Canvas Standards
At Emory College, we are committed to providing an exceptional academic experience that supports learning, engagement, and collaboration. As part of this commitment, all Emory College courses are expected to have a dedicated Canvas site.
Whether your class is in-person or online, Canvas is a one-stop hub for sharing course materials, providing resources, and connecting students throughout the semester. As a vital tool for Emory College courses, all Canvas sites should follow the best practices outlined below. Canvas course sites should be published no later than the first day of class for in-person courses, and the week prior to the start of classes for online courses.
Canvas Standards
Please see the Emory College Learning Design's Canvas Standards for a printable version.
Best Practices
Syllabus
The syllabus is an essential document to outline the expectations and responsibilities for students in your course. Your syllabus in Canvas should meet the following criteria:
- Posted in an easy to locate place, such as the Syllabus page, within a module, or on the Home page
- Posted in a format that allows downloading
- Include course learning outcomes and objectives
communication
Canvas can foster communication between you and your students. Be sure to provide the following information to students:
- Contact information in an easily accessible location
- Designate your preferred method of contact
- Let students know an expected response time for emails and assignments
- Time and location of office hours
Course schedule
A course schedule outlining all the activities and assignments for your course can be included in the syllabus or on its own page in Canvas. It should include:
- Due dates and time for all assignments
- Clear instructions for all activities
Content organization
Thoughtfully organizing your course can help students find information quickly and understand how content is related. Best practices in content organization include:
- Organizing materials using Modules or Pages (rather than Files)
- Utilizing consistent naming conventions
- Streamlining the navigation menu to contain only tools and features used in the course
gradebook
The Canvas Gradebook allows students to reliably track their progress in the course. To facilitate this:
- Set up Gradebook to accurately reflect how students will earn points
- Enter grades regularly
Contact
If you have any questions about using Canvas or need technical support, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Canvas Support Center at classes@emory.edu