Canvas - Learning Management System

Canvas is PAU's Learning Management System. Many instructors use it to post their syllabus, course material, post grades for assignments, online discussions and more. You and your students can access Canvas via computer, smartphone or tablet.

The following information will help get you started on using Canvas:

Bookmark the PAU Canvas Information Page to stay up-to-date- on everything you need to know about Canvas at PAU.

Canvas Guides: Guides and the videos contain the same information, it’s really up to you how you prefer to learn. If you prefer to learn through Guides, here is the link to introductory written guides for instructors.
Canvas Link to ALL Videos: Here is a link to all faculty-focused Canvas instructional videos.

Canvas Support

Canvas Support are the experts and they are available 24/7:

Phone - 833-822-0338
Text Chat - Click the Help button on Canvas

Getting Started: Our Recommendation

PAU Recommend Canvas Instructional Videos

To get started on Canvas, we recommend you focus on the below videos first. These videos will give you a sound foundation on how to effectively utilize and navigate Canvas. Please watch videos, then feel free to play with Canvas! Should you have any questions, or need more hands-on training- our Academic Technology team would be happy to assist you! To connect with the team, please e-mail: canvashelp@paloaltou.edu.

Canvas Template- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

In order to develop a new course, you will be given access to a Canvas course shell. When you receive access, it will be more or less blank.

In order to make things easier on the faculty, the L&ID and Academic Technology departments developed a Canvas template for online courses.

To incorporate the template into your own course, please email canvashelp@paloaltou.edu. We highly recommend the use of this template!

Building Quizzes in Canvas

Quizzes in Canvas are assignments that can be used to challenge student understanding and assess comprehension of course material. The quiz tool is used to create and administer online quizzes and surveys. You can also use quizzes to conduct and moderate exams and assessments, both graded and ungraded. The following are links that will assist you in building quizzes:

Video Tutorials

New Quizzes
Classic Quizzes

Instructional Documents on Quizzes

Turnitin in Canvas

Turnitin helps you check for plagiarism. You can enable Turnitin in Canvas assignments to check for plagiarism. Please click the following link for more Turnitin information.

Copying Existing Canvas Course into New Course

This video will show you how to import an existing Canvas course into a new course