Access
Modules that are available in Canvas, will not be available in the Queen’s Online Virtual Learning Environment (QOL VLE). Previous QOL VLE modules and materials will still be accessible in the QOL VLE.
Modules for AY 2019/20 which are available in Canvas, will not be accessible in the QOL VLE.
Note: Only the ‘Modules/Learning Home’ of Queen’s Online is being replaced by Canvas. All other areas of Queen’s Online, where you can access other online resources and services will remain the same.
What you can do within a module in Canvas is determined by the role you have been assigned in that course. There are 5 different roles. These are;
Observer: Access to view learning materials, discussions and announcements. This role is unable to participate in any of the activities, build content, view grades or view student and module statistics or reports.
External Examiner: View only access role, to view announcements, discussions and all grades. This role is unable to participate in any of the activities, build content, grade or view student and module statistics or reports.
Course Designer: This role has access to view materials, discussions and announcements. Course Designers can also build learning content (collaborations, discussions, outcomes and rubrics) and have the ability to publish and extend module/activity dates. This role does not have the ability to grade or view student and module statistics or reports.
Teaching Assistant: This role can view and build learning content, collaborate with students and grade submissions. This role does not have the ability to view student and module statistics and reports.
Teacher: This role can view and build learning content, collaborate with students and grade submissions. This role also has the ability to view student and module statistics and reports.
Note: Canvas roles are not related to job titles and should be set based on level of permission required.
Note: In line with Data Protection requirements, Canvas must protect the privacy rights of individuals when processing data. Those responsible for assigning Canvas roles, should remember that data being accessed by staff members must be limited to what is necessary for their role.
For more information on GDPR please click here.
Yes.
Familiarisation Areas: These are available so that academics can experiment with the various features and tools available. This is your own personal space, no other academics or students are enrolled in this area.
Test Student: You have access to a ‘test student’ via the ‘student view’ feature. This will let you view and interact with your module content to test what it is like from the student perspective. To access the student view feature, click Settings then click Student View on the right hand menu.
Note: The ‘test student’ feature can be used for most functionality in Canvas and can be reset as required.
Canvas Guide: How do I view a course as a test student using Student View?
Announcements
No. It is not possible to ensure that all your students receive email notifications about Announcements in Canvas.
Notification Settings: Students are able to customise their Notification settings in the same way that staff members can and can choose to turn off the notifications for Announcements. However, even if they turn this notification off, they will still see the Announcement when they login to Canvas.
Advice: If you are planning to use Announcements to communicate information about your course, advise your students to keep this notification turned on.
Canvas Guide: How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as a student?
Apps
Feature Request process: This process is available to enable you to request additional features or educational apps within Canvas. The list of current apps and information on how to request new apps is outlined below.
Current Apps: These plugins are currently available in Canvas: Turnitin UK, Office 365, Mediasite, You Tube, Wikipedia, Vimeo and Twitter.
New Apps: If you would like additional educational apps integrated with Canvas, please submit a ‘Feature Request’ ticket via the Help button. Your request will go through a series of checks by the Systems Support Team before its ‘potential’ approval.
Adding Apps into your Canvas Course: In your live course, click Settings, then click the Apps Tab. You can filter by all, not installed or installed. Simply click the App you want then click Add App. Once added, some apps are available to you within the Rich Content Editor. (via a drop down list icon).
(The image below shows how to find the installed Apps in the Rich Content Editor)
Canvas Guide: How do I use the Canvas App Center in a course?
More information: Canvas Feature Requests
More Information: Integrated Apps and how these can be used in Canvas
Assessment and Feedback
Canvas has a Quizzes feature that can be used for formative assessment. However, until we pilot the use of Canvas Quizzes for summative assessment, we advise that you continue to use your current method. If using Questionmark, you can provide the following link from your Canvas course: https://ondemand.questionmark.eu/home/610094/saml_login
Canvas Guide: How do I create a quiz with individual questions?
Yes, it is possible to change the settings within the Gradebook or Speedgrader to stop feedback being seen by students before you are ready. In Canvas this managed by the Grade Posting Policy. You can select a default grade posting policy for all course assignments, as shown below:
Posting policies can be set to automatic or manual, see below how they will display in Gradebook.
Anonymous Assignments: If you create an anonymous assignment, Canvas will automatically hide grades and feedback for the assignment.
