UMass Boston

Get Started with Canvas

Once you log in to your account with your UMB email credentials, you will find the courses you are scheduled to teach through WISER. Follow the outlined essential steps in this guide to get your course up and running in the Canvas LMS.

Access Canvas

Access Canvas

To access Canvas navigate to umassboston.instructure.com and log on with your UMass Boston email username and password. You will find the same link on the Faculty and Staff page on the UMass Boston website. 

Get Oriented

Watch this Canvas Overview video to learn how to navigate through the general areas in your Canvas account.

Edit Profile & Notifications

Complete the following to personalize your account:

Build your Course

Your course will be pre-populated with a menu structure through which you will find recommended areas to use for your course. Follow the resources below to learn how to add and manage content.

Use Modules

Modules enable you to organize your learning materials for a weekly delivery and set an easy-to-navigate learning path for your students.

View an overview of the Modules feature.

In your course:

  • Create modules for the first few weeks of your course (number and label descriptively)
  • Click the plus (+) icon on your module then Create a Page that includes an overview and learning objectives for the week.
  • Add Resources to your module
    • Use the External Link option to add links to articles (from UMBrella)
    • Use the File option to upload files from your computer

Create Learning Activities

Common graded learning activities are easy to create in Canvas. They can be created and accessed using their Index pages linked on the course menu, but to ease navigation for students, add them to the respective modules in the manner shown previously.

Set Home Page & Navigation

  • Once you’ve populated the first few weeks of the course with content, you can set the course Home Page which will serve as the landing page for your course.
  • Adjust the menu navigation according to your preferences.
  • Explore the Syllabus page option and add your syllabus.
  • The Grades link should be left available as it shows students their grades.
  • When using Modules, limit the number of items on the course menu so students are led through the course using the guidance provided in the modules.

Grading

As you create your graded activities, watch the following Gradebook overview to become familiar with the available options.

Request Starter Template

To help you build your course according to best practices, please request the OL Template. This template is pre-populated with guidance and placeholders for common items, such as learning objectives, mini lectures, readings, assignments, and discussions  To request this template added to your course, email the Learning Design team at learningdesign@umb.edu.

Publish Your Course

Once your course is ready for students, be sure to Publish it to make it available to them. Courses should be published three days before the start of the semester. Follow our Get your Course Ready for a New Semester page for more important guidelines. 

Send Announcements

Send an announcement to students informing them that your course is being taught in Canvas along with the login information and the Canvas Orientation for Students page. Please note that a course has to be published before announcements can go out to students.

More Training Resources

For a visual guide to building your course visit: Build your Canvas Course in 30 minutes!

Visit our Training and Resources page for more in-depth resources for working with Canvas. 

Access Training Resources

Get Help

  • Click the Help button on your course dashboard to access the Canvas Support phone and chat link, access the Training Portal and other resources.
  • Search the Canvas Community Guides
  • Get in touch with the Learning Design team using the available options below.