Access Your Canvas Course

Your course uses the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), which requires that you have a UW NetID and password to log in.

If you do not have a UW NetID or cannot remember your ID or password, go to UW-IT’s Get your UW NetID page. You will your Personal Access Code (PAC) to create a UW NetID. If you do not have this information, please contact our Payroll department at ctnmpay@uw.edu.

Login to Canvas

Go to https://canvas.uw.edu.
Select the University of Washington option and click the Login button.
Enter your UW NetID and password.
Click the Sign In button to access your Canvas Dashboard screen.

Access Your Course(s)

Once you successfully login to Canvas, you will view your Dashboard. The Dashboard gives you a quick overview of what is happening in all your courses. Students also have a Dashboard for their courses. To learn more, check out the Canvas Overview video.

To access a specific course, click on the corresponding course card on the Dashboard or:

Click the Courses link on the left-hand Global Navigation menu to view the course list.
Click on the name of the course to access course content.
Click the All Courses link if you do not find a course listed.

TIP: You can customize your course list for favorites to display on your Dashboard.

System Requirements for Canvas

Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android or most devices with a modern browser.

Supported Browsers

Canvas supports the last two versions of every browser release: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and Safari. We highly recommend updating to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Check the current list of Canvas supported browsers.

Mobile

You can access Canvas on most smartphones and tablets, but be aware that some content (like Flash videos) may not display correctly. There is a mobile version of Canvas; go to the Canvas mobile guide for iOS and Android devices.

We tell students they can access their courses on a mobile device, but we RECOMMEND using the computer-based site for submitting discussion posts, online assignments and quizzes to ensure the full course experience.

Required Technical Specifications

Java Plug-In

The Java plug-in enables screen sharing during Conferences in Canvas. Go to the Java download page.

PDF Reader

Some course content includes PDF files, which require Adobe Reader or Apple Preview (Mac only) to view. Go to Adobe’s website to download Adobe Reader. If you are a Mac user, Apple Preview comes pre-installed with the operating system.

Canvas Resources for Instructors

There is a wide range of support materials to help you with Canvas. Visit our Technical Support page for UW PCE Tech Support contact info.

UW PCE

Visit the Technology tab of this website for Canvas technical guides, information on the Self-Paced Canvas Training course, and online workshops.

Canvas Guides by Instructure

Set Up Your Canvas Course in 30 minutes or Less – Five part video series that gets you started with an overview of Canvas, how to build and manage a course, and how to create and manage course content

UW-IT

Face-to-face workshops on the UW campus. Register at Learning Technologies Workshops.
UW-IT Canvas Help for Instructors and Staff.

UW Online Dashboard

Use this dashboard to check the status of UW PCE systems or to test your tech.

Let’s Get Started

Use Canvas to enhance the classroom experience or deliver online courses:

Organize and distribute course material.
Have students submit assignments and take quizzes online.
Use rubrics and SpeedGrader to grade assignments online.
Track student grades and attendance with the Gradebook.

Start of Term Checklist

Course Basics

Build or import course content from another course.
Upload the current syllabus or use the Syllabus tool.
Check content and update if needed.
Check due dates for assignments, quizzes and discussions.
Set up instructor profile and contact information.
Post a welcome announcement.

Course Availability

Online courses and courses with an online section will open seven days before class starts. This is to ensure students can access your course and work out any technical requirements.
For classroom courses, you will publish course material when ready to share with students.
Reorder and hide links in the Course Navigation to disable or hide content from students.
Unpublish content or use the Draft State to hide course content, such as pages, modules, quizzes, grades, etc. Unpublished content is invisible to students.

Add Users to Your Course

Registered students are automatically added to the course.
You can enroll users directly to a Canvas course with a UW NetID if necessary. Before doing so, please review the disclosure of student records/FERPA policy.

End of Term Checklist

Course Wrap Up

Submit grades
- Credit courses: submit grades on GradePage.
- Non-credit courses: submit grades to Registration Services, PO Box 45010, Seattle WA 98145-0010 or FAX the class roster to 206-685-9359.
Download a copy of grades from the Gradebook for your records.
Inventory course content. Do you need to hide anything from students once term ends?
Export course content for future use.
Review UW-IT’s end of term considerations.
Students have access to the course content for one year after the course ends.

Updated 11/10/21