What is Canvas?

Canvas is a learning management system (LMS) that makes it easy for instructors to manage digital materials distribution, assignments and course calendar, communications, grading, and other aspects of instruction for their courses. This service is available at no cost and is supported for use by all faculty and instructors at Cornell University.   

Why use Canvas?

The way you use Canvas for your specific class will depend on the course learning outcomes, what course content you want to make available, and the types of activities you will or may have students do.  View the Learning Technologies Resource Library for helpful resources. Canvas can assist with:

• Course content management (e.g. organize and store digital course materials, post-lecture recordings, etc.)
• Centralized assessment and grading (e.g. creating and grading online quizzes, portfolios, assignments using Canvas Gradebook tools)
• Personalization of student learning experience (e.g. using a variety of features to control the release of the content assigned to sections, groups, and individual students, availability of a student-specific course calendar, and ability to extend Canvas functionality via third-party applications)
• Engaging students in collaborative learning activities aligned with your course learning objectives (e.g. incorporate online discussions, student collaboration tools, or peer review assignments)

Canvas & Other Related Policies 

• Canvas Use & Data Retention Policies
• Canvas Copyright & Academic Integrity
• FERPA, Accessibility, & related Cornell policies 

Getting Started with Canvas

Contact CTI to set up a consultation to learn more about how to incorporate Canvas into teaching and learning.

Workshops

Learn more and register for upcoming Canvas@Cornell workshops and webinars.

Resources

We also have many other resources available in the CTI Learning Technologies Resource Library.