Canvas for Teacher

How to access?

1. Go to https://www.hkapa.edu/canvas
2. Login with your Academy Network ID
3. You will see your course(s) on Canvas

• If you have problems logging in, please contact your School office or the Digital Learning Department to create an account.
• If you are able to login but cannot see your course, please contact the Digital Learning Department.

1. Click Files in the Course Navigation.

2. Click Upload to add documents (PDF, PPT, Word) or simply drag and drop them into the folder.

3. Organise your content by clicking +Folder to group items by week or topic.

Pro-Tip: 

Keep your "Files" tab hidden from student view in the Navigation settings. Instead, link specific files within Modules. This prevents students from seeing a messy list of everything you've uploaded.

1. Select Assignments from the left-hand Course Navigation menu.
2. Click the + Assignment button at the top right.
3. Enter a clear title and use the Rich Content Editor to explain the task, learning outcomes, and submission requirements.
4. Define Logistics:
   1. Points: Set the total possible score.
   2. Assignment Group: Categorise the task (e.g., "Quizzes," "Performances") if you plan to use weighted grading.
   3. Submission Type: Choose Online for file uploads (PDFs, videos) or External Tool if using specialized software.
5. Assign a Due Date and "Available From/Until" dates to manage when students can see and submit the work.
6. Click Save & Publish to make it live for students.
    

Tips

• Before the deadline, use the Student View button (top right of the home page) to ensure your instructions and uploaded files are actually accessible to students.
• Use the + Rubric button at the bottom of the assignment page to define clear grading criteria. This helps students understand expectations and speeds up your grading process.
• If your course has specific percentage breakdowns (e.g., Participation is 10%), make sure to enable "Weight Final Grade based on Assignment Groups" in the main Assignments settings.

1. Click on Discussions in your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Select the + Discussion button at the top right.
3. Use the Rich Content Editor to enter a title and your discussion topic or question.
4. Choose whether to allow threaded replies (ideal for back-and-forth debate) or if users must post their own reply before they can see others' responses.
5. If the discussion is for assessment, check the Graded box to assign points and a due date.

6. Click Save & Publish to make the topic live for students.

    

   Tips

   Embed a video clip or a YouTube link directly into the prompt and ask students to critique and discuss.

1. Select Quizzes from the Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Click the + Quiz button at the top right.
3. Configure Settings:
   1. Quiz Type: Choose between a Graded Quiz, Practice Quiz, Graded Survey, or Ungraded Survey.
   2. Options: Set a time limit, allow multiple attempts, or shuffle answers to enhance academic integrity.
4. Add Questions:
   1. Navigate to the Questions tab.
   2. Click + New Question to create a single item, or + Find Questions to pull from an existing Question Bank.
5. Manage Question Banks: To organise your repository, click the three-dot menu on the main Quizzes page and select Manage Question Banks.
6. Click Save & Publish.

Steps to Create and Manage Question Banks

1. Click on the Quizzes link in your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Click the three-dot "Options" icon at the top right of the main Quizzes page.
3. Choose Manage Question Banks from the dropdown menu.
4. Click the + Add Question Bank button. Give it a clear name that reflects the topic or module

Tips

Remember that within the Question Bank editor, you can add "Comments" for correct and incorrect answers. This turns a simple quiz into a powerful learning tool by explaining why an answer was wrong immediately after the student submits it.

1. Navigate to the new, empty course where you want the content to be placed.
2. Click Settings at the bottom of the Course Navigation sidebar.
3. Select Import Course Content from the right-hand sidebar menu.
4. From the "Content Type" dropdown, choose Copy a Canvas Course.
5. Type the name of the original course you wish to copy from in the search box.
6. Content Selection:
   1. All Content: Copies the entire course exactly as it was.
   2. Select Specific Content: Recommended if you only need certain Modules, Assignments, or Question Banks.
7. Click Import. If you chose specific content, click the "Select Content" button that appears to check off your desired items.

