Documentation:Student Toolkit/Canvas

Check out the UBC Student Canvas Guide. It's a great place to get started.

How can I access Canvas?

To access Canvas, please visit canvas.ubc.ca and enter your CWL.

If you need to retrieve your CWL username or reset your password, please visit myaccount.ubc.ca/myAccount

Why aren’t my classes showing up in Canvas?

There are a few possible reasons why your course may not be showing up in Canvas:

1. Not all in-person UBC courses are associated with an online course. You may wish to check with your instructor to see whether they have created a Canvas course.
2. Between September 2017 and September 2018, some courses will be offered in Canvas and other courses will be in Connect. You can check with your instructor to learn whether your course is in Canvas or you can check the Canvas course list. If your course is not on the list, please check for it in Connect.
3. Courses are made available in Canvas only after they have been published by the course instructor. Your instructor may choose to publish your Canvas course after the first day of class.
4. If you have “starred” or “favourited” a course, your other courses may not appear in your Canvas Dashboard until you “star” those courses as well. To view all your Canvas courses, please select “courses” in the left-hand navigation menu and then click “all courses,” or visit https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses. From here you can view all your courses and add/remove starred courses.
5. If you know that your course should be in Connect or Canvas but it’s not showing up, please contact the Information Technology Service Centre (ITSC) for assistance, using their online form.

Where can I find my grades?

From the Canvas Dashboard, click ‘View Grades’ in the top right corner of the page to view your grades for all classes that have a Canvas course. You can also find your grades by logging into Canvas, going into your course, and clicking on ‘Grades’ in the right-hand menu.

Your final grade will be posted in the Student Service Centre (SSC). To view your final grade, log into your SSC, hover over ‘Grades & Records, and click ‘Your Grades Summary.’

Why am I receiving so many notifications from Canvas?

New Canvas accounts are configured with the default setting for Canvas notifications. To change your notification setting, click on ‘Account’ in the left-hand side bar, and then ‘Notifications.’ From here, you can update how often you receive notifications from Canvas. Learn more about setting your notifications in the Canvas Guides.

Please note that your Canvas notification settings will apply universally to all of your Canvas courses.

Something went wrong while I was taking a quiz in Canvas. Can I make another attempt?

Any additional attempts for online assessments will need to be approved by your instructor. Please contact your instructor to let them know what happened, and they will decide what options are available to you.

Which browsers are compatible with Canvas?

We recommend using the most recent version of Firefox, Chrome, or Safari when accessing Canvas. If you prefer to use another browser, please make sure it’s been updated to the most recent version. See the Canvas documentation on supported browsers for more information.

Is Canvas mobile friendly?

Yes, Canvas is mobile friendly! You can access Canvas either through the browser on your phone or tablet or by downloading the mobile Canvas app through the iOS App Store/Google Play Store.

Still have questions? Please visit the Canvas mobile guide.

Why does Canvas seem slow at times?

A number of factors contribute to your overall experience when using Canvas. Some of these include your wireless connection strength, shared usage or the bandwidth of your internet connection, how many applications you have open, your internet browser, and the speed of your computer.

If Canvas seems slow, please try the following: close other applications and browser tabs; restart your computer; move closer to the wireless router/access point; disconnect/reconnect from your wireless network.

You can also check for any issues with Canvas itself by going to status.instructure.com.

Where is Canvas data stored?

All information and materials that are added to Canvas are securely stored in Canada by Amazon Web Services and managed by Instructure (rather than by UBC). This meets the requirements of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Who can I contact if I have other questions or if I encounter problems while using Canvas?

UBC has contracted for 24/7/365 telephone, email, and chat support for one year, which is accessible from within Canvas in the Help menu. Students can also contact the IT Service Centre for assistance, using their online form.