Canvas

Canvas has all the features of a modern learning management system including functionality for managing enrollments, sharing documents, submitting assignments, and assigning grades, as well as personalized features for individual students.

The CSUN Canvas environment is available at http://canvas.csun.edu. Log in using your CSUN user ID and password.

Give yourself a headstart with the CSUN Canvas Template. We are Beta testing a shell that you can import from Canvas Commons and we would love to get your feedback! The CSUN Canvas Template is a framework of best practices to help you set up your Canvas course. This resource for CSUN Faculty was developed by Academic Technology, Faculty Development and Faculty Fellows, and was created with the CSU’s Quality Learning and Teaching Standards, equity-minded teaching, and universal design and accessibility principles in mind.

Learn more about Canvas

Faculty can receive Canvas support from the Faculty Technology Center (FTC). Check out CSUN’s Faculty Canvas Support Website for resources on getting started in Canvas or come to one of our various workshops, demos or drop-in sessions.

For more tools and resources, visit the Software Solutions for Teaching and Interaction page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key features of Canvas?

Canvas has all the features of a modern learning management system including the ability to accept and grade assignments, conduct discussions in forums, administer quizzes and exams, store and organize course resources, communicate with students, etc. Canvas has multiple grading tools including rubrics, audio/video feedback and a dedicated grading app. Students can access course materials, view course calendars, to do lists and set their own preferences to receive notifications on their mobile devices.

Is there a mobile app for Canvas that we can use?

Yes, there are a variety mobile apps that can be used with Canvas, but the two primary ones are the Canvas Student app and the Canvas Teacher app for instructors. These apps are available on Android devices and on iPhones and iPads running iOS 10 or newer. After downloading the app, enter CSUN's Canvas URL to access the mobile app. The URL is canvas.csun.edu. See the Canvas mobile guides for more information.

Do external tools like Turnitin and Respondus work in Canvas?

Canvas supports many external tools including Turnitin and Respondus so faculty will be able to continue to use these applications in their courses. In addition, there are other external apps available within Canvas such as the ability to directly embed YouTube, Wikipedia, Educreations, Khan Academy, etc.

Is there a recommended browser for Canvas?

Canvas is accessible with any Web-standard browser, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Respondus Lockdown Browser. See this Canvas guide on supported browsers for more information about operating system, browser and device requirements.

What are the accessibility features in Canvas?

The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a tool used to evaluate Canvas' conformance with Section 508 accessibility standards. View the Canvas Voluntary Product Accessibility Template and guide on Accessibility within Canvas for information on screen readers, browsers, keyboard shortcuts, and accessibility within specific Canvas features.

What can I do to learn more about Canvas?

Canvas provides extensive user support resources including video tutorials, how-to guides and documentation, and instructor training courses. Canvas hosts a number of Community Forums for reviewing answers to previously asked questions, posting new questions, and voting up enhancement requests.

Here are some recommended resources:

Canvas Instructor Overview Video - Video (6m 23s)
Getting Started (Instructor Guides) - Web documentation for instructors
Canvas Student Guide - Web documentation for students
CSUN's Teaching with Canvas Workshop (Course) - Online, self-paced course in Canvas

You can also sign up for CSUN's face-to-face introductory workshop for faculty, Canvas Essentials, on the IT Workshop Calendar.

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