Non-Anonymised Assignments: If the assignment is not anonymous and you have not set the Course to ‘Manual’ Grade Posting Policy, you will need to select ‘Manual’ grade posting policy for the assignment before you begin marking, as shown below:
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I post grades for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I hide or post assignment grades in SpeedGrader?
Note: If you have setup an assignment using the Turnitin Integration in Canvas and are using Turnitin Feedback Studio to mark students’ assignments, you MUST set the ‘Feedback Release Date’ to a date and time that you want your students to receive their grades and feedback. This date will also trigger anonymity to be forced off in Turnitin.
More information: Turnitin within Canvas – Staff Guide
More information: Important Information about Turnitin Assignments within Canvas
Any late submissions will show up in the Grades as Blue in the New Gradebook.
Each colour is a default associated with a Gradebook status: late (blue), missing (red), resubmitted (green), dropped (orange), or excused (yellow), as shown below.
The Status option in the New Gradebook allows you to change the default colours in the Gradebook. Colours can be adjusted by selecting a default colour or using a supported hex code.
Colours are a per-user setting. Colours set in your course apply to any of your other courses that use the New Gradebook, however, they do not apply to any other user who may view the Gradebook. Additionally, status names cannot be changed.
In the Speedgrader you can also see if an assignment is submitted late.
Canvas Guide: How do I change the color for a grading status in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I change the status of a submission in the New Gradebook?
For more information please see: The New Canvas Gradebook
Yes. You can use the Gradebook feature to do this. The link below will bring you to a Canvas guide that explains how to use the Gradebook.
Canvas Guide: How do I use the New Gradebook?
Yes. You can set up peer review assignments for students in Canvas. Students can then leave written and/or audio feedback for their peers.
How do I use peer review assignments in a course? (Canvas Guide)
Assignments
Yes, it is possible to change the settings within the Gradebook or Speedgrader to stop feedback being seen by students before you are ready. In Canvas this managed by the Grade Posting Policy. You can select a default grade posting policy for all course assignments, as shown below:
Posting policies can be set to automatic or manual, see below how they will display in Gradebook.
Anonymous Assignments: If you create an anonymous assignment, Canvas will automatically hide grades and feedback for the assignment.
Non-Anonymised Assignments: If the assignment is not anonymous and you have not set the Course to ‘Manual’ Grade Posting Policy, you will need to select ‘Manual’ grade posting policy for the assignment before you begin marking, as shown below:
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I post grades for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I hide or post assignment grades in SpeedGrader?
Note: If you have setup an assignment using the Turnitin Integration in Canvas and are using Turnitin Feedback Studio to mark students’ assignments, you MUST set the ‘Feedback Release Date’ to a date and time that you want your students to receive their grades and feedback. This date will also trigger anonymity to be forced off in Turnitin.
More information: Turnitin within Canvas – Staff Guide
More information: Important Information about Turnitin Assignments within Canvas
Yes. You can use the Gradebook feature to do this. The link below will bring you to a Canvas guide that explains how to use the Gradebook.
Canvas Guide: How do I use the New Gradebook?
Yes. You can set up peer review assignments for students in Canvas. Students can then leave written and/or audio feedback for their peers.
How do I use peer review assignments in a course? (Canvas Guide)
Calendar
Yes.
Canvas Calendar Export: It is possible to export the Canvas Calendar into other online calendars. However, Canvas will not automatically update your other calendar if you make changes within Canvas.
External Calendars Import: It is not possible to import other external online calendars into the Canvas Calendar.
Canvas Guide: How do I view the Calendar iCal feed to subscribe to an external calendar as an instructor?
Canvas Rollout
At this time, the initial focus of the roll-out will be on credit-bearing academic modules whose enrolments come through QSIS, our student record system. However, we are aware of this requirement and will be investigating this further in the future.
Canvas is being implemented across the university in phases.
All Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught modules will be on Canvas in the academic year 2019/20.
More information: Digital Learning Programme and Canvas
Collaborations
To create, view or interact with Office 365 content, you and your students will first need to login to Office 365 through the link in the Canvas course navigation menu.
