Fayetteville Technical Community College

Canvas Launchpad

A reusable faculty resource for building, checking, and launching an FTCC Canvas course. Browse the workshop-aligned sections, search for a specific task, or look up an unfamiliar Canvas term.

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Workshop companions
/Topic Index

Find exactly what you need

Topic Index

Search formal Canvas terms or common faculty language. Results open the exact related section.

/Troubleshooting

Start with the problem

Canvas Troubleshooting Center

Choose the symptom that sounds most like the problem. Each card identifies likely causes and opens the most useful guide.

Students cannot see an item

A page, file, assignment, quiz, or module is visible to the instructor but not to students.

  • The course, parent module, or item is unpublished.
  • An availability date or prerequisite blocks access.
  • The file has restricted permissions.
  • The item is not in the student learning path.

The grade total looks wrong

Canvas totals do not match the intended course calculation.

  • An item is in the wrong assignment group.
  • Weights do not total 100%.
  • Point values create unintended weighting inside a group.
  • An activity is excluded, unpublished, or ungraded.

Grades were entered but students cannot see them

Scores or comments exist in SpeedGrader but remain hidden.

  • A manual posting policy is active.
  • Grades were posted only to selected students or a section.
  • The student is looking in a different feedback location.
  • The submission was regraded but not reposted.

An assignment is missing from Gradebook

A course activity does not create the expected Gradebook column.

  • The activity is ungraded or set to zero points.
  • The submission type or grading setting is incorrect.
  • The item was created as a Page instead of a graded activity.
  • The activity is in an unintended assignment group.

A module is still locked

Students completed the expected task but cannot enter the next module.

  • The requirement uses the wrong completion condition.
  • The next module points to the wrong prerequisite.
  • The Course Entry Quiz or module is unpublished.
  • The Test Student needs to be reset before retesting.

A file works for the instructor but not students

The instructor can open a document, image, or linked file but students receive an access error.

  • The file is unpublished or restricted.
  • The link points to an older course.
  • The file was replaced but the original link remains.
  • The parent item is blocked by dates or module settings.

A course copy created duplicates or old content

Modules, activities, files, or dates were duplicated or carried over incorrectly.

  • Content was imported more than once.
  • Old dates were not adjusted.
  • Imported items were added to several Canvas areas.
  • Internal links still point to the source course.

A rubric is missing in SpeedGrader

A rubric exists in Canvas but does not appear while grading.

  • The rubric was created but not attached.
  • The wrong rubric was attached.
  • The activity was copied without the expected rubric relationship.
  • Rubric point settings do not match the assignment.

A New Quiz is missing questions or settings

The quiz shell exists, but the Build area, questions, attempts, or feedback are incomplete.

  • Only the assignment shell was configured.
  • Questions remain in an Item Bank but were not added to the quiz.
  • The quiz was copied before Build settings were reviewed.
  • The quiz or parent module is unpublished.

Someone cannot edit an Item Bank

A faculty member can use banked questions but cannot safely edit or manage the source bank.

  • The bank owner did not grant the needed sharing rights.
  • The faculty member has use access but not edit access.
  • The bank is owned outside the current course context.
  • Editing the source bank could affect questions reused elsewhere.

Panopto video will not play

A video is embedded or linked but students cannot view it.

  • The video is in the wrong folder or has restricted sharing.
  • The embed points to a draft or unavailable recording.
  • Captions or processing are incomplete.
  • The instructor tested while signed in with broader access.

Class Collaborate is unavailable

Students cannot find or enter the intended live session.

  • The navigation link is disabled.
  • The session is not open yet or has ended.
  • Guest or course-member access was configured incorrectly.
  • The meeting link was shared outside the intended Canvas path.

/Glossary

Plain language

Canvas Glossary

Brief definitions, related terms, and links to the relevant site section.

/Resources

Verified public sources

Guided Resources

Primary public sources selected for accuracy and maintainability. FTCC-specific resources remain clearly distinguished.

FTCC-created resources

Printable faculty resource pack

Download the complete PDF resource pack

Choose a resource collection

Each collection points to the primary resources for a common faculty task. The complete downloadable library remains below.

Complete downloadable library

Open a black-and-white PDF to print immediately, save the PDF for later, or download the editable Word version.

