Getting Started with Canvas (Students)

Table of Contents

• Getting Started Overview
• Accessing Canvas 
• Finding your Courses
• Canvas Functionality
• Announcements 
• Assignments 
• Calendar 
• Course Navigation 
• Discussions  
• Global Navigation 
• Mobile Apps 
• Passport to Canvas 
• Profile and User Settings 

Getting Started Overview

We've compiled a carefully curated list of links to assist in helping you get started. Review the list below and explore additional topics using the Canvas Student Guide. 

Login to canvas.ohio.edu to access your Canvas courses.

Note: There is a green Global Navigation Menu to access Canvas tools and a white Course Navigation Menu to access content and tools specific to your course. 

Access your profile and user settings to add a profile picture, update your pronouns and more. You can also download the Canvas student mobile app for access on the go. 

If you need additional help: 

• Live chat with Canvas support (Students) 
• Call Canvas for 24-hour/7-days a week support 
  • Dial OIT at 740-593-1222
  • Contact Canvas Support directly by dialing the Canvas Support Hotline number, located in Canvas under "Get Help" in the Global Navigation Menu. 
• Watch the Getting Help in Canvas short video to understand the various ways students can quickly get Canvas help

Accessing Canvas 

• Log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu 

Finding your Courses

Over the next several semesters, Canvas will be replacing Blackboard as OHIO's preferred learning management system (LMS). To foster a positive student experience, colleges are transitioning to Canvas in phases. You may have some courses using Blackboard, while other courses use Canvas or a different technology. 

To find where your courses will be taught: 

1. Log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu. Look for your courses on your Dashboard page or in the "Courses" tab in the left navigation menu.

2. If you do not see your course, log in to Blackboard at blackboard.ohio.edu. Navigate to your "Courses" tab in the left navigation menu. Blackboard will populate every course you’re currently enrolled in but the courses will appear locked until your instructor makes them available to you.  

   1. If the courses are locked, select “More Info” to see if your instructor provided additional information about which tools your course will be using. 

   2. If the courses are open, you’ll likely be using Blackboard. 

   • Tip: Both Canvas and Blackboard can be accessed via the Go OHIO app. 

3. If you’re unsure which platform your course will use, please email your instructor. They can tell you where the course is being taught and when it will become available.  

Canvas Functionality

Calendar 

• How do I use the Calendar as a student? 

Announcements  

• How do I view Announcements as a student? 

Assignments 

• View help articles about assignments
• Using Third-Party Integrations in Canvas (Publisher Content and Add-on Tools)

Course Navigation 

• How do I use the Course Home Page as a student? 
• How do I use the Course Activity Stream as a student? 

Discussions  

• View help articles about discussions

Global Navigation 

• How do I use the Global Navigation Menu? 
• How do I use the Dashboard? 
• How do I view the Global Announcements page? 
• How do I use the To Do list and sidebar in the Dashboard? 
• How do I view grades in the Dashboard? 
• How do I view all my Canvas courses? 
• How do I customize my Courses list? 

Mobile Apps 

The Canvas mobile app provides access to Canvas on the go. Depending on your device, not all Canvas features may be available on the app at this time. View Canvas Student mobile features by version and device. 

Android 

• How do I download the Canvas Student app on my Android device  
• Use the Canvas Student Android Guide to find answers to frequently asked Android app questions 

Apple 

• How do I download the Canvas Student app on my iOS device 
• Use the Canvas Student iOS Guide to find answers to frequently asked iOS questions 

Passport to Canvas 

• Enrolling in Passport to Canvas 

Profile and User Settings 

• How do I edit my profile in my user account as a student? 
• How do I add a profile picture in my user account as a student? 
• How do I select personal pronouns in my user account as a student? 
• How do I manage my Canvas notification settings as a student? 
• How do I enable the high-contrast user interface as a student? 
• What should I do if I need to change how my name appears in Canvas?
  • Canvas displays your legal name unless you have set a preferred name in the MyOHIO Student Center. The Office of the Registrar's Update My Personal Information page includes guidance on how to update your legal name, as well as setting your preferred name. Please note that if you are experiencing an online proctoring (ProctorTrack) issue due to a conflict between your legal and preferred names, you may NOT have to change your display name to reflect your state ID. See our NOTE under the "Preparing for an Exam" section of the Getting Started with Proctortrack (Students) article for guidance on resolving conflicting names with your instructor.

Get Help from Canvas

• Live chat with Canvas support (Students)
•  Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support
  • Dial the Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation Menu
• Contact OIT at 740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.)

Get Help from OIT

• Use the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) ticket form to submit a help ticket
• Enroll in the Passport to Canvas student training course

Additional Resources

• Canvas Basics Guide 
• Canvas Student Video Guide 
• Mobile Guides 
• Canvas Accessibility Standards
• Canvas LMS Implementation updates