Page header image
Canvas Faculty Guides and FAQ
Check out our most frequently asked questions, on-demand videos and text-based instructions
for leveraging Canvas effectively.
Canvas FAQ
When are Canvas sites created?
Canvas sites are created automatically each term through District IT, typically seven weeks before the start of that term.
How do I access/log into Canvas?
Use your InSite username and password to log into our DVC Canvas site: dvc.instructure.com
Forgot your username or password? Contact District IT:
- email IT-help@4cd.edu
- call 925-229-6888
Are there department-specific Canvas courses to support instructors?
Yes, many departments host Canvas sites with support materials for their instructors.
Please contact your department chair with inquiries.
How do I request an additional Canvas shell?
Please contact Jeanette Peavler (jpeavler@dvc.edu) or Kat King (kking@dvc.edu) with your request. Sandbox courses are available for faculty to work on course
design. Shells intended for other purposes, like for use with students, must be approved
by the Distance Education Committee.
Canvas Basics - Faculty Guides
For flex credit and step-by step, comprehensive training in Canvas course design, we encourage instructors to take the Beginner's Guide to Teaching with Canvas. (See Teaching Online at DVC to learn more.) Don't have time for the full course, or have a specific question about Canvas course set-up? Check out our Canvas Basics series with on-demand video and text-based tutorials.
Home Pages
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I create a new page in a course?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I set a home page in a course?
Navigation
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I manage course navigation links?
Announcements
- DVC Guide: Canvas Announcements
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I show recent announcements on a course Home Page?
Adding PDF and Image Files
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I upload a PDF to a Canvas course?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I embed an image in a Canvas page?
- Learn about linking live docs from OneDrive/Google Drive
- Tip: Check to make sure you have Accessible Word Docs and Accessible PDFs
Pages
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I create a new page in a course?
Assignments
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I create an assignment in a course?
Discussions
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I create a discussion?
Quizzes
- Canvas Instructor Guide: Quizzes
- Canvas Instructor Guide: New Quizzes
Modules
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I create a module?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I add content to a module?
Gradebook
310 - Gradebook Overview from Instructure Canvas Community on Vimeo.
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I use the Gradebook?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the Gradebook?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I weight grades?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I drop the lowest score in a grading category?
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I curve grades in the Gradebook?
Student Feedback
Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I leave feedback comments for students in Speedgrader?
Publish Your Site
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I publish a course?
Copying Content
- Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I copy content from one semester to the next?
Commons
<
Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I import from Commons?
Additional Canvas support
Canvas Support
- Canvas Instructor Guide (text-based with screenshots)
- Canvas Video Guides for Instructors
- Canvas Student Guides
- Canvas - Ask the Community
- Canvas DVC Faculty Support Line: 1-833-221-7461
- Canvas Support for DVC Students: 1-844-303-5586
- Access the Canvas Training Portal by logging into Canvas, clicking "Help" in the global navigation menu, and clicking "Training Services Portal."
On Campus Support
- Visit the Staff Development Center to meet with campus trainers.
- Contact:
- Jeanette Peavler, Canvas Administrator: jpeavler@dvc.edu
- Crystala Button, Technology Training & Development Coordinator: cbutton@dvc.edu
- Kat King, Instructional Technologist: kking@dvc.edu