Printable 01

FTCC Course Kickstart Checklist

Required navigation, Simple Syllabus, course settings, grading setup, census activity, and the initial Student View check.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX

Printable 02

Student Starting Point Map

A clear path from the course Home page through the Welcome module, Simple Syllabus, Course Entry Quiz, and Module 1.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX

Printable 04

Canvas Dates Decoder

Distinguishes due dates, availability dates, until dates, module unlock dates, course dates, and section dates.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX

Printable 07

FTCC Course Readiness Review

The reusable final course-launch review for navigation, starting structure, modules, grading, links, tools, and Student View.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX
Angela-created Guidde walkthroughs addedFour Angela-created video walkthroughs and six new click-path printables are now connected to the exact sections and topics they support: Course Navigation, Welcome Module setup, Course Entry Quiz module creation, and Module Locking.

Guidde Walkthrough

Module Locking Setup

Shows faculty how to configure the module access sequence and locking setup.

Rubrics Made Easy printables updatedTwo one-page references support the Canvas Rubric Builder workflow: a SpeedGrader rubric checklist and a Canvas rubric settings decision guide. Both updated July 2026 with observable completion evidence and a final verification checklist.

Printable

SpeedGrader Rubric Checklist

A one-page workflow checklist for selecting ratings, entering comments, saving the assessment, and verifying the assignment grade in SpeedGrader.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX

Printable

Canvas Rubric Settings Decision Guide

A one-page configuration aid for choosing rubric settings: assignment grading, removing points, hiding the score total, free-form comments, and student self-assessment.

The PDF is formatted in black and white for reliable campus or home printing. The DOCX is editable.

Download PDFDownload DOCX
ResourceSourceUse
Canvas
Canvas Instructor Guide (external)InstructurePrimary official reference for Canvas instructor procedures.
Canvas Basics Guide (external)InstructureOfficial overview of Canvas concepts, access, browsers, and core features.
Canvas Student Guide (external)InstructureUseful for checking what students are expected to see and do.
New Quizzes Overview (external)InstructureOfficial overview of the New Quizzes workflow.
Validate links in a course (external)InstructureOfficial steps for running the Canvas Link Validator.
Canvas Accessibility Resources (external)InstructureOfficial accessibility guidance and product resources.
Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (external)W3CAuthoritative accessibility standards and explanations.
UDL Guidelines 3.0 (external)CASTFramework for designing courses accessible to all learners. Current version released 2024.
WebAIM Resources (external)WebAIMPractical accessibility checklists, guides, and evaluation tools for web content and Canvas pages.
WAVE Accessibility Evaluation Tool (external)WebAIMBrowser-based tool for identifying accessibility issues in web pages and Canvas content.
Online Course Quality
OSCQR Online Course Quality Review (external)SUNY OnlineFree, openly licensed rubric with 50 standards across 6 categories for evaluating online course design.
Quality Matters QA Resources (external)Quality MattersResearch-based course design standards, free articles, and guides for higher education instructors.
Panopto
Panopto Support Center (external)PanoptoOfficial support resources for Panopto recording, sharing, and troubleshooting questions.
/Build Audit

Build status

Coverage Audit and Source Map

This audit maps the workshop checklist, FTCC-created printables, Guidde walkthroughs, official Canvas resources, and remaining institution-specific confirmation needs.

Current coverage status: The standing resource now includes all twelve primary sections (course launch plus the Beyond Multiple Choice and Rubrics Made Easy workshops), 31 downloadable workshop resources (including three new faculty workshop references), four Angela-created Guidde walkthroughs, two interactive decision-guide choosers, a searchable Topic Index, a glossary, curated resource collections, and a troubleshooting center. Rubrics Made Easy companion and printables updated July 2026 with measurable objectives, a settings decision helper, a points checker, and revised SpeedGrader verification language. Remaining gaps are limited primarily to institution-controlled procedures or contacts that should not be invented.
12primary content sections
75topic-index entries
34glossary definitions

Controlling FTCC content included

  • Required navigation order
  • Simple Syllabus placement
  • FTCC banner
  • Welcome module and instructor content
  • Course Entry Quiz module and Commons resource
  • Standard eight-module organization
  • Assignment groups and weights
  • Course Entry Quiz prerequisite or unlock setup
  • NetTutor language for 100% online courses
  • Final Student View and Link Validator checks

Hard constraints applied

  • New Quizzes only
  • No Classic Quizzes procedures or glossary comparison
  • No Canvas-integrated AI features
  • No invented support contacts or local procedures
  • FTCC-specific gaps marked as pending rather than guessed

Still needed from FTCC

  • Exact FTCC Canvas login instructions, if more detail than “from the FTCC website” is desired
  • Approved support contacts by tool
  • Direct Simple Syllabus local instructions
  • Approved census-activity procedure
  • Approved Course Entry Quiz Commons directions
  • Any local Panopto, Class Collaborate, LockDown Browser, publisher-tool, and NetTutor procedures

Public source strategy

  • Use official Instructure guides as the primary Canvas procedure source.
  • Use W3C for accessibility standards.
  • Add established college or university tutorials only when they clarify a task not adequately covered by the official guide.
  • Limit each topic to one primary resource and only meaningful secondary resources.
Getting Started in Canvas

Section 1 of 11

Getting Started in Canvas

Confirm that you are in the correct course and understand whether it is a live, sandbox, or development space before editing.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Access Canvas from the FTCC website and log in.
  • Use a supported browser and create a bookmark.
  • Work safely with multiple tabs and save changes.
  • Recognize common editing mistakes and recovery options.
  • Distinguish live, sandbox, and development courses.
  • Distinguish published and unpublished courses, modules, and items.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Access Canvas from the FTCC website and log in.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Open Canvas from the FTCC website.
  • Confirm the course name and term before making changes.
  • Use a current version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge supported by Canvas.
  • Bookmark the FTCC Canvas login page rather than a page inside a specific course.
  • Save before closing an editor or moving to another page.
Guided Resources

Primary resources

Canvas Instructor Guide (external)
Instructure. Search the official guide for the exact feature named in this section.

Local video walkthrough: no Angela-created Guidde has been assigned to this topic yet.

Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Open Canvas from the FTCC website.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Open the course in a second tab and confirm both tabs show the same course name.
  • Publish and unpublish a practice item in a sandbox or development course.
  • Return to Student View to confirm the visibility change.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • Editing the wrong course or term.
  • Closing a tab before saving.
  • Assuming an unpublished item is visible because the instructor can open it.
  • Using an outdated browser or a browser with interfering extensions.
Canvas Tour and Student View

Section 2 of 11

Canvas Tour and Student View

Use Student View as a routine verification step, not only as a final check.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Locate Home, Announcements, Simple Syllabus, Modules, Grades, Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Files, Inbox, SpeedGrader, and Settings.
  • Identify where Canvas items are created, stored, and displayed.
  • Open Student View and verify what students can currently see.
  • Recognize how unpublished modules or items affect access.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Locate Home, Announcements, Simple Syllabus, Modules, Grades, Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Files, Inbox, SpeedGrader, and Settings.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Use Course Navigation to move between course areas.
  • Remember that an item can live in Pages, Assignments, Discussions, New Quizzes, or Files and also appear inside a Module.
  • Open Settings, then Student View, to inspect the course as a test student.
  • Check the Home page, Modules, first required action, and links.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Use Course Navigation to move between course areas.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Enter Student View.
  • Locate the first place students should begin.
  • Open the first module and one required item.
  • Leave Student View and correct any visibility or navigation issue.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • The module is published but a required item inside it is not.
  • The item is published but its parent module is not.
  • A link works for the instructor but not for students because of permissions.
  • Student View data is mistaken for a real student submission.
Course Kickstart: Settings, Navigation, and Required FTCC Setup

Section 3 of 11

Course Kickstart: Settings, Navigation, and Required FTCC Setup

Complete the required FTCC setup before building additional content so students encounter a consistent starting structure.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Review course details, start/end dates, visibility, and participation settings.
  • Place navigation in the required order: Home, Announcements, Simple Syllabus, Modules, Grades.
  • Enable only tools used: Panopto, Class Collaborate, LockDown Browser, approved third-party tools, and NetTutor for 100% online courses.
  • Disable unused links, including the Canvas Syllabus link.
  • Apply the approved FTCC Canvas template banner.
  • Set the grading schema to match the syllabus grade scale.
  • Create assignment groups and weights that match the syllabus.
  • Review late and missing policies when used.
  • Set up the required census activity and verify in Student View.
  • Set up Simple Syllabus and confirm student access.
  • Review copied/imported content for duplicate or outdated items.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Place navigation in the required order: Home, Announcements, Simple Syllabus, Modules, Grades.
  • Enable only tools used: Panopto, Class Collaborate, LockDown Browser, approved third-party tools, and NetTutor for 100% online courses.
  • Apply the approved FTCC Canvas template banner.
  • Create assignment groups and weights that match the syllabus.
  • Set up the required census activity and verify in Student View.
  • Set up Simple Syllabus and confirm student access.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Open Settings and review Course Details.
  • Open Navigation and arrange the required links in this order: Home, Announcements, Simple Syllabus, Modules, Grades.
  • Disable the Canvas Syllabus link and other unused navigation links.
  • Enable only tools actually used in the course.
  • Confirm the FTCC banner and Simple Syllabus access.
  • Match the grading scheme, assignment groups, and weights to the approved syllabus.
  • Inspect imported content for duplicates, old dates, and obsolete links.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Open Settings and review Course Details.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Use Student View to verify the navigation order and Simple Syllabus access.
  • Open Grades and confirm the assignment-group weights match the syllabus.
  • Verify the required census activity appears and is available as intended.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • Confusing the Canvas Syllabus link with Simple Syllabus.
  • Weights total more or less than 100%.
  • Imported content retains old dates or duplicate modules.
  • A required navigation item is enabled but placed below unused tools.
Student Starting Point and Course Entry

Section 4 of 11

Student Starting Point and Course Entry

Give students one unmistakable starting point that connects the Home page, Welcome module, syllabus, Course Entry Quiz, and first instructional task.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Move “Welcome! Your Journey Begins Here!” to the top of Modules.
  • Select and edit the course Home page.
  • Edit the “Hello!” instructor welcome message.
  • Edit “About Your Instructor” and add a photo and/or introductory video.
  • Include an introductory video when required for a 100% online course.
  • Provide Start Here directions, syllabus access, materials, technology requirements, support, and the first required action.
  • Create a module titled “Course Entry Quiz.”
  • Add the FTCC-approved Course Entry Quiz from Canvas Commons.
  • Create or schedule the opening announcement.
  • Verify that students have one clear place to begin.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Edit “About Your Instructor” and add a photo and/or introductory video.
  • Include an introductory video when required for a 100% online course.
  • Provide Start Here directions, syllabus access, materials, technology requirements, support, and the first required action.
  • Create a module titled “Course Entry Quiz.”
  • Add the FTCC-approved Course Entry Quiz from Canvas Commons.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Move the required Welcome module to the top of Modules.
  • Select the intended course Home page and update the welcome content.
  • Update About Your Instructor with current information and media as required.
  • Create the Course Entry Quiz module and add the approved FTCC resource from Commons.
  • Write the opening announcement with where to begin, the first action, and the most important date.
Guided Resources

Primary resources

Canvas Instructor Guide (external)
Instructure. Search the official guide for the exact feature named in this section.

Setting up the “Welcome” Module (external)
Guidde tutorial created by Angela Westmoreland, M.Ed. Use this while preparing “Welcome! Your Journey Begins Here!”

Creating the Module for the Course Entry Quiz (external)
Guidde tutorial created by Angela Westmoreland, M.Ed. Use this while creating the required Course Entry Quiz module.

Printable guide: Open / print Course Entry Quiz Commons Import · Editable DOCX
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Move the required Welcome module to the top of Modules.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Enter Student View from the Home page.
  • Follow only the directions visible to students.
  • Complete the path from the Home page to the Course Entry Quiz.
  • Confirm there are no competing starting points.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • The Home page and Modules give conflicting directions.
  • The Course Entry Quiz exists but is not in the required module.
  • The welcome page is current but the announcement contains old dates.
  • A video is added without captions or a text alternative.
Modules, Files, and Student Experience

Section 5 of 11

Modules, Files, and Student Experience

Use Modules as the student-facing learning path while keeping Pages, Assignments, Discussions, New Quizzes, and Files organized in their source areas.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Organize eight instructional modules when using the standard FTCC structure.
  • Include a module overview with introduction, MLOs, and assignment summary.
  • Include learning content, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and a module wrap-up.
  • Use clear module names, logical order, and consistent item naming.
  • Use dates in titles only when they improve clarity.
  • Set requirements, prerequisites, availability dates, and locks intentionally.
  • Set Modules 1–8 to unlock after the Course Entry Quiz module is completed when required.
  • Publish both the module and each required item.
  • Organize files, verify permissions, remove duplicates, and check links.
  • Know the difference between removing from a module and deleting from the course.
  • Test the first module in Student View.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Organize eight instructional modules when using the standard FTCC structure.
  • Set Modules 1–8 to unlock after the Course Entry Quiz module is completed when required.
  • Publish both the module and each required item.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Build the standard eight-module structure when it applies.
  • Give each module an overview, learning content, activities or assessments, and a wrap-up.
  • Use requirements to define completion and prerequisites to control sequence.
  • Check unlock dates and item availability dates together.
  • Publish the parent module and every item students must access.
  • Organize files with clear names and verify student permissions.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Build the standard eight-module structure when it applies.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Run through Module 1 in Student View using Next and Previous.
  • Open every required file and link.
  • Confirm the Course Entry Quiz completion rule unlocks instructional modules when required.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • Removing an item from a module does not delete it from the course.
  • A published module can contain unpublished items.
  • A prerequisite points to the wrong module.
  • Files are linked but remain restricted to students.
Creating and Editing Canvas Content

Section 6 of 11

Creating and Editing Canvas Content

Create clear, accessible Canvas pages that explain what students will do and connect content to the correct learning path.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Create or revise a page in the Rich Content Editor.
  • Use headings, concise text, and readable formatting.
  • Add meaningful internal and external links.
  • Add images with alternative text.
  • Add files from Canvas Files or a device and verify access.
  • Use tables only when needed and keep them readable.
  • Check color contrast and use the Canvas Accessibility Checker.
  • Use the 5 Ws: What, Why, Where, When, Who.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

No additional FTCC-specific requirement is stated for this section beyond the workshop checklist. Follow local directions provided during training.

Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Use built-in heading styles rather than bold text as a substitute for headings.
  • Write descriptive link text that explains the destination.
  • Add alternative text that communicates an image’s purpose, or mark decorative images appropriately.
  • Use tables only for true row-and-column data and identify headers.
  • Run the Canvas Accessibility Checker before publishing.
  • Apply the 5 Ws to confirm purpose, placement, timing, audience, and action.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Use built-in heading styles rather than bold text as a substitute for headings.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Use the Accessibility Checker.
  • Navigate the page by headings.
  • Test every link and file in Student View.
  • Check the page at a narrow browser width.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • Pasting formatting from Word creates inconsistent styles.
  • Links use vague text such as “click here.”
  • Images have filenames instead of useful alternative text.
  • A table is used for visual layout rather than data.
Assignments, Discussions, New Quizzes, and Rubrics

Section 7 of 11

Assignments, Discussions, New Quizzes, and Rubrics

Build activities around the student action and verify both the setup and the student experience. FTCC uses New Quizzes only.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Choose the correct Canvas element for the activity.
  • Write a descriptive title and clear student instructions.
  • Set points, group, grading method, submission type, and attempts.
  • Set due and availability dates correctly.
  • Add and review a rubric when used.
  • Place the item in the correct module and publish it.
  • Review New Quizzes settings, question types, question titles, and item-bank choices.
  • Use discussion groups or peer review only when intended.
  • Preview or test the item in Student View.
  • Locate it in SpeedGrader and review feedback options.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

No additional FTCC-specific requirement is stated for this section beyond the workshop checklist. Follow local directions provided during training.

Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Choose Page, Assignment, Discussion, or New Quiz according to what students must do.
  • Write instructions that state the task, submission method, grading basis, dates, and help path.
  • Set the assignment group before relying on weighted grades.
  • Use due dates for expected completion and availability dates for access windows.
  • Attach and review rubrics before students submit.
  • For New Quizzes, review the Build area, settings, question titles, question types, feedback, and item-bank decisions.
Guided Resources

Primary resources

Canvas Instructor Guide (external)
Instructure. Search the official guide for the exact feature named in this section.

New Quizzes Overview (external)
Instructure. Official overview for New Quizzes.

Local video walkthrough: no Angela-created Guidde has been assigned to this topic yet.

Core-skill printables: New Quizzes: Shell, Build, Preview, Publish · New Quizzes Item Banks: Benefits, Tradeoffs, and Editing Rights · Canvas Rubrics: Create, Attach, and Use · Assign To and Differentiated Dates · Discussions, Announcements, and Inbox
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Choose Page, Assignment, Discussion, or New Quiz according to what students must do.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Preview the activity in Student View.
  • Submit a test response where appropriate.
  • Open SpeedGrader and verify the rubric and feedback tools.
  • Confirm the item appears in the intended module and gradebook group.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • A due date is mistaken for an access-closing date.
  • The rubric is created but not attached.
  • A New Quiz is published before its Build settings are reviewed.
  • The item is published but absent from the student learning path.
Communication and Grading

Section 8 of 11

Communication and Grading

Use course-wide announcements for shared information, Inbox for targeted communication, and SpeedGrader for submission-specific feedback.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Create or revise the opening announcement.
  • Use Announcements and Inbox appropriately.
  • Review messages, notification expectations, and contact information.
  • Use SpeedGrader to review, grade, and provide feedback.
  • Review missing/late indicators and student grade visibility.
  • Check the student Grades view.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

No additional FTCC-specific requirement is stated for this section beyond the workshop checklist. Follow local directions provided during training.

Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Use an opening announcement to welcome students, name where to begin, identify the first action, and provide the key date and support path.
  • Use Inbox for individuals or selected course groups.
  • Review the grade posting policy before grading.
  • Use SpeedGrader comments, annotations, rubrics, and scores intentionally.
  • Check missing and late policies before applying them to active courses.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Use an opening announcement to welcome students, name where to begin, identify the first action, and provide the key date and support path.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Open the student Grades view in Student View.
  • Confirm released grades and feedback appear as intended.
  • Review one assignment in SpeedGrader and verify its rubric, comments, and status.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • A grade is entered but hidden by the posting policy.
  • An announcement assumes students have enabled immediate notifications.
  • Missing and late policies are applied without checking exceptions.
  • Feedback is placed somewhere students do not know to look.
Canvas-Connected Technology

Section 9 of 11

Canvas-Connected Technology

Include only approved, necessary tools and make the student access path, login requirements, costs, privacy considerations, and support route clear.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Locate and test Panopto and supported synchronous tools.
  • Review LockDown Browser, publisher systems, and approved third-party tools when used.
  • Verify where students access each tool and whether login or cost is required.
  • Test internal and external links.
  • Identify the correct support contact for each tool.
  • Vet external resources before adding them.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Verify where students access each tool and whether login or cost is required.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Enable only tools used in the course.
  • Place each tool where students will actually access it.
  • State whether a separate account, purchase, access code, download, or device is required.
  • Test links and launch behavior in Student View when possible.
  • Record the appropriate support contact for Canvas, the vendor, or the institution.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Enable only tools used in the course.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Launch each required tool from the same location students will use.
  • Check mobile and narrow-screen behavior when relevant.
  • Confirm the first-use directions explain login, cost, and support.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • A tool link appears in navigation but is never explained.
  • The instructor can launch the tool but students cannot.
  • Costs or access codes are disclosed too late.
  • An external resource is added without accessibility or privacy review.
Course Readiness Review and Follow-Up

Section 10 of 11

Course Readiness Review and Follow-Up

Finish with a student-centered launch review and a written follow-up plan for anything that remains unresolved.

Checklist

Workshop checklist

  • Verify required navigation order and hide unused links.
  • Verify the FTCC banner, Welcome module, Home page, instructor information, Simple Syllabus, and Course Entry Quiz.
  • Verify course dates, visibility, grading schema, groups, and weights.
  • Verify the first module is organized, published, accessible, and ready.
  • Verify at least one activity is correctly configured and available.
  • Verify required files, links, and external tools work for students.
  • Run the Canvas Link Validator and review or correct reported issues.
  • Complete a final Student View review.
  • Document unresolved issues, priorities, and support needed.
  • Identify the next action, support contact, and target completion date.
FTCC Required

Verified FTCC requirements

  • Verify required navigation order and hide unused links.
  • Verify the FTCC banner, Welcome module, Home page, instructor information, Simple Syllabus, and Course Entry Quiz.
  • Verify course dates, visibility, grading schema, groups, and weights.
  • Verify required files, links, and external tools work for students.
Canvas How-To

How to do it

  • Run Validate Links in Content from Course Settings.
  • Complete a final Student View path from Home through the first required task.
  • Check navigation, dates, visibility, grading, modules, files, and external tools.
  • Document issues with the course, what was tried, the desired outcome, urgency, and next support contact.
Try It in Your Course

Complete one useful action

Run Validate Links in Content from Course Settings.

Verify

Confirm it works

  • Confirm students can enter the course and know where to begin.
  • Confirm required elements are published and accessible.
  • Confirm dates and grade settings match the syllabus.
  • Confirm the first instructional module is ready.
Common Problems

Watch for these issues

  • Link Validator results are ignored without review.
  • The instructor checks individual items but not the complete student path.
  • Old imported dates remain hidden in assignments.
  • Unresolved issues are remembered but not documented.
Beyond Multiple Choice: Advanced Quiz Question Types

Section 11 of 12 · New Quizzes

Beyond Multiple Choice: Advanced Quiz Question Types

Start with the evidence students need to demonstrate, then choose the New Quizzes format that captures it. Multiple Choice remains useful — it is one option, not the default.

Facilitating the live Build Lab? Use the separate Beyond Multiple Choice: Workshop Companion — it follows the session’s own minute-by-minute pacing and includes a 12-minute build timer. This section is the standing reference to search and revisit afterward.
Decision Guide

What do students need to demonstrate?

Use this as a decision aid, not an absolute rule. Choose the option closest to the task — the matching format is highlighted below.

Hot Spot

Use when students need to locate or identify

Example prompt: Select the area of the image where the safety issue appears.

  • Works well for images, diagrams, maps, screens, and equipment.
  • Use clear target areas, not tiny labels.
  • Provide accessible alternatives for image-based tasks.
Ordering

Use when students need to arrange or sequence

Example prompt: Arrange the troubleshooting steps in the recommended order.

  • Use Ordering only when one defensible sequence exists.
  • Good fit: computer support, health sciences, business processes, history timelines.
Categorization

Use when students need to sort or classify

Example prompt: Sort each source into the correct category (Primary source / Secondary source / Popular source).

  • Keep categories clear and non-overlapping.
Stimulus

Use shared context for interpretation or application

Example: A nursing scenario with vitals (BP 88/52, Pulse 112, skin cool, alert and anxious), followed by connected questions: What finding is most concerning? Which action should happen first? What additional data would help?

  • Stimulus is not another response format. It is shared context that can support multiple connected questions.
  • Keep Stimulus content concise and organized.
Multiple Choice

Select the best answer from plausible options

Multiple Choice is still useful when the target is selecting the best answer from plausible options. When the task is to locate, sequence, sort, or interpret context, another format may show more. Ask: what would a strong student actually do or produce?

Guided Question Makeover

See the difference: financial aid appeal example

Objective

Students will sequence the major steps in submitting a financial aid appeal.

Weak Multiple Choice question

Which step comes first in the financial aid appeal process?

  • Submit documentation
  • Receive decision
  • Review appeal requirements
  • Meet with advisor

Improved format: Ordering

  1. Review appeal requirements
  2. Meet with advisor
  3. Submit documentation
  4. Receive decision

Teaching point: the original checks only the first step. Ordering checks the complete process.

Canvas How-To

Build directions

  • Open or create a New Quiz.
  • Add the question format you selected.
  • Enter the stem and student directions.
  • Configure the correct answer and points.
  • Add feedback when useful.
  • Preview as a student before publishing.
Minimum Requirements

Build checklist

Student Preview and Quality Check

Ask before publishing

Preview before publishing. The student view often reveals friction the editor view hides.

Accessibility

Practical checks while building

  • Do not rely on color alone.
  • Use readable text and strong contrast.
  • Add meaningful alt text or accessible alternatives for images.
  • Avoid tiny labels and crowded diagrams.
  • Keep Stimulus content concise and organized.
  • Preview the student experience.
  • Consider barriers in drag-and-drop interactions, especially for Hot Spot, Ordering, and Categorization.

Integrated, not extra. Accessibility is part of question quality.

Before You Leave

Name one quiz question you will revise

Start with evidence of learning, then pick the format.

Follow-up challenge

  • Revise one existing Multiple Choice item when another format captures better evidence.
  • Preview it as a student before assigning it.
Rubrics Made Easy: Canvas Rubric Builder Workflow

Section 12 of 12 · Canvas Rubrics

Rubrics Made Easy: Canvas Rubric Builder Workflow

This section covers the Canvas tool workflow only — where the rubric options are, what they control, how a rubric connects to activities, and what instructors and students see. It does not cover writing rubric content, alignment, or grading philosophy.

Facilitating the live Build Lab? Use the separate Rubrics Made Easy: Workshop Companion — it follows the session’s own minute-by-minute pacing and includes an 8-minute build timer. Share the Rubrics Made Easy Reference with participants as a standalone take-home. This section is the standing reference embedded in the Launchpad.
Measurable Objectives

What faculty will be able to do

  1. Construct a Canvas rubric with at least two criteria, two ratings per criterion, and an intentional points, range, scale, or no-points configuration.
  2. Configure available rubric settings that control grading behavior, score display, comments, and student interaction.
  3. Attach a rubric to a Canvas assignment and locate the rubric workflow for a graded discussion.
  4. Complete and revise a rubric assessment in SpeedGrader by selecting ratings, entering criterion-level feedback, saving, and verifying the assignment grade.
  5. Preview and verify the rubric from the student perspective, including self-evaluation when that feature is enabled.
  6. Test and document one complete rubric workflow from construction through student-facing feedback.
Canvas How-To

Canvas rubric workflow

A rubric is not finished when the content is entered. Settings and connections determine what Canvas does next. Feature labels and available controls may differ by Canvas rubric interface, account setting, or feature option.

