How to Get Canvas Help
The Canvas learning platform offers a mobile-friendly, accessible interface to support teaching and learning. Faculty, students, and staff may use Canvas to share information and course materials, engage in critical thinking activities, and collaborate online.
Follow this link to Learn how to use Canvas, then access the platform with your assigned username and your selected password.
Strategies for Success
Taking a course remotely may mean that you need to adopt a new approach and new study habits. Below are some steps you can take to get started.
- Make a list of all your classes, your professors’ names and email addresses. You may find this information on myFramingham under the Academic tab and Current Schedule; you may also find your schedule and faculty contact information on Starfish.
- Understand how your professor intends to complete the course. Will they use Canvas or another way to deliver the course content? Read all emails from your professors and make notes about that on the list you created above.
- Be organized! Create a separate folder for each course. Schedule time to do coursework on a regular basis, participate as requested and stick to your schedule for the duration of the course. If you allow too many days to pass by without a login, you may find it difficult to catch up.
- Download your class syllabus from each course site to understand expectations and understand your instructor’s communication and instructional continuity plans. It is likely your professor will post an updated or modified syllabus and taking time to read this is extremely important.
- Become familiar with any tools your professor is using to teach your class. See the Canvas and ETO helpful resources above.
- Make note of your due dates and confirm with your professor how your assignments are collected. CASA has tools that can help you with this.
- Gather everything else you will need to be productive. Think about what you will need if your professor uses real-time video conferencing: does your computer have a built-in microphone and speaker? Do you have a headset for your phone? Do you have your class notes, textbook or other equipment, like power adapters, that you’ll need?
Learning Technologies
What is Panopto?
Your instructor might record their lectures or make video demonstrations for you and share that material via Panopto in your Canvas course. As a student, all you have to do is click and watch the video. In this way, the tool is like YouTube.
In some cases, your instructor might ask you to make your own recording of a presentation or demonstration using the Panopto Recording tool. If that happens, additional resources will be provided to guide you through the process. Watch the following Panopto “Get Started” videos>> (2 minutes, 29 seconds; 3 minutes, 9 seconds; you will be prompted to login to your Canvas account) for more information about this special situation.
Why would I use VoiceThread?
VoiceThread is a tool in Canvas used for hosting asynchronous discussions, presenting class materials, and inviting discussion on those materials, as well as for student presentations. VoiceThread allows for multiple modes of participation in discussions by allowing responses as video, audio, text, or any combination. This bridges the gaps in social presence typically found in online courses by allowing all participants to see and hear the presenter, as well as their presentation, image, or other course materials. For anyone with disabilities, all videos are closed-captioned.
If you are asked to use this tool in your classes, reference this Student Guide to VoiceThread>>