Tips

• Use the Adjust events and due dates checkbox during the import setup to automatically shift old deadlines to the new semester's calendar.
• Imported items usually keep their original status; double-check your Modules to make sure you hide the modules you want to hide from students

1. Open any Page, Assignment, or Discussion and click Edit to open the Rich Content Editor (RCE).
2. Go to the external site (YouTube, Miro, etc.) and find the Share or Embed button to copy the code snippet (usually starts with <iframe...).
3. In the RCE toolbar, click the Embed icon (looks like a small cloud or < > brackets).
4. Paste your code into the box, click Submit, and then Save & Publish.

Tips

1. When getting the embed code on YouTube, you can check a box to "Start at" a specific timestamp.
2. If you want students to brainstorm together, set the Miro board permissions to "Anyone with the link can edit" before grabbing the embed code.

1. Click on Settings at the very bottom of your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Click the Navigation tab located at the top centre of the page.
3. Reorder Items: Click and drag the names of the tools to change the order in which they appear to students.
4. Hide/Disable Items:
   1. Drag a tool from the top list (Visible) to the bottom list (Hidden).
   2. Alternatively, click the three dots next to a tool name and select Disable.
5. Scroll to the bottom and click the Save button. Note: If you don't click Save, your changes will be lost.

Tips

• The "Less is More" Rule: Students can get overwhelmed by too many links. Hide items you aren't actively using, such as SCORM, Collaborations, or Conferences, to streamline the interface.
• The "Eyeball" Icon: In your teacher view, you will see a small icon (an eye with a slash) next to links that are hidden from students. This confirms that while you can see them for setup, students cannot.

1. Open your specific course from the Canvas Dashboard.
2. Scroll to the very bottom of that sidebar and click on Settings, you should be able to see Course Details.
3. Once you are there, you can update several fundamental elements of your course:
   1. This tab handles the basic identity of your course.
   2. Image: You can upload a course thumbnail (e.g., a photo of the Academy or a specific production) that students will see on their Canvas Dashboard.
   3. Time Zone: Ensure this is set to (GMT+08:00) Hong Kong to avoid confusion with assignment deadlines.
   4. Participation: Set your Start and End dates here. This controls when students can view the content and when the course becomes "read-only".
   5. More Options (at the bottom): Click this to find checkboxes for:
   6. Recent Announcements: Show the last 3 announcements on the Home page (highly recommended).
   7. Student Discussions: Decide if students can create their own discussion topics or edit their posts.

Tips

• While in Settings, you'll see the Student View button on the right sidebar. Use it frequently to verify that your navigation changes and date restrictions are working as intended.
• It's a good habit to double-check your End Date so students don't lose access to their grades or materials while they are still working on final portfolio submissions!
• Always remember to click the Update Course Details button at the bottom of the page to save any changes you make.

1. Click on the People link in your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Click the + Group Set button at the top right. A "Group Set" is the container for individual groups (e.g., "Project Teams" or "Lab Groups").
3. Configure the Set:
   1. Group Set Name: Give it a clear title.
   2. Self-Sign Up: Check this box if you want students to choose their own groups.
   3. Group Structure: You can either split students into a specific number of groups or create groups manually.
4. Assign Students:
   1. Automatically: Canvas can distribute students randomly into groups for you.
   2. Manually: You can drag and drop student names from the "Unassigned Students" list into the specific groups you’ve created.
5. Once the groups are populated, click Save.

Tips

• You can assign a "Group Leader" for each group who has the authority to manage group members or submit assignments on behalf of the team.
• When creating an Assignment, you can check the box for "This is a Group Assignment" and select the Group Set you just created. This allows one student to submit for the whole group and gives you the option to give everyone the same grade or grade them individually.

1. Click on Grades in your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Use the View menu at the top left to arrange columns by assignment name, due date, or module order.
3. If you want to hide the "Total" column from students (common for final grading periods), go to Settings > Course Details > More Options and check "Hide totals in student grade summary".
4. If your course uses percentages (e.g., 20% Participation, 80% Performance), go to the Assignments page, click the three-dot menu, and select Assignment Groups Weight.

How to View/Change the posting policy

1. In the Gradebook, click the Settings (Gear) icon at the top right.
2. Select the Grade Posting Policy tab.
3. Automatic Posting: Grades are visible to students as soon as you enter them.
4. Manual Posting: Grades are hidden by default. You must manually "Post" them for each assignment once you've finished grading the whole class.
5. To change it for one assignment, hover over the assignment column header in the Gradebook, click the three-dot menu, and select Grade Posting Policy.

