How to Navigate Canvas LMS as a Student

TL;DR

Canvas organizes your classes into courses with Modules, Assignments, Grades, and a Calendar. Check the Calendar and To-Do list daily, submit assignments through the Assignments tab (not email), and enable notifications so you never miss a deadline.

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What Is Canvas LMS?

Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS) used by thousands of colleges and many high schools. It's where your professors post:

• Syllabi and course materials
• Assignments and due dates
• Grades and feedback
• Discussion boards
• Announcements
• Quizzes and exams

Think of it as your digital classroom — everything you need for each class lives here.

The Dashboard: Your Home Base

When you log in, the Dashboard shows all your active courses as cards. Each card links to that class's Canvas page. You can:

• Star your most important classes to keep them at the top
• View recent feedback and announcements
• Access the To-Do sidebar showing upcoming assignments

Pro tip: Check your Dashboard EVERY DAY. Make it your homepage.

Key Navigation Areas

Modules

Modules organize content week by week or unit by unit. This is usually where you'll find:

• Readings and resources
• Assignment instructions
• Links to submit work
• Lecture recordings or slides

If your professor organizes by Modules, START HERE each week.

Assignments

The Assignments page lists every graded assignment in the course. You can see:

• Assignment name and description
• Due date and time
• Points possible
• Submission status (submitted, not submitted, late)

Submit assignments through this page — not by emailing your professor.

Grades

The Grades page shows your current grade on every assignment. You can also see:

• Which assignments are graded vs. pending
• Point breakdowns
• Overall course grade (if your professor enables it)

Check Grades weekly so nothing surprises you.

Calendar

The Calendar shows due dates for ALL your Canvas courses in one view. You can:

• Switch between month, week, and agenda views
• See assignments, quizzes, and events
• Color-code by course

This is your most powerful tool. Open it regularly.

Announcements

Professors post important updates here — schedule changes, assignment clarifications, exam info. Canvas can notify you by email when new announcements are posted.

Discussions

Discussion boards are where you'll post responses and reply to classmates. Tips:

• Read the prompt carefully (many have specific requirements)
• Meet the word count minimum
• Reply to classmates substantively (not just "I agree")
• Post early — don't wait until the last hour

How to Submit Assignments

1. Go to the Assignments page
2. Click on the assignment name
3. Read the instructions carefully
4. Click Submit Assignment
5. Choose your submission type:
   • File Upload: Upload your document (Word, PDF, etc.)
   • Text Entry: Type directly into Canvas
   • URL: Submit a link (for Google Docs, websites, etc.)
6. Click Submit
7. Verify it says Submitted — check for the green checkmark

Important: After submitting, ALWAYS verify it went through. Click back into the assignment and confirm your submission is there. Technical glitches happen, and "Canvas ate my homework" won't fly with most professors.

Setting Up Notifications (Critical!)

Canvas can notify you about:

• New assignments posted
• Grades posted
• Announcements
• Discussion replies
• Assignment due date reminders

How to set up:

1. Click your profile picture → Settings
2. Click Notifications
3. Set important items to "Notify immediately" (especially assignments, grades, and announcements)
4. Choose your notification channel (email, push notifications, or both)

Canvas Mobile App

Download the Canvas Student app for iOS or Android. It lets you:

• Check assignments and due dates on the go
• Receive push notifications
• Submit assignments from your phone
• View grades and feedback

The mobile app isn't great for writing papers, but it's perfect for staying on top of deadlines.

Common Canvas Mistakes

1. Not checking Canvas daily — Assignments and announcements can appear at any time
2. Submitting to the wrong assignment — Double-check the assignment name before submitting
3. Not clicking "Submit" — Uploading a file is NOT the same as submitting it
4. Ignoring discussion board deadlines — These often have separate initial post and reply deadlines
5. Not reading the full assignment description — Instructions are often detailed; scroll down

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Canvas Student Checklist

• Log into Canvas daily
• Check the Calendar for upcoming due dates
• Read all announcements
• Set up notifications (especially for assignments and grades)
• Download the Canvas mobile app
• Verify every submission goes through
• Check Grades weekly

Canvas is just a tool — but mastering it means you'll never be caught off guard by a surprise deadline or missed announcement. 📱