Learning with Canvas

Learning happens inside and outside of class. Canvas is the digital extension of your course where learning happens beyond the walls of the classroom. Canvas can be used by your instructors to provide resources, foster discussion, collect assignments, organize group / peer work, and provide feedback on your learning.

The following resources provide you with how-to articles, support documentation, and recommendations for navigating / using Canvas.

Canvas @Yale Login

Access Canvas @ Yale using your Yale provided NetID and universal password.

Visit the Canvas @ Yale website

Canvas Usage & Features

Please note that using Canvas is up to the individual instructor of each course. Canvas may be utilized to varying degrees, including not at all. If you have questions regarding the use of Canvas for a course, please reach out to your instructor.

Additionally, Canvas @ Yale has been customized to meet the needs of our Yale community. Support documentation from Instructure, the vendor that provides Canvas, may reference functionality that is different from what is currently available.

Navigating Canvas @ Yale

Finding your way around Canvas

Learn how to navigate your Canvas Dashboard and Global Navigation links. You’ll also learn about navigating a course and accessing assignments.
Canvas dashboard favorites

Utilize the ‘Favorites’ function to organize and find all of your courses easily within your Canvas @ Yale Dashboard each semester.
Locating your Canvas course

Your Canvas Dashboard page will display all of your courses enrolled in for the current academic year. Past term courses can be found on your Courses list.
Filter your Canvas course list

The Courses list, found in the Global Navigation menu, can be sorted and searched to make it easier to find specific course sites.

Student Notification Recommendations

Never miss a message or announcement

Specify your preferred notification cadence at both your Canvas account level as well as at an individual Canvas course level.

Learn more about notification settings

Assessments & Feedback on Canvas

Submitting an online Canvas assignment

You can submit online assignments in Canvas using several submission types. Instructors can choose what kind of online submissions they want you to use.
Create a PDF of handwritten assignments

For online assignments that require you to hand write/draw your response, you will need to create an electronic version of your completed work.
Canvas assessment guides for external tools

Getting started guides for using tools like Turnitin, WordPress, Ed Discussion, and Respondus
Finding feedback, rubrics and grades in Canvas

Canvas offers many different kinds of assignments that your instructors may use. Always know where to go in a Canvas activity to find your grades and feedback.

Using the Sign Up Tool

Reserve your time slot

Use the Sign Up Tool to reserve or release a time slot for an appointment group in Canvas when made available by your instructor.

Learn more about the Sign Up tool

Personalizing Your Canvas

Changing your profile picture

You can add or change your profile picture on the User Profile page. Canvas profile pictures are visible to all other participants in current-term courses.
Completing your Canvas profile

Canvas allows participants to display profile photos, biographies, and links on their profiles. These settings can be configured on the User Profile page.
Editing your Canvas user settings

Participants can make changes to their pronouns, language, time zone, third-party services, Canvas feature options, and contact information on the User Settings page.
Changing your name on Canvas

Canvas @ Yale displays your “preferred name” based on the official Name Policy and Use of the University

Canvas @ Yale Support Guides

Need some guidance on how to do something on Canvas? Check out our support guides to find answers!

Canvas @ Yale Guides

Canvas Vendor Guides

Can’t find how to do something in our guides? Check out Instructure’s guides for even more support articles on using Canvas.

Canvas Student Guide

Common Canvas Questions / Topics

Need Help?

Reach out to get direct support

There are many different avenues to request and receive support.

canvas@yale.edu - email the ITS help desk with general questions about using Canvas

askpoorvucenter@yale.edu - email the Poorvu Center’s Educational & Engagement Technology team with technical questions / issues in Canvas

Student Technology Collaborative - (Yale College & GSAS only) - supports students in most technology needs, both hardware and software

We’re here to help!

Reach out to the Poorvu Center team if you have any questions or to learn more about our programs.