This page will guide you through some of the main tools your instructors may choose to utilize in Canvas.

Tools and Tips in Canvas
Tool	What does it do?	Did you know...	Tips
Announcements	Gives you the most current news and information posted by your instructor.	You can access announcements on the User Dashboard right when you log into Canvas!	Learn to set notifications so you can see announcements without logging into Canvas.
Assignments	Allows you to view assignment instructions as well as submit completed assignments.	You can view ALL of your course assignments on this page: upcoming assignments, past assignments, even overdue assignments.	Check how to view submission details to ensure your assignments are properly submitted.
Calendar	Organize course events in a calendar format.	You can add your own events and dates in the calendar, and it remains private so only you can see it.	Learning to manage your calendar will help you keep better track of due dates.
Chat	A tool that creates a space for students and instructors to contact one another in real time.	Chat can be used in a variety of ways, including virtual office hours, group discussion, and study sessions.	You cannot delete comments entered into Chat, so be mindful of what you type.
Collaborations	Create a document where students can collaborate and work on projects simultaneously.	You must link your UW Google Drive account to Canvas before using this tool.	Collaborations are a great way to contact and work together with classmates on group projects.
Courses	Allows you to access courses and course information.	You can access your Courses on the top global navigation bar from anywhere in Canvas.	Learn to navigate the Course Dashboard so you can more easily access course components.
Discussions	A space for instructors and students to converse and respond to posted topics.	You can subscribe to interesting discussions so you'll be notified of new responses.	Type and save your posts outside of Canvas, in case your connection is lost as you work.
Files	This tool helps you access all files for a course in Canvas.	Each user automatically has 50GB of storage space in Canvas.	Organize your files with folders to find specific items more easily.
Grades	Check grades and evaluate progress in a course.	Grades in Canvas are unofficial. You should check with your campus portal for official grades.	Learn to use the "What If" grade tool to predict what scores you'll need to attain a particular grade.
Inbox	Sends and receives messages within Canvas.	Your Canvas inbox is also called the Conversations tool.	Filtering your inbox can help you sort quickly between which conversations are for which course.
Modules	Displays units or sections of the course, if utilized by the instructor.	Instructors may organize courses by week, unit, subject, or course component.	Instructors may either open all modules at the beginning of the course or open new modules throughout the course. Learn how to easily navigate Modules as a student.
People	Allows you to access a list that includes all classmates, the instructor, and TA(s).	You can filter the list by role and also access Groups with this tool.	Set up your profile so that you can get to know your classmates.
Quizzes	Take and submit quizzes assigned by the instructor.	There are various different kinds of questions that you may see in Canvas quizzes.	Read the instructions before starting the quiz to learn the quiz's time limit and number of times you can retake it. Make sure to properly submit the quiz when you are done.
Syllabus	Displays a Canvas-generated course syllabus, if utilized by the instructor.	This syllabus is automatically generated, and lists assignments and their due dates, as added by the instructor.	Not all instructors use the Canvas Syllabus tool. Always refer to the instructor-created syllabus as a final source for due dates unless you are instructed otherwise. The instructor-created syllabus will often be in Files and/or Modules.