If an ‘unexpected error’ message is displayed when creating a collaboration:
- Please check that there are no spaces at the beginning of the collaboration’s document name/title and that none of the following special characters have been used: \ / : * ? ” < >
- If the error continues to occur please:
a) Go to the main module home page, click office 365 in the course navigation menu on the left, your office 365 files should then appear.
b) Click log out on the right-hand side. Once logged out, sign back in, by clicking log in (you may have to enter your sign in credentials again).
c) Once you have logged back into office 365, navigate back to the collaborations section and create the collaboration.How to log out and back in to Office 365 within Canvas - If the error persists try deleting your browser cache/history and cookies (see guides for all supported browsers here: Mac or PC) then repeat step 2.
If the message ‘you are not allowed to view this content’ is displayed when opening a collaboration:
- Please check that the user attempting to open the collaboration has been added as a collaborator.
- If the user has been added to the collaboration and the error persists, please log out and back in to Office 365 within Canvas, by completing step 2 above.
Note: Please ensure that you are not signed in to different Office 365 accounts (staff/student/personal etc) even if using separate browsers, as this can cause issues with linking to the correct Office 365 account.
Canvas Guide: How do I create a Microsoft Office 365 collaboration as an instructor?
Communication
The ’email all students’ function is done in Qsis, not Canvas, depending on the permissions of the staff member.
In Qsis, open Main Menu / Self-Service / Faculty Centre then My Schedule and select a relevant class to open in Class Roster. You may need to click on view all to display all components of a class (such as Tutorials etc.). Select the option to email an individual student or a group of students.
To email an individual student: Click on their Name and a message will open in your own email account.
To email a group of students: Click the Select All link. You can then un-tick those you do not want to notify.
a) Click the Notify Selected Students button and the Send Notification screen will open.
b) Your email will be in both the From and To fields, this ensures you get a copy of any sent emails.
c) The students selected will be in the BCC field.
d) You may wish to add other staff to the CC field.
e) The default subject can be changed.
f) You can also spell check the message using the book icon.
g) When ready, click the Send Notification button.
If you wish to export the email addresses to excel please click the following icon at the top of the table:
More Information: Please see page 3 of this guide.
More Information: How to view/print a module roster of student photographs in Qsis
Note: If you require any further support, please contact the Qsis Support Team on studentsystemssupport@qub.ac.uk
No. It is not possible to ensure that all your students receive email notifications about Announcements in Canvas.
Notification Settings: Students are able to customise their Notification settings in the same way that staff members can and can choose to turn off the notifications for Announcements. However, even if they turn this notification off, they will still see the Announcement when they login to Canvas.
Advice: If you are planning to use Announcements to communicate information about your course, advise your students to keep this notification turned on.
Canvas Guide: How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as a student?
Course Management
QSIS: Enrolment and registration first takes place in Qsis and then this information flows through to Canvas.
Canvas: In Canvas you can check the student enrolment information by clicking on People in your course navigation menu. Clicking on the All roles dropdown will show you each Canvas role in your course, with the number of active users beside each role (See Fig. 1).
Contact your School Administrator and ask them to confirm with Qsis, the number of students in your course, or alternatively, contact the QSIS Support Team.
Canvas Guide: How do I use the People page in a course as an instructor?
No. It is not possible to ensure that all your students receive email notifications about Announcements in Canvas.
Notification Settings: Students are able to customise their Notification settings in the same way that staff members can and can choose to turn off the notifications for Announcements. However, even if they turn this notification off, they will still see the Announcement when they login to Canvas.
Advice: If you are planning to use Announcements to communicate information about your course, advise your students to keep this notification turned on.
Canvas Guide: How do I set my Canvas notification preferences as a student?
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
No. Timetable integration with Canvas is not available at this time.
Yes. However it is important to note that some of the activity/resource types in Moodle do not exist in Canvas, and this will impact on how some of the Moodle course materials appear in Canvas.
The table below shows some of the activities/resources in Moodle which do not exist in Canvas and explains how they will be imported (based on Moodle version 3.0).
Advice: It is advised that you make an audit of your Moodle course before importing, and make a note of the features listed in the table below.
Moodle activities/resources not featured in Canvas |
What happens when imported to Canvas? |
Book | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages |
Database | Will not import |
Glossary | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the terms and definitions will not display. |
Label | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the layout and details of the text in the page may need to be reformatted or reorganised. |
Lesson | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages, but the connections between pages will be lost. |
Question banks | Canvas will not import Moodle question banks on their own, but question banks can be imported if you choose to also export the Moodle quiz they’re associated with. |
Quiz Question types: |
Most question types within Moodle will be imported into Canvas with no problems. However, those question types mentioned in the cell to the left will not import. |
Wiki | Will not import |
Back up your Moodle Course
The next step is to back up your Moodle course. To do this, go to your Moodle course, click the Turn Editing On button and click the Backup menu item within the Course Administration menu. (If you don’t see this, you will need to ask for help from the administrator of your Moodle site.)
Follow the instructions on how to create and save the back up (Note: Make sure you do not include the enrolled users in your back-up file).
Then you can log in to Canvas and import the contents of your Moodle course into your Canvas course.
Canvas Guide: How do I import content from Moodle into Canvas? (Canvas Community Guide)
Course Settings
Module Names in Qsis: Information in Canvas, (including module name/course title) flows through from Qsis. There is a 30 character limit in Qsis for a course title (short name), anything above this will not be included.
Course Titles in Canvas: To change your Canvas course title and reduce the number of characters, please contact QSIS Support Team and amend to 30 characters or less (including spaces & punctuation).
Once complete in Qsis, the new course title will automatically flow through to Canvas in 24-48 hours.
In Canvas, there are two areas for names:
- Display Name: Displays in areas where you are collaborating. (e.g.) Discussions, Messages and Comments.
- Full Name: Appears in some areas in Canvas. (e.g.) Gradebook, Chat, EPortfolio and integrated applications such as Office365 or TurnItIn UK.
How to change your Display Name: Submit a ticket via the Help button in Canvas.
How to change your Full Name: If your Full Name has legally changed and needs to be updated in Canvas, you will need to change it in Qsis first. Please contact the QSIS Support Team directly. Once this is complete, it will automatically update in Canvas in 24-48 hours.
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
Yes.
Canvas Calendar Export: It is possible to export the Canvas Calendar into other online calendars. However, Canvas will not automatically update your other calendar if you make changes within Canvas.
External Calendars Import: It is not possible to import other external online calendars into the Canvas Calendar.
Canvas Guide: How do I view the Calendar iCal feed to subscribe to an external calendar as an instructor?
Yes. However it is important to note that some of the activity/resource types in Moodle do not exist in Canvas, and this will impact on how some of the Moodle course materials appear in Canvas.
The table below shows some of the activities/resources in Moodle which do not exist in Canvas and explains how they will be imported (based on Moodle version 3.0).
Advice: It is advised that you make an audit of your Moodle course before importing, and make a note of the features listed in the table below.
Moodle activities/resources not featured in Canvas |
What happens when imported to Canvas? |
Book | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages |
Database | Will not import |
Glossary | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the terms and definitions will not display. |
Label | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the layout and details of the text in the page may need to be reformatted or reorganised. |
Lesson | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages, but the connections between pages will be lost. |
Question banks | Canvas will not import Moodle question banks on their own, but question banks can be imported if you choose to also export the Moodle quiz they’re associated with. |
Quiz Question types: |
Most question types within Moodle will be imported into Canvas with no problems. However, those question types mentioned in the cell to the left will not import. |
Wiki | Will not import |
Back up your Moodle Course
The next step is to back up your Moodle course. To do this, go to your Moodle course, click the Turn Editing On button and click the Backup menu item within the Course Administration menu. (If you don’t see this, you will need to ask for help from the administrator of your Moodle site.)
Follow the instructions on how to create and save the back up (Note: Make sure you do not include the enrolled users in your back-up file).
Then you can log in to Canvas and import the contents of your Moodle course into your Canvas course.
Canvas Guide: How do I import content from Moodle into Canvas? (Canvas Community Guide)
Files
What is Mediasite?
Mediasite is a video streaming platform, which is fully supported by Information Services and integrates directly with Canvas. It allows staff to record, upload and share recorded lectures, seminars, events and other video and audio content.
Benefits of using Mediasite in Canvas:
- In Canvas various types of media can be incorporated into your course without taking up ANY of your allotted Canvas storage.
- All content will be fully backed up by QUB.
- All video & audio content plays seamlessly in China and other areas due to content being delivery by the University Janet consortium.
Content can be shared with a large or controlled audience. (like other peers for content control or editing) - Full training is available on regular courses throughout the year.
Accessing Mediasite in Canvas:
Mediasite can be accessed and content embedded into Canvas in the Rich Content Editor. More information: https://blogs.qub.ac.uk/digitallearning/support/system-integrations/mediasite-in-canvas-guide/
Mediasite Training:
A 2hr Mediasite training course runs every two weeks in 92 Lisburn Road and is bookable via iTrent. This course will demonstrate a wide range of Mediasite features including:
- Collaborative online space to create and manage your media
- Editing, publishing and sharing your content
- Managing permissions with your class or external parties
- Adding links and chapters, Including polls or quizzes in your video content
- Tagging your content (for search)
- Online editor
- The use of captioning (subtitling your content)
Note: Mediasite offers this functionality with absolutely no prior knowledge of video editing required.More Information: Mediasite in Canvas Guide
More Information: Mediasite at Queen’s
If you require additional storage on your Canvas module, please contact the Digital Learning Solutions team from the ‘Help’ menu in Canvas.
More Information: What is my module storage allowance in Canvas?
By default, each Canvas Course has 500 MB of storage space.
Limits:
- Files uploaded to Module Files in Files (images, documents, etc.)
- Assignment submission file responses uploaded by instructors (if the instructor uploads a file in response to a student submission) (Note: That Turnitin also has an individual limit on papers of 20MB or 400pages)
- Module pages, discussions, assignments, quizzes built in Canvas
- Module images
How to check your storage limits. Click Settings, click File Storage tab.
Module Storage Quota
For more information, please check out the Canvas guides.
General
The ’email all students’ function is done in Qsis, not Canvas, depending on the permissions of the staff member.
In Qsis, open Main Menu / Self-Service / Faculty Centre then My Schedule and select a relevant class to open in Class Roster. You may need to click on view all to display all components of a class (such as Tutorials etc.). Select the option to email an individual student or a group of students.
To email an individual student: Click on their Name and a message will open in your own email account.
To email a group of students: Click the Select All link. You can then un-tick those you do not want to notify.
a) Click the Notify Selected Students button and the Send Notification screen will open.
b) Your email will be in both the From and To fields, this ensures you get a copy of any sent emails.
c) The students selected will be in the BCC field.
d) You may wish to add other staff to the CC field.
e) The default subject can be changed.
f) You can also spell check the message using the book icon.
g) When ready, click the Send Notification button.
If you wish to export the email addresses to excel please click the following icon at the top of the table:
More Information: Please see page 3 of this guide.
More Information: How to view/print a module roster of student photographs in Qsis
Note: If you require any further support, please contact the Qsis Support Team on studentsystemssupport@qub.ac.uk
What you can do within a module in Canvas is determined by the role you have been assigned in that course. There are 5 different roles. These are;
Observer: Access to view learning materials, discussions and announcements. This role is unable to participate in any of the activities, build content, view grades or view student and module statistics or reports.
External Examiner: View only access role, to view announcements, discussions and all grades. This role is unable to participate in any of the activities, build content, grade or view student and module statistics or reports.
Course Designer: This role has access to view materials, discussions and announcements. Course Designers can also build learning content (collaborations, discussions, outcomes and rubrics) and have the ability to publish and extend module/activity dates. This role does not have the ability to grade or view student and module statistics or reports.
Teaching Assistant: This role can view and build learning content, collaborate with students and grade submissions. This role does not have the ability to view student and module statistics and reports.
Teacher: This role can view and build learning content, collaborate with students and grade submissions. This role also has the ability to view student and module statistics and reports.
Note: Canvas roles are not related to job titles and should be set based on level of permission required.
Note: In line with Data Protection requirements, Canvas must protect the privacy rights of individuals when processing data. Those responsible for assigning Canvas roles, should remember that data being accessed by staff members must be limited to what is necessary for their role.
For more information on GDPR please click here.
At this time, the initial focus of the roll-out will be on credit-bearing academic modules whose enrolments come through QSIS, our student record system. However, we are aware of this requirement and will be investigating this further in the future.
QSIS: Enrolment and registration first takes place in Qsis and then this information flows through to Canvas.
Canvas: In Canvas you can check the student enrolment information by clicking on People in your course navigation menu. Clicking on the All roles dropdown will show you each Canvas role in your course, with the number of active users beside each role (See Fig. 1).
Contact your School Administrator and ask them to confirm with Qsis, the number of students in your course, or alternatively, contact the QSIS Support Team.
Canvas Guide: How do I use the People page in a course as an instructor?
Module Names in Qsis: Information in Canvas, (including module name/course title) flows through from Qsis. There is a 30 character limit in Qsis for a course title (short name), anything above this will not be included.
Course Titles in Canvas: To change your Canvas course title and reduce the number of characters, please contact QSIS Support Team and amend to 30 characters or less (including spaces & punctuation).
Once complete in Qsis, the new course title will automatically flow through to Canvas in 24-48 hours.
To create, view or interact with Office 365 content, you and your students will first need to login to Office 365 through the link in the Canvas course navigation menu.
If an ‘unexpected error’ message is displayed when creating a collaboration:
- Please check that there are no spaces at the beginning of the collaboration’s document name/title and that none of the following special characters have been used: \ / : * ? ” < >
- If the error continues to occur please:
a) Go to the main module home page, click office 365 in the course navigation menu on the left, your office 365 files should then appear.
b) Click log out on the right-hand side. Once logged out, sign back in, by clicking log in (you may have to enter your sign in credentials again).
c) Once you have logged back into office 365, navigate back to the collaborations section and create the collaboration.How to log out and back in to Office 365 within Canvas - If the error persists try deleting your browser cache/history and cookies (see guides for all supported browsers here: Mac or PC) then repeat step 2.
If the message ‘you are not allowed to view this content’ is displayed when opening a collaboration:
- Please check that the user attempting to open the collaboration has been added as a collaborator.
- If the user has been added to the collaboration and the error persists, please log out and back in to Office 365 within Canvas, by completing step 2 above.
Note: Please ensure that you are not signed in to different Office 365 accounts (staff/student/personal etc) even if using separate browsers, as this can cause issues with linking to the correct Office 365 account.
Canvas Guide: How do I create a Microsoft Office 365 collaboration as an instructor?
Canvas is being implemented across the university in phases.
All Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught modules will be on Canvas in the academic year 2019/20.
More information: Digital Learning Programme and Canvas
Yes.
Familiarisation Areas: These are available so that academics can experiment with the various features and tools available. This is your own personal space, no other academics or students are enrolled in this area.
Test Student: You have access to a ‘test student’ via the ‘student view’ feature. This will let you view and interact with your module content to test what it is like from the student perspective. To access the student view feature, click Settings then click Student View on the right hand menu.
Note: The ‘test student’ feature can be used for most functionality in Canvas and can be reset as required.
Canvas Guide: How do I view a course as a test student using Student View?
Gradebook
Any late submissions will show up in the Grades as Blue in the New Gradebook.
Each colour is a default associated with a Gradebook status: late (blue), missing (red), resubmitted (green), dropped (orange), or excused (yellow), as shown below.
The Status option in the New Gradebook allows you to change the default colours in the Gradebook. Colours can be adjusted by selecting a default colour or using a supported hex code.
Colours are a per-user setting. Colours set in your course apply to any of your other courses that use the New Gradebook, however, they do not apply to any other user who may view the Gradebook. Additionally, status names cannot be changed.
In the Speedgrader you can also see if an assignment is submitted late.
Canvas Guide: How do I change the color for a grading status in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I change the status of a submission in the New Gradebook?
For more information please see: The New Canvas Gradebook
Yes. You can use the Gradebook feature to do this. The link below will bring you to a Canvas guide that explains how to use the Gradebook.
Canvas Guide: How do I use the New Gradebook?
Groups
Yes. Once you have created a ‘group set’ in Canvas, you have 3 different options for grouping students:
a) manually arranging students into groups
b) automatically assigning students into groups
c) allowing students to self sign-up into groups
You can easily move students from one group to another (via drag and drop) and set a ‘group leader’ if required.
Note:
• If you choose to allow students to self-sign up, it is a good idea to set a limit to the number of students in each group.
• You can visit the Group Home Page and see student interaction and participation in group activities.
• If you assign a Group Leader to a group, they have the ability to remove, add students to the group and edit the group name.

Canvas Guide: How do I assign a student Group Leader to a group?