How to Publish Your Course

1. Go to the Home page of your course.
2. On the right-hand side of the page, you will see the Course Status section.
3. Click the Publish button. The status bar will turn from gray (Unpublished) to green (Published).

How to Unpublish Your Course

1. If you need to unpublish your course, click the Course Status dropdown menu
2. Then click the Unpublish button.
3. Students who already received course invitations will not be able to access your course.
4. Once your course contains a graded submission, the course status will no longer display in the sidebar and you will no longer be able to unpublish your course.
5. The Workaround: If you cannot unpublish because students have already submitted work, you can instead restrict access by changing the End Date in Settings > Course Details or by unpublishing all individual Modules.

1. Access the Assignment: Navigate to the specific Assignment, Quiz, or Discussion you want to grade with a rubric.
2. Click the + Rubric button at the bottom of the assignment page.
3. Define Criteria:
   1. Click the pencil icon to edit the "Description of criterion" (e.g., Technical Execution or Artistic Expression).
   2. Click + Criterion to add more rows to your rubric.
4. Set Ratings:
   1. Adjust the point values for each level of performance (e.g., 5 points for "Excellent," 3 for "Satisfactory").
   2. You can split a rating into multiple levels by clicking the blue "+" icon between ratings.
5. Click Create Rubric.

Tips

• When grading in SpeedGrader, click View Rubric in the right-hand sidebar.
• Simply click the appropriate rating box for each criterion. If you checked "Use this rubric for assignment grading," Canvas will calculate the total for you.
• Students can view the rubric and your specific selections on their "Grades" page, which helps reduce questions about why a certain grade was given.
• Click Find a Rubric when adding a rubric to an assignment to pull from any previously created rubrics in your other courses.
• Find rubric templates online or utilise GenAI to help you customise a rubric for the assignment

Ways to access SpeedGrader

1. Open the specific Assignment, Quiz, or Discussion and click SpeedGrader in the right-hand sidebar.
2. Hover over the assignment column, click the three-dot menu, and select SpeedGrader.
3. Click on the assignment name in your teacher Dashboard under the "To Do" section.

Key Features and Interface

1. Student List: Use the arrows in the top right to toggle between students or click the down arrow to see a list of who has submitted (indicated by a green checkmark).
2. Document Annotation: For file uploads (Word, PDF), use the toolbar at the top of the document to add point comments, highlight text, or draw directly on the student's work.
3. Grading Sidebar:
   1. Assessment: Enter the numerical grade in the "Grade" box.
   2. Rubrics: If you have attached a rubric, click View Rubric to grade by selecting specific criteria.
   3. Assignment Comments: Type overall feedback in the comment box.

Tips

• Click the Speech Bubble icon to save and reuse common feedback phrases, saving you significant time when grading large cohorts.
• Remember that if your Grade Posting Policy is set to Manual, students will not see your feedback until you "Post" the grades.
  • Look for the Eye icon in the top left of SpeedGrader.
  • Click it and select Post Grades when you are ready for the entire class to see their results.
• Tips on hiding and posting assignment grades in SpeedGrader

Click the Course Analytics from Course Navigation. (You can also access Course Analytics from the Course Analytics button in the Course Home Page)

Core Analytics Tabs

• Course Grade: This tab displays average course grade analytics through interactive charts or data tables. You can compare course averages against specific assignments, sections, or individual student filters.
• Weekly Online Activity: This section tracks page views and participation data. It allows you to compare the weekly average against specific students or sections to identify engagement trends.
• Students: View individual grade and participation analytics here. You can also track the history of message communications between yourself and each student.
• Reports: Use this to run and download detailed reports regarding missing, late, or excused assignments. This tab also provides a Class Roster with contact info and a Course Activity report detailing daily interactions with course resources.
• Online Attendance: If enabled and configured by an administrator, this tab shows whether students have met specific online attendance criteria.

