If the WVC campus is closed for unforeseen reasons, how can students best learn and continue participating in their face-to-face classes? In the event of a campus closure, WVC students may need to continue with their courses using the Canvas system for their learning. The online learning experience has different requirements and this guide will help the student with navigating in the online environment.
Getting Started: What Do I Need?
All WVC courses have a Canvas course “shell” where your professor can store syllabi and other learning materials, assignments and quizzes/exams. To get to the Canvas shell for your courses, you must first gain access to the Canvas system. There are two ways to access Canvas:
- Sign into Canvas with single sign-on (Uses your college @mywvm.wvm.edu email login)
- Sign into Canvas with WVC ID# (Default password is your 8-digit date of birth MMDDYYYY)
If you are having trouble logging into Canvas please email [email protected] Please include your college ID # and 8-digit date of birth in your email.
Computer and Technical Requirements
A desktop or laptop computer is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED in order to effectively use Canvas. While Canvas has an app for use on mobile devices (smartphone, tablet), full functionality of Canvas tools is optimized on a desktop/laptop. High-speed (minimum of 512 kbps) reliable connection to the internet is advisable.
See an Overview of CanvasCommunicating with Your Professor
Check your syllabus on the Canvas course shell for important dates and deadlines. These may have been changed due to the closure of the campus.
If you have registered with DESP, please be sure to inform the professor so they have the opportunity to assist you with accommodations.
Rather than emailing your professor via their WVC email address, it is RECOMMENDED that students use the Canvas Inbox (this is Canvas’ version of email). Students’ emails within Canvas go directly to the professor, and since it “closