Prepare for Success: Review Canvas Settings
Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS) used at The University of Oklahoma (OU). You can find more information about using Canvas features by enrolling in the Canvas Passport for Students course. This course showcases the most common Canvas tools used in your OU courses. For information and instructional videos, students can view the Student Guides on the Canvas Community.
Log into Canvas
Visit your Canvas Dashboard (canvas.ou.edu) and log in with your OU credentials. If you have problems logging in, please contact the IT Service Desk 405-325-4357 Option 2 for support with your OU account.
Set Up Account Notifications
To ensure you receive email communications from Canvas, set up your set up your notification Preferences in the Account tab on the left-side global navigation menu. There are many to choose from, and you can make changes at any time to your account or specific courses using the Settings for drop down menu; however, it recommended to turn on the Announcement, Grading, Submission Comment, Added To Conversation, and Conversation Message options. This allows messages from your instructor to come straight to your OU email and for you to be able to reply directly from there to them. Alternatively, you can visit the Canvas Inbox page in the left-side global navigation menu to send messages to your instructor(s) without needing their email.
Set Up Your Profile
Your profile contains your name, pronouns, title, biography, and links. Set a profile picture that represents yourself and is professional in your Canvas Account. Your instructors and fellow students will be able to see the image displayed in the Inbox, Announcements, Discussions, and People sections. Moreover, you can add personal pronouns to your Canvas profile. Once you do, pronouns will appear next to your name in a variety of locations throughout Canvas.
Access Your Courses: Navigate the Dashboard
Manage your Course Cards
The Course Dashboard helps you access your course and manage your work. Customize which course cards are displayed on the Dashboard then move Canvas course cards based on preference, current term, quarter, semester, etc. You can also give courses nicknames that will reflect in other parts of Canvas.
If you are not seeing your courses, be sure to visit the Courses tab > All Courses page. You can only access courses you are officially enrolled in in the ONE portal. so check with your college if you do not see your semester enrollments.
To Do List and Recent Feedback Sidebar
You can access your courses by selecting their card, but you can also use the to do list and recent feedback links to do the same. The To Do List sidebar on the right-side shows up to seven items with due dates or event dates in the upcoming weeks. Below the to do list, the Recent Feedback sidebar displays the latest grade and comments from your instructor on submitted assignments. Any item in the sidebar on the right side can be selected to take you directly to that course page. Learn more about the Canvas Dashboard.
Recent Activity or List Dashboard View
The are two alternative Dashboard views are the recent activity and list view. You can change your Dashboard view by selecting the three dots on the top of the page then selecting a different view. The Recent Activity Dashboard shows you important recent activities from all of your courses including announcements, discussions, assignments. Be sure to read your Announcements, so you can stay up to date with changes in your courses.
Canvas Overview Video: Dashboard, Courses, and Notifications
Related Canvas Apps and Resources
Download the Canvas Student Mobile App
The Canvas app allows students to access their courses and groups using a mobile device. Students can participate in discussions, view grades, and course materials. The app also provides access to course calendars, To Do items, notifications, and Conversations messages.
Download Respondus LockDown Browser (LDB)
Many colleges utilize Respondus LDB for quiz academic integrity. Before your exams, it is important to download the latest version of Respondus LockDown Brower from the OU page and test your device with a practice quiz.
- When a quiz requires LDB in Canvas, you will launch the app first and then log into Canvas from the screen that appears.
- If you are coming from another university and have used LDB before, you will need to uninstall the prior version of the software and install OU’s version.
- For more tips on using LockDown Browser, review the best Practices for Respondus LockDown Browser article.
Ask for Help
If you are trying to find something or do something in Canvas and you are struggling, just ask for help. Click HELP on the global navigation bar inside Canvas and see all the options.