  1. Create or find
  2. Add criteria and ratings
  3. Choose points, range, or scale
  4. Select settings
  5. Connect to activity
  6. Preview student interaction
  7. Grade and verify
Canvas elementWhat it controls
Rubric titleIdentifies the rubric when searching, reusing, or attaching it.
CriterionCreates one row of assessment information.
RatingsProvides selectable choices for a criterion.
Points or rangesControls the score associated with a rating or criterion.
Criterion commentsProvides feedback tied to one criterion during grading.
SettingsControls grading, score display, comments, and student interaction.
Decision Guide

Rubric settings decision guide

Use as a decision aid, not an absolute rule. Confirm exact labels and behavior in your current Canvas environment.

Use for assignment grading

Choose when

Select when rubric selections should calculate or support the assignment grade.

Verify

Check rubric total, assignment points, and the SpeedGrader grade field.

Remove points from rubric

Choose when

Select when the rubric is for descriptive feedback without a rubric total.

Verify

Check where the assignment grade will be entered and what students see.

Hide score total

Choose when

Select when criterion-level feedback should appear without emphasizing a total.

Verify

Check whether the assignment grade remains visible elsewhere.

Free-form comments

Choose when

Select when graders need flexible criterion-specific feedback.

Verify

Check whether the grading workflow stays efficient and whether preset ratings behave differently.

Student self-assessment

Choose when

Use only when the feature is enabled in the institution’s current Canvas environment.

Verify

Verify when students can assess, what instructors can review, and whether the self-assessment affects the official grade.

Printable guide: Open / print Canvas Rubric Settings Decision Guide · Editable DOCX
Canvas How-To

Points, ranges, or scale

Points

Set point values for each rating. Example: Complete 5, Developing 3, Not Demonstrated 0. Common when a rubric should support grading.

Point ranges

Use a permitted range inside a rating when available. Example: Complete 4–5, Developing 2–3, Not Demonstrated 0–1. Test the result in SpeedGrader.

Rating scale

Use scale-based configuration when supported. Verify what the instructor selects and what Canvas records and displays to students.

Do not assume points, ranges, and scales behave identically. Test the selected configuration in SpeedGrader and Student View.

Canvas How-To

Create new or find existing, then connect

Create a new rubric

  1. Open the rubric tool
  2. Enter a title
  3. Add criteria and ratings
  4. Configure points, ranges, or scale
  5. Select settings
  6. Save

Find or reuse a rubric

  1. Open the rubric connection option
  2. Search or browse available rubrics
  3. Confirm correct rubric was selected
  4. Review settings
  5. Check whether editing may affect other uses

Connect: Assignment

Connect: Graded Discussion

A saved rubric is not necessarily attached to an activity. Verify the connection before grading. A rubric can be connected to a discussion only after it is configured as graded.

SpeedGrader Workflow

Grade with the rubric, then verify the grade

Printable guide: Open / print SpeedGrader Rubric Checklist · Editable DOCX

Rubric score versus assignment grade

Example A

Matching points

  • Assignment: 20
  • Rubric: 20
  • Use for grading selected
  • Verify grade field
Example B

Different totals

  • Assignment: 100
  • Rubric: 20
  • Verify Canvas result
Example C

Scale or no points

  • Level or feedback recorded
  • Grade may require separate action

The rubric result and assignment grade are related, but they are not automatically interchangeable in every configuration. Always test the full workflow.

Student View

Student view and self-evaluation

Before submission

  • Open attached rubric
  • Review criteria and ratings
  • Use as a pre-submission check
  • Complete self-assessment when enabled

Self-evaluation

  • Enable only when supported
  • Student completes rubric self-assessment
  • Instructor reviews in SpeedGrader
  • Check grade impact and visibility

After grading

  • Ratings may appear
  • Criterion comments
  • Score or scale result
  • Assignment grade
  • Comparison when available

Do not confuse viewing a rubric with completing a native Canvas self-assessment. Demonstrate only functionality confirmed locally.

Independent Build

Build checklist

Quality Check

Preview, verify & commit

Before You Leave

Name one rubric workflow you will test

Before using this rubric with students, test the complete instructor-to-student workflow: Construct → Configure → Connect → Preview → Grade → Verify.