More Information: Related Blog Post – Three Things by Dr Neil Anderson
Modules
Once you have finished developing content in your ‘Module Development Area’ you can import it into your ‘live Academic Module’ (i.e. available closer to go-live, where students will be enrolled) by completing the following steps:
- In your live Academic Module, click Settings then click Import Course Content.
- In the Content Type drop down menu, click Copy a Canvas course.
- Search and click on your Module Development Area. (it will have DEVELOP at the start of the title) Click on All content then click Import.
Note: You can click ‘Select specific content’ if you want to select individual items (i.e. a page, a discussion, a quiz etc) and do NOT want to copy over all content.
- The job will be queued under Course copy and should take just a few moments to complete, depending on the amount of course content involved.
- Navigate to different areas of the live Academic Module to confirm the content has been imported and check for any content that requires re-activation / re-insertion (see below).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some settings and content are NOT INCLUDED in the course import and will require RE-ACTIVATION/RE-INSERTION in the module. The links below provide more information on the items that are not included and how to use the course copy/import tool.
Canvas Guide: How do I copy content from another Canvas course using the Course Import tool?
Canvas Guide: What is the Course Import Tool? (includes a list of items that are not included in the course import)
Modules that are available in Canvas, will not be available in the Queen’s Online Virtual Learning Environment (QOL VLE). Previous QOL VLE modules and materials will still be accessible in the QOL VLE.
Modules for AY 2019/20 which are available in Canvas, will not be accessible in the QOL VLE.
Note: Only the ‘Modules/Learning Home’ of Queen’s Online is being replaced by Canvas. All other areas of Queen’s Online, where you can access other online resources and services will remain the same.
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
Student photographs can be accessed in Qsis as per the methods below, depending on the access permissions of the staff member:
Accessing student photos through Academic Self-Service in Qsis
This information can be accessed by Academic staff. A ‘Student Photo Report’ that includes student photos and email addresses can be accessed via the class roster:
To access this report, follow the steps below in Qsis:
a. Click Main Menu then Self-Service
b. Click on Faculty Center then My Schedule
c. To view all components in a class, such as Tutorials (e.g. TT01 etc.) click on ‘view all’ along the top of the table
d. Click on the 3 people icon beside the relevant class/component to access the class roster
e. Click on the yellow button titled ‘Student Photo Report‘
Note: If you require any further support in using the methods above to access Qsis please contact the Qsis Support Team on studentsystemssupport@qub.ac.uk
More information: Qsis Solutions for School administrative staff
More information: Qsis for Academics
More information: Qsis Academic Self-Service Guide
More information: How to email students directly from Qsis
By default, each Canvas Course has 500 MB of storage space.
Limits:
- Files uploaded to Module Files in Files (images, documents, etc.)
- Assignment submission file responses uploaded by instructors (if the instructor uploads a file in response to a student submission) (Note: That Turnitin also has an individual limit on papers of 20MB or 400pages)
- Module pages, discussions, assignments, quizzes built in Canvas
- Module images
How to check your storage limits. Click Settings, click File Storage tab.
Module Storage Quota
For more information, please check out the Canvas guides.
Peer Review
Yes. You can set up peer review assignments for students in Canvas. Students can then leave written and/or audio feedback for their peers.
How do I use peer review assignments in a course? (Canvas Guide)
Profile
In Canvas, there are two areas for names:
- Display Name: Displays in areas where you are collaborating. (e.g.) Discussions, Messages and Comments.
- Full Name: Appears in some areas in Canvas. (e.g.) Gradebook, Chat, EPortfolio and integrated applications such as Office365 or TurnItIn UK.
How to change your Display Name: Submit a ticket via the Help button in Canvas.
How to change your Full Name: If your Full Name has legally changed and needs to be updated in Canvas, you will need to change it in Qsis first. Please contact the QSIS Support Team directly. Once this is complete, it will automatically update in Canvas in 24-48 hours.
Quizzes
If you add questions to a quiz using the ‘New Question Group’ function, then changes in the question bank will be reflected in the quiz.
However, if you add a question using the ‘Find Questions’ function, this creates a copy of the question from the bank in its current form. Any changes to the question in the bank will NOT be reflected in the quiz from that point on.
Canvas Guide: How do I create a quiz with a question group linked to a question bank?
