Introduction to Canvas Learning Management System

What is NWU Canvas Learning Management System?

CANVAS is a learning platform adopted by the University for online learning and distance
education beginning AY 2020-21. Through this platform, students can receive their
modules and work on them for synchronous or online classes.

For Laptop/Personal Computer User:

Step 1. Open any internet browser and type nwu.instructure.com in the address bar.

Step 2. Enter Email and Password, then Click Log-in.

Step 3. Then a Dashboard will appear.

Step 4. Click “Accept” on the invitation being sent on your Canvas account.
For Mobile User:

Step 1: Download and Install Canvas App on “Play Store” or “App Store”.

Step 2: Search for “Canvas Student” download and install the application.

Step 3: On “Find my school”, search for “Northwestern University Philippines” to

fill in the college/university. Click, “Northwestern University Philippines

(NWU)”, then, click “Next”.

Step 4: Enter username and password, tap “Log In”

Step 5. Then a Dashboard will appear.

Step 6. Click “Accept” on the invitation being sent on your Canvas account.
What's inside the NWU Canvas Learning Management System?

Modify your user settings, notifications preferences, change your

profile picture, upload personal files, manage ePortfolios, and log
out of Canvas.
To change password - Click Account - Settings - Edit Settings, perform the
following: Check change password, Enter your Old Password, Enter New
Password, Enter Confirm Password, and lastly click Update Setting.

Remember! Don't forget your password!

It provides an overview of your current courses. You may be able

to select from three different viewing options: Card View, List
View, Recent Activity.

View a list of all your courses then click the name of the course
you want to visit. You can use the Course Navigation Links or the
Sidebar to navigate to different areas of the course.

View your personal calendar and course calendar.

 View and send conversations within Canvas.

Access help resources from Canvas.

What's inside the Course in the Dashboard?

1. Home - upon opening a course, you will be directed to the home page. Generally, the
home page provides an overview of the course enrolled.

2. Modules - this is a compilation of your lessons, files, assignments, quizzes, and other
learning materials arranged in sequential order.

3. Assignments - this is used to challenge students' understanding and help assess

competency by using a variety of media. This include Quizzes, graded Discussions, and
online submissions (i.e. files, images, text, URLs, etc.)

4. Quizzes - this is used to challenge students' understanding and assess

comprehension of course material. The quiz tool is used to create and administer
online quizzes and surveys. Quizzes can also be used to conduct and moderate exams
and assessments, both graded and ungraded.

5. Discussions - this feature allows both instructors and students to start and contribute
as many discussion topics as desired. Discussions allow for interactive communication
between the teacher to student or student to student/s.

6. Announcements - this broadcast information out to all students of a course or to all

students of sections within a course.

7. Syllabus - this gives you the course description, learning outcomes, and other
information that you need in the course.

8. Grades - this shows your status on the given activities. Grades in the Canvas are not
the official grades of the course. Official grades will still be posted in your Student
Serp Account .
9. Rubrics - are a way to set up custom or Outcome-based assessment criteria for
scoring. A Rubric is an assessment tool for communicating expectations of quality.

10. Conferences - this allows students to participate in a real-time audio, video, shared
presentation slides, and other online means.

Canvas Guides
The Canvas Student Guide has over 200 lessons that each answer a question that
relates to using the Canvas interface as a student. Included below is a selection of lessons
that will introduce you to the basics of Canvas. Each lesson also includes Next and
Previous links so you can easily navigate to related content.

Account Setup

Before you can do anything in Canvas, you'll need an account and the URL for your
institution's Canvas website. View the lessons below for help with setting up your account,
logging in, and managing your user settings.

• How do I accept an email invitation to join a Canvas course as a student?

• How do I sign up for a Canvas account with a join code or secret URL as a student?
• How do I edit my profile in my user account as a student
• How do I change the settings in my user account as a student?

Canvas Basics

Once your account is set up, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the Canvas user
interface. The lessons below will show you how to navigate Canvas and use a few of the
tools that link across all your courses.

• How do I use the Global Navigation Menu as a student?

• How do I use the Dashboard as a student?
• How do I use the Inbox as a student?
• How do I use the Calendar as a student?
• How do I use Files as a student?
• How do I add and modify text in the Rich Content Editor as a student?
• How do I add and modify text in the New Rich Content Editor as a student?

Course Basics

Within a Canvas course, you can submit assignments, participate in discussions, view
grades, and collaborate with other students. What is available in your course will depend
on what has been implemented by your instructor. View the lessons below for some of
the basics of Canvas courses.

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

• How do I view Assignments as a student?

• How do I submit an online assignment?

• How do I reply to a discussion as a student?

• How do I take a quiz? (Classic Quizzes)

• How do I take an assessment in New Quizzes?

• How do I view Collaborations as a student?

• How do I use Conferences in a course as a student?

• How do I view Pages as a student?

Canvas Student App

Canvas also has a free mobile app available for iOS and Android that is specifically
tailored to students. View information about the Student app below.

• How do I download the Canvas Student app on my iOS device?

• How do I log in to the Student app on my iOS device with a Canvas URL?
• How do I log in to the Student app on my iOS device with a QR code?

• How do I use the Student app on my iOS device?

• How do I view Assignments in the Student app on my iOS device?

• How do I download the Student app on my Android device?

• How do I log in to the Student app on my Android device with a Canvas URL?
• How do I log in to the Canvas Student app on my Android device with a QR code?

• How do I use the Student app on my Android device?

• How do I view Assignments in the Student app on my Android device?

Additional Resources
• Getting Started with Canvas in 10 Steps (Students)
 • Getting Started with Canvas as a Student (Video Series)

To answer a frequently ask questions you may log-in into the given link

• https://community.canvaslms.com/

If you encounter any technical issues/problems, please message NWU Nexus.