Get Started with Canvas @ USD (2024)

Monday, October 2, 2023

We are pleased to announce that the Canvas learning management system is now available for your use in anticipation of the Spring 2024 launch for all USD courses. Please read below to learn more about what you can expect during the transition and register for training sessions at: sandiego.edu/ldc (details below).

Accessing Canvas and Your Courses

Navigate to canvas.sandiego.edu and log in using your USDOne credentials to access the system. Upon entering Canvas, you will find:

• Spring Course(s): If you're registered for a Spring 2024 course in Banner, it will be accessible on Canvas.
• Blackboard Archive: The course (or courses) you taught in Blackboard in the last year (Fall 2022 to Summer 2023) are imported to Canvas for your access.
• Sandbox Course: An unstructured course for you to experiment with content, fine-tune settings or test custom navigations. This can be replicated in subsequent terms as needed.
• Quick Start to Canvas Course Design: view this short video (10:14) on how to design your courses and use our templates.

Migrated Blackboard Courses

If you don't see your Blackboard course(s) in Canvas or if you wish to access a course from over a year ago, please send an email to LDCsupport@sandiego.edu and the course will be imported for you into Canvas. When doing so, please specify your Blackboard course ID (e.g., AAI-550-01-FA23).

Canvas Training and Support for Faculty

The Learning Design Center (LDC) has curated an extensive training program on Canvas and integrated technologies. These sessions will be available in-person, remote via Zoom, synchronously, and asynchronously. They will include:

• Canvas Basics: An introductory session on course setup including Zoom and Panopto
• Canvas Plus: Learn more about Canvas’s advanced features for customizing course navigation. In addition to workflows for Ally, eTextbooks and Turnitin.
• Canvas Gradebook: Training on grading and setting up your gradebook and providing robust feedback on assessments.
• Canvas Boot Camp: Readily available assistance on-site during November, December, and January. No registration required.
• Growing With Canvas: this self-paced online course provides a comprehensive course design training. Links to tutorials and resources are provided as well as optional practice activities you can try out in your Sandbox or course shell. Self-enroll to access the asynchronous course (you will be directed to log into Canvas first).

Register for these training sessions at sandiego.edu/ldc. Beyond these live sessions, you can also:

• Check out the LDC Faculty Support Center for Canvas support materials specifically created and curated for USD Faculty.
• Browse the Canvas Faculty Training Portal for various resources.
• Refer to the comprehensive Canvas Instructor Guide and the Canvas Community for tutorials and step-by-step guides.
• Schedule a One-on-One Consultation for a 30-minute personal virtual session with LDC Instructional Support. Additionally, on-demand phone and email support will be provided.

Preparing Your Course for Spring

We have prepared a USD Blackboard to Canvas Import Guide to help you build your course from scratch in a sandbox course or if you wish to modify the content that was imported from Blackboard. Based on faculty feedback from the Early Adopters program, you can expect to spend an average of an additional 4-8 hours in preparing your course, depending on the complexity of your content.

LDC will be reaching out with further communications as we move through the implementation. For further inquiries please go to sandiego.edu/ldc or contact LDCSupport@sandiego.edu.