In Short

Follow these five steps to get your course site up and running:

5-steps to get started with Canvas

Note: Click on the section headings below to expand and collapse each section.

Step 1: Customize Your Home Page

Your homepage is the first page your students will see when they access your course. By default, all Princeton courses are set with a page as a homepage. You can customize the text and image on your pre-populated homepage, by clicking Edit in the top right corner.

If you would like a different layout for your homepage, you can click Choose Course Home Page in the right-hand menu on the Home Page. You have 5 homepage options:

screenshot of the Canvas Choose Home Page menu with 5 options

Course Activity Stream: shows your students the most recent activities for your course including announcements, discussions, assignments, and conversations.
Pages Front Page: this is the default setting for Princeton courses. You can create and set a different page on your home page. Please note that you have to publish the page before you can set it as the Front Page.
Course Modules: outlines the course and how to navigate the course content organized by modules.
Assignment List: shows all assignments or tasks required throughout the course with upcoming and recent assignments at the top of the page.
Syllabus: displays the content or document on your Syllabus page as the Home Page.

Step 2: Post Your Syllabus

You can add your syllabus by either uploading a file to the Syllabus Library (recommended) or using the built-in Canvas Syllabus tool. Visit the Syllabus page for detailed steps.

Step 3: Add Content & Assignments

Consider how you want to use your Canvas site. You can use it as a central organizing place for course materials and resources, as a communication tool, as a place for assignments and assessments, as well as a place for group work and collaboration. Check out our resources on Files, Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, and Discussions to learn more.

Based on the feedback we have received from the faculty in the Canvas pilot group, we suggest you use Modules to organize your course. Modules will help you and your students keep track of content, assignments, and grading, and can be organized by weeks, lessons, or topics (e.g., lecture, lab, and precept). Visit Build Your Canvas Site for details.

Step 4: Review and Publish The Course

It is helpful to review your course in Student View before you let your students access it—that way you can verify that they see what you intend them to see.

Princeton courses on Canvas are not available to students until the instructor clicks Publish. When you are ready for your students to access your course, make sure to publish it.

Screenshot of the side bar on course homepage

On the homepage, click Student View to preview the course [1]. This will allow you to see the course the way your students will see it, and make edits and adjustments. It is particularly useful to review how the Course Navigation Menu appears to your students. For more, see the Course Navigation Menu.

Click Publish to make your course available to your students. The grayed-out Publish button will turn green once your course is published [2].

Step 5: Send an Announcement

After the course is published, consider sending a welcome message to your students. The announcement will be delivered directly to the students (according to their notification preferences) and posted in the Announcements area. An announcement may include:

An explanation of how you and your students will use the Canvas site this semester.
A description of how you have set up your course and where they can find course material and assignments.
A reminder for your students to check the calendar for due dates and download the Canvas student app.