The resources in this "Survival Guide" have been developed and compiled for instructors who are new to Canvas and also for those who have some Canvas experience but would like additional reinforcement and helpful tips. Each page of the Survival Guide has two sections ("Getting Started" and "Going Deeper"), which are organized on separate tabs. The "Getting Started" content begins with a brief introduction to the page's content followed by a short tutorial video and, in some cases, annotated screen captures explaining how to access and use that tool or feature. The "Going Deeper" content includes resources for instructors who are comfortable using Canvas but might be looking for some examples of instructional techniques or ways to address specific challenges, or maybe even just a little inspiration.
Posting announcements is a simple and effective way to provide information to all students in a course at once. As soon as you post an announcement, all course participants will be able to view it on their Canvas Announcements page. Depending on how students have set their notification preferences, they can also receive immediate, daily, or weekly email notifications when announcements are posted.
reminders of upcoming assignments and office hours
notification about relevant current events information and campus events
celebrate student successes
Survival Tip: Post a Welcome Announcement
A great way to start your students off on the right track is to begin the quarter with a welcome announcement. The purpose of a welcome announcement is to set a positive tone right from the start, signal to students that you're the kind of instructor who is engaged and ready to support their learning, and to begin the course orientation process. Examples of content that might be appropriate in a welcome announcement include a warm and positive greeting, key course information, what to expect the first week, how to get started in the course, and the best way to contact the instructor. We recommend posting this announcement by the first day of classes.
Follow the steps below to create and post an Announcement to one or more sections of a course (for visual instructions, see the video above beginning around 1:02).
ClickAnnouncements in the course navigation menu on the left-hand side of your window.
Click +Announcement in the upper right corner of the Announcements page.
Type in your announcement title and add your announcement content (text, images, media, links, etc.).
Under Post to, using the dropdown menu, select the name of the course(s) to which you'd like to post your announcement.
Select the options that are most suited to the purpose of your announcement.
Click Publish.
Not finding what you need? Still have questions, a comment, or suggestion?
Now that you've explored Canvas Announcements, take a moment to reflect on your teaching style, course objectives, and student needs to consider how and when announcements could be most appropriately used in your course(s).
Types of Announcements: Consider different scenarios (e.g., weekly module introductions, assignment reminders, clarifications, etc.) and outline how announcements can enhance these scenarios.
Frequency and Timing: Reflect on how often you'd like to send announcements. Is it daily, weekly, or during specific milestones?
Student needs and preferences: Imagine yourself in your students' shoes. What kind of announcements would you find helpful and engaging? Consider the frequency, tone, and content that would resonate with your diverse student body.
Balancing Information and Engagement: How can you strike a balance between conveying information and sparking student interest?
Show Recent Announcements on the Home Page
You can post your announcements to the course Home page, which will increase their visibility. To show recent announcements on the course Home page:
Select Settings from the course navigation menu on the left side of your window.
Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and select more options.
Check the box next to "Show recent announcements on Course home page".
Use the drop-down menu to select the number of announcements you would like students to see on the home page at one time.