Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool

Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool

Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool

The Faculty Center invites you use their newly developed self-paced course on Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool. 

Purpose:

Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool is a self-paced course designed to help you set up or improve your Canvas course for teaching and learning.

If you're new to Canvas or want to redesign your course, you might choose to work through the modules in order.

If you've already have used Canvas for a few semesters and would like to explore features you're not yet using -- or you have a course in progress you want to improve on-the-go or you you might pick and choose which modules you want to use to improve your Canvas course.

Format:

  • Best Practices slide presentations with notes from previous live workshops
  • How-To slide presentations with notes
  • How-To checklists
  • Extra Resources (for most topics)

Modules: 

Note: Title links connect to module in course.

Welcome to Using Canvas as a Pedagogical Tool

  • Syllabus - sample of syllabus that comes with your Canvas shell
  • Overview - this document
  • Why use Canvas in Face-to-Face Classes? (slides with notes) - if you are not using Canvas in your face-to-face classes, this presentation shows what you are missing

Session 1 - Navigation & Modules

This session looks at why and how modules should be used to support teaching works in Canvas and how to set up modules. 

  • Why and How to Use Canvas Modules to Support Your Teaching (slides with notes) - discusses why you should use Canvas to support your teaching and best practices
  • Navigation & Organizing Modules (slides with notes) - discusses Canvas navigation and how to best set up and organize modules
  • Canvas Navigation & Module Organization Checklist  - handy checklist to use with directions to setup your modules

Session 2 - Assignments & Calendar

 This session covers setting up assignments and how the calendar works 

  • Using Canvas for Assignments (slides with notes) - discusses why you should use Canvas for assignments and best practices
  • Setting Up Canvas Assignments & Calendar (slides with notes) - discusses how to set up and manage assignments and the calendar in Canvas
  • Setting Up Canvas Assignments & Calendar Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to setup your assignments and calendar 
  • Assignment Ideas - Links to various assignment suggestions
  • Using Hypothesis & a Hypothesis Assignment to try - information on getting started using Hypothesis and an assignment to try

Session 3 - Rubrics

This session covers setting up rubrics and using them in Canvas

  • Rubric Planning Worksheet - new to rubrics? This worksheet will help you get started and improve grading
  • Best practices & Setting Up Canvas Rubrics (slides with notes) - - discusses effective practices and how to set up and manage rubrics in Canvas
  • Setting Up Rubrics Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to setup your rubrics

Session 4 - Discussions

This session covers how to use Canvas discussions in face-to-face classes

  • Using Canvas to Support Discussions with Students (slides with notes) - discusses effective practices and how to use Canvas discussions in face-to-face classes
  • Setting up Canvas Discussions (slides with notes) - discusses how to set up and manage discussions in Canvas
  • Setting Up Canvas Discussions Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to setup your discussions
  • Discussion Resources

Session 5 - Assessments and Quizzes 

This session covers the various types of assessments you can use in Canvas with face-to-face classes and how to set up quizzes.

  • Using Canvas for Assessments (slides with notes) - discusses various types of assessments you can use in Canvas and effective practices
  • How do I create a quiz with individual questions? - links to directions for setting up quizzes
  • How do I create a question bank in a course? - links to directions for creating a quiz question bank

Session 6 - Managing Group Projects & Activities

This session covers how to set up and manage groups in Canvas

  • Managing Group Projects & Activities (slides & notes) - discusses effective practices and how to set up and manage groups in Canvas
  • Setting up Groups in Canvas Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to setup groups in Canvas

Session 7 - Gradebook

This session covers how to setup and use the Canvas Gradebook

  • Setting Up Canvas Gradebook (slides & notes) - discusses effective practices and how to setup and use the Canvas Gradebook
  • Setting Up Canvas Gradebook Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to setup and use your Canvas Gradebook

Extra Resources

  • How to Assign Extra Credit in Canvas
  • How to Grade Like a Pro in Canvas 2026 Edition
  • Canvas Gradebook Tips and Tricks (YouTube)
  • How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?
  • Dropping the lowest scores

Session 8 - Speedgrader & Feedback

This session covers how to use Speedgrader for more efficient grading and feedback methods and tools

  • Using Canvas Speedgrader & Feedback (slides with notes) - discusses effective practices and how to use Speedgrader for more efficient grading and feedback
  • Using Canvas Speedgrader Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to use Canvas Speedgrader

Session 9 - Using Canvas to Support Communication with Students

This session covers how to improve your teaching using Canvas communication tools

  • Using Canvas to Support Communication with Students (slides with notes) - discusses effective practices and how to improve your teaching using Canvas communication tools
  • Communicating Using Canvas Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to use Canvas communication tools

Session 10 - Course Analytics

This session covers how to improve your teaching using Canvas analytics

  • Using Canvas Course Analytics (slides with notes) - discusses how to improve your teaching using Canvas analytics using effective practices and tools in Canvas
  • Using Canvas Course Analytics Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions for using Canvas Analytics

Session 11 - Polishing Your Canvas Course for Student Success

This session covers how to improve your teaching to minimize the time students spend navigating and maximize the time they spend learning, to improve usability and accessibility of your course, and focus on fostering connections and providing timely feedback.

  • Polishing Your Canvas Course for Student Success (slides with notes) - discusses how to improve your Canvas course
  • Polishing Your Canvas Course for Student Success Checklist - handy checklist to use with directions to assist on making improvements

Introduction the AI Literacy for Students

This module can be imported into your course for use with your students from Canvas Commons.

Faculty Instructions:

  • Adding the “Introduction to AI Literacy for Students” Module from Canvas Commons to a Course
  • Instructor Guide to Introduction the AI Literacy for Students Module (Keep unpublished!)
  • Sample Student Announcement About This Module (Keep unpublished!)

Student Section

  • Quiz - Generative AI Survey for Students - 4 pts
  • Introduction
    • Awareness
    • Capability
    • Knowledge
    • Critical Thinking
  • Summary
  • Quiz - Introduction to AI Literacy for Students Module Quiz - 10 pts

For both Faculty & Students

  • 2026 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence
  • References and Resources


Questions or assistance contact: Carla Sbrana (sbrana@rowan.edu), Educational Technologist, Faculty Center

 

Updated 10/27/26