1. Click on Announcements in your Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Click the + Announcement button at the top right.
3. Draft Content:
   1. Topic Title: Provide a clear, actionable subject line (e.g., "Reminder: Rehearsal Room Change for Tuesday").
   2. Rich Content Editor: Type your message. You can use the Embed icon to include video demonstrations or link directly to specific Modules or Assignments.
4. Configure Settings:
   1. Delay Posting: You can draft announcements in advance and set a specific date and time for them to "go live."
   2. Allow Users to Comment: Decide if you want students to be able to reply to your announcement
5. Click Save.

Tips

• As soon as you have created an Announcement, Canvas will notify students through email according to their Notification Preferences.
• By default, Canvas does not send email notifications to the creator of an Announcement. To change this preference, go to your Account (1), then select Notifications (2). Update the setting for Announcement Created By You (3) to Notify immediately.
• We strongly recommend you to set the Available From date to a future time beyond the current date, then click Publish so that it allows you to preview and still make changes before it sends to students. 
• Remind students to enable "Announcement" notifications in their Canvas. 

1. Click the Inbox icon on the far-left global navigation bar (outside of your specific course).
2. Click the Compose a New Message icon (represented by a pencil and paper) at the top.
3. Use the "Course" dropdown to find the specific class you are messaging.
4. Add Recipients:
   1. Click the Address Book icon to select "Students," "Sections," or "Groups".
   2. You can also type a student's name directly into the "To" field.
5. Enter your subject and message, then click Send.

Tips

• Use the Inbox for private matters (grades, absences, specific questions) and Announcements for information that everyone in the class needs to know.
• Remember that from the Course Analytics dashboard, you can use the "Message Students Who" feature, which will automatically open an Inbox window with the relevant students already BCC'd.

1. Any assignment, quiz, or graded discussion with a "Due Date" automatically appears on the calendar for you and your students.
2. You can quickly change a deadline by clicking and dragging an event to a new date; Canvas will automatically update the due date in the assignment settings for you.
3. Use the + icon to add non-graded events, such as studio bookings, guest lectures, or performance call times.
4. The Scheduler: This specialized tool allows you to create "Appointment Groups," where students can sign up for specific time slots—ideal for one-on-one progress reviews or technical assessments.
5. Calendar List: On the right-hand sidebar, you can toggle specific courses on or off by clicking the color-coded boxes next to the course names.
6. Color Coding: Each course is assigned a unique color, but you can customize these by clicking the three-dot menu next to the course title to help distinguish between your different sections.
7. Agenda View: Click the Agenda tab at the top to see a linear, chronological list of all upcoming items, which is often easier to read on mobile devices.

Tips

If an assignment doesn't have a due date, it won't appear on the calendar. Check the "Undated" sidebar to see items that might have been missed during setup.

Use the Student View to confirm that the calendar isn't cluttered and that all essential production milestones are clearly visible.

1. Move beyond text-based pages by embedding videos, audio clips, and interactive elements directly into Canvas Pages to support visual and auditory learners.
2. Use the Rich Content Editor to embed external tools like Genially, Miro, or Padlet, allowing students to interact with diagrams, timelines, and collaborative boards.
3. Create branching scenarios using Modules and Prerequisites, where students can choose to consume content via a video lecture or a detailed reading before proceeding.
4. Share quick video updates or performance demonstrations, bridging the gap between live studio sessions and online resources.

Attendance

1. Click Attendance in the Course Navigation sidebar.
2. Marking Students:
   1. Click the Mark All as Present button if the whole class is in attendance.
   2. Alternatively, click the icon next to an individual student's name to toggle through statuses: Present (green check), Absent (red X), or Late (orange clock).
   3. View Options: You can view the attendance sheet in a List View or a Class Chart view, which allows you to drag and drop student names to match your actual classroom seating arrangement.
3. Grading and the Roll Call Assignment
   1. Automatic Grading: The first time you take attendance, Canvas automatically creates a graded assignment called "Roll Call Attendance".
   2. The Gradebook Sync: As you mark attendance, the student’s grade in the Gradebook updates automatically based on their percentage of "Present" marks.
   3. Weighting Attendance: If you want attendance to be worth a specific percentage of the total grade, place the "Roll Call Attendance" assignment into a specific Assignment Group and use weighted grading.
4. You can click the More icon next to a student's name in the Attendance tool to add specific notes, such as "Left early for rehearsal" or "Participated via Zoom".
5. Unpublishing the Assignment: If you want to track attendance but don't want it to count toward the final grade, you can edit the Roll Call Attendance assignment and select "Do not count this assignment towards the final grade".

