Canvas Features

The Dashboard Links to an external site. shows courses and groups, recent activity, to-do items, upcoming assignments, and recent feedback.

Global Navigation Links to an external site. is the menu that appears on every Canvas page. Global Navigation consists of navigation links that direct users to frequently-used features in Canvas.

The Calendar Links to an external site. is a communication tool that shows users all events and assignments in their courses and groups, and manually added events.

Profile: Allows an individual to create a profile picture Links to an external site.; biography Links to an external site.; identify your pronoun preference Links to an external site.; enable various Links to an external site.features Links to an external site., such as High Contrast UI and Microsoft Immersive Reader; and link to web services Links to an external site. as part of your Canvas account.

Files: Canvas provides a file repository Links to an external site. for each user, group, and course. Files can be public or private.

Notifications: Notifications Links to an external site. allow users to determine where and when they will be notified about activity in Canvas. Each Canvas user can adjust the Notification Preferences in their Profile to contact them via email or SMS on a schedule that fits their individual needs. Notifications are set for an entire user's account and are available on a course-by-course basis Links to an external site.. 

Inbox (Conversations): Conversations Links to an external site. is a messaging tool used in Canvas to communicate with a course, a group, an individual student, or a group of students. Messages created in Conversations can be sent to one user or multiple users.

Course Navigation: Course Navigation  Links to an external site.is a menu on the left side of a Canvas course. Course Navigation consists of links pointing to all the feature areas within a course. Instructors can customize Course Navigation for each course.

Discussion: Discussions Links to an external site. is a forum designed to facilitate communication between students, or between students and the instructor in a course. Discussions can also be created as assignments for grading purposes. Students can also respond to informal and graded discussions in the context of a group. All Discussions content is visible to everyone in the course, and all students can view and reply to a discussion.

Assignment: An assignment Links to an external site. is any activity or assessment that is created by the instructor. Assignments can include Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes. Some assignments are submitted for no grade. Other assignments may be submitted offline but tracked in the Canvas Gradebook.

Grades: See the grades Links to an external site. for your course and use the "what-if Links to an external site.?" grades feature.

Modules: Modules Links to an external site. is a tool that can unify all course content into structural components. Module content is often grouped by week, topic, or day. Modules can be set up to require students to complete materials Links to an external site. in a sequential fashion.

Groups: Groups Links to an external site. is a tool that helps instructors separate students into smaller collaboration teams.

Canvas allows you to decide how (and how often) you wish to be notified Links to an external site. about actions that take place in your course. For example, would you like to receive a push notification from the Canvas Student App if the instructor makes an announcement? How about an email to let you know when work has been graded? Or maybe you'd prefer a daily summary of the discussions you've participated in. Any contact information you add, such as an alternate e-mail address, is private. It is not shared with anyone else in the course, including the instructor.