Canvas has a Quizzes feature that can be used for formative assessment. However, until we pilot the use of Canvas Quizzes for summative assessment, we advise that you continue to use your current method. If using Questionmark, you can provide the following link from your Canvas course: https://ondemand.questionmark.eu/home/610094/saml_login
Canvas Guide: How do I create a quiz with individual questions?
Speedgrader
Yes, it is possible to change the settings within the Gradebook or Speedgrader to stop feedback being seen by students before you are ready. In Canvas this managed by the Grade Posting Policy. You can select a default grade posting policy for all course assignments, as shown below:
Posting policies can be set to automatic or manual, see below how they will display in Gradebook.
Anonymous Assignments: If you create an anonymous assignment, Canvas will automatically hide grades and feedback for the assignment.
Non-Anonymised Assignments: If the assignment is not anonymous and you have not set the Course to ‘Manual’ Grade Posting Policy, you will need to select ‘Manual’ grade posting policy for the assignment before you begin marking, as shown below:
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I post grades for an assignment in the New Gradebook?
Canvas Guide: How do I hide or post assignment grades in SpeedGrader?
Note: If you have setup an assignment using the Turnitin Integration in Canvas and are using Turnitin Feedback Studio to mark students’ assignments, you MUST set the ‘Feedback Release Date’ to a date and time that you want your students to receive their grades and feedback. This date will also trigger anonymity to be forced off in Turnitin.
More information: Turnitin within Canvas – Staff Guide
More information: Important Information about Turnitin Assignments within Canvas
Canvas has moved to a new Gradebook. The below information will be updated in due course. For more information please see: The New Canvas Gradebook
‘Comment bank’ functionality is not available in Speedgrader.
However, there are several other options in Speedgrader that can help you provide student feedback in a fast, efficient way. These include:
- colour coded annotations tools (point annotation, highlight annotation, free text annotation, strikeout annotation, free draw annotation & area annotation)
- use of rubrics (including none scoring rubrics)
- grade input box
- overall/general comment box
- file attachment of feedback
- record/upload media (audio or video) feedback
- speech-to-text recording of feedback
Canvas Guide: How do I use Speedgrader?
Canvas Guide: How do I leave feedback comments for student submissions in SpeedGrader?
Storage
What is Mediasite?
Mediasite is a video streaming platform, which is fully supported by Information Services and integrates directly with Canvas. It allows staff to record, upload and share recorded lectures, seminars, events and other video and audio content.
Benefits of using Mediasite in Canvas:
- In Canvas various types of media can be incorporated into your course without taking up ANY of your allotted Canvas storage.
- All content will be fully backed up by QUB.
- All video & audio content plays seamlessly in China and other areas due to content being delivery by the University Janet consortium.
Content can be shared with a large or controlled audience. (like other peers for content control or editing) - Full training is available on regular courses throughout the year.
Accessing Mediasite in Canvas:
Mediasite can be accessed and content embedded into Canvas in the Rich Content Editor. More information: https://blogs.qub.ac.uk/digitallearning/support/system-integrations/mediasite-in-canvas-guide/
Mediasite Training:
A 2hr Mediasite training course runs every two weeks in 92 Lisburn Road and is bookable via iTrent. This course will demonstrate a wide range of Mediasite features including:
- Collaborative online space to create and manage your media
- Editing, publishing and sharing your content
- Managing permissions with your class or external parties
- Adding links and chapters, Including polls or quizzes in your video content
- Tagging your content (for search)
- Online editor
- The use of captioning (subtitling your content)
Note: Mediasite offers this functionality with absolutely no prior knowledge of video editing required.More Information: Mediasite in Canvas Guide
More Information: Mediasite at Queen’s
If you require additional storage on your Canvas module, please contact the Digital Learning Solutions team from the ‘Help’ menu in Canvas.
More Information: What is my module storage allowance in Canvas?
By default, each Canvas Course has 500 MB of storage space.
Limits:
- Files uploaded to Module Files in Files (images, documents, etc.)
- Assignment submission file responses uploaded by instructors (if the instructor uploads a file in response to a student submission) (Note: That Turnitin also has an individual limit on papers of 20MB or 400pages)
- Module pages, discussions, assignments, quizzes built in Canvas
- Module images
How to check your storage limits. Click Settings, click File Storage tab.
Module Storage Quota
For more information, please check out the Canvas guides.