• Discussion Boards: Use focused discussions to encourage peer-to-peer critique, allowing students to post video rehearsals or design drafts for collective feedback.
• Canvas Groups: Organise students into smaller cohorts for collaborative projects, providing them with their own private workspace, calendar, and discussion area within the course.
• Collaborations Tool: Leverage the Google Drive or Microsoft 365 integration to allow students to work simultaneously on shared documents or presentations directly within Canvas.
• Peer Reviews: Automate the peer-evaluation process by assigning students to review each other’s work using specific rubrics, promoting a deeper understanding of assessment criteria.
• Embed external tools: Utlise tools like Miro or Padlet through the Rich Content Editor to facilitate real-time brainstorming and visual collaboration during studio sessions.
• Encourage students to use the "Record/Upload Media" tool in discussions to share performances or verbal reflections, which can feel more natural than text-heavy posts.

• Design Assignments that allow students to submit different file types, such as video performances, audio recordings, or digital portfolios, instead of standard written essays.
• Rich Feedback Channels: Utilize SpeedGrader to provide multimodal feedback, such as recording a video critique of a student's technique or adding voice comments to a digital submission.
• Attach Rubrics to these multimodal assignments to provide a clear, structured breakdown of how different media elements (e.g., technical skill vs. creative editing) will be graded.
• Enable Discussion boards where students can reply using the "Record/Upload Media" tool, fostering a more conversational and expressive peer-review environment.
  Save frequently used phrases in the Comment Library to maintain consistency across large cohorts and save time on repetitive feedback.
• Set your grades to "Manual" to hide them from students until you have finished grading the entire class, ensuring everyone receives their results simultaneously.

1. You can easily move content from a past semester into your current course using the Import Course Content tool.
2. In your current course, go to Settings > Import Course Content.
3. Select Copy a Canvas Course from the dropdown menu and search for your old course by name.
4. You can choose to import the "All Content" or "Select Specific Content" if you only need certain files or assignments.

1. You can change this in your course details.
2. Navigate to Settings > Course Details.
3. Find the Participation dropdown and ensure it is set to Course (rather than "Term").
4. Click the calendar icon next to the End Date to select a new date and click Update Course Details at the bottom of the page.

It depends on your Grade Posting Policy.

• Automatic (Default): Students see grades and feedback the moment you enter them.
• Manual: Grades are hidden from students until you explicitly click Post Grades.
• To keep grades hidden until you are finished, go to the Gradebook, click the Settings (gear icon), and select the Grade Posting Policy tab to set it to Manually Post Grades.

• Yes, but only if you have enabled this in the assignment settings.
• When setting up a Turnitin assignment, look under the "Optional Settings" for the option: "Allow students to view Similarity Reports?".
• You can also specify when they see it: immediately, after the due date, or never.
• If enabled, students can view it by clicking the coloured square or percentage icon in their Grades page.

• Check two things: First, ensure the Course itself is published via the Home page sidebar.
• Second, ensure the Module header is published (green checkmark); if a module is unpublished, students cannot see any items inside it, even if those individual items are published.

By default, the "Files" link is often hidden from student navigation to prevent a cluttered experience. You must either enable "Files" in Settings > Navigation or, more ideally, link those files within a Module or Page for students to access them.

• You can use the Scheduler tool within the Calendar.
• By creating an "Appointment Group," you can set specific time blocks and let students reserve their own slots, which helps manage one-on-one sessions without back-and-forth emails.

1. By default, Canvas may show students their results and the correct answers immediately after submission.
2. To change this, go to the Quizzes tab, click on your quiz, and select Edit.
3. Under the Settings tab, uncheck the box that says "Let Students See The Correct Answers".
4. You can also set specific dates for when these answers become visible, such as after the final submission deadline has passed for the entire class.