your profile:
Click on the 'Account' tab from the Global Navigation Menu on the left side of the screen
Click on 'Profile' to customize your Profile Image and Biographical Information. Click on the 'Edit Profile' button to get started.
Hover on the Profile circle and click on the pencil icon to upload a picture or take a picture for your profile.
Click in the biography field to provide background information about you. Consider adding your major, areas of interest, former high school, interests, or student groups and associations.
By default, the "Contact Method" added for all users in Canvas is their SacLink email address (i.e. sac12345@csus.edu). Canvas uses this contact method to send notifications for different activities that occur in a course including email messages, announcements, grading information, etc.
You can add additional contact methods such as another email address or a phone number (to receive text message notifications), from your Canvas Account – Settings page.
Click on ‘Settings’ to add additional contact methods. On the Settings page locate the “Ways to Contact” area. After you enter an additional email address and/or phone number, you are prompted to confirm the email address by clicking on a confirmation link in your email inbox or entering a code sent to your mobile device. Additionally, you can change your default email address from your SacLink email address to your newly added contact method, by clicking the star on the right of your email address.
Manage Account Notifications
Notifications are alerts sent to your Email and any other registered devices, such as your mobile device. Notifications include alerts about messages in your Inbox, Announcements, Assignments, etc. You can control the type and frequency of Notifications you receive. You can always adjust your settings to best meet your communication needs.
Click on the 'Account' tab in the Global Navigation Menu on the left side of the screen
Click on 'Notifications.'
Customize your notifications to suit your preferences using the icons at the top of the page as guides
Refer to the legend/key above the Notification Preferences page which shows an icon and corresponding frequency when notifications would be provided:
Check mark = notify me right away
Clock = send a daily summary
Calendar = send a weekly summary
An X = Do not sent me anything Inbox notifications
It’s important to note that notification settings for your inbox are located in the category 'Conversations' in your Notifications Preferences.
Now that you know how to navigate the Canvas home page and dashboard, let’s turn our attention to your courses. You access your courses from the dashboard. Once you click on the course card or course name to open a course, you will see the course home page.
Course Homepage
The Homepage is the first page that appears when you open your course from the Dashboard. The course Home Page may vary depending on the instructor.
Static homepage
You may see a static page with content such as a welcome message and directions on how to proceed as pictured below.
Course Navigation Menu
The Course Navigation menu is to the left side of your course; it will include the items, ‘Home’, ‘Syllabus’ and ‘Modules’ among others. The items in Course Navigation are determined by your professor, so each of your courses may contain different items here.
Modules
The Modules page in a course displays course materials by week or topic. It provides an outline view of content pages, assignments, activities, quizzes etc. To open a specific page and view its content, click on the page title.
Module icons
Within each module, you will find different items or tools that your instructor has added for course materials, activities, and assignments. Each icon helps you identify various Canvas items or tools. The image below shows you the basic icons you can expect to encounter.
Use this key to learn about each item in the image.
A piece of paper represents a Content Page. This page will have a lesson, information or instructions from your instructor.
A speech bubble icon represents a Discussion forum.
A chain link indicates a URL which may open in the same window or redirect you to another site outside of Canvas (i.e. web page).
A paperclip means a document has been attached.
A piece of paper with a pencil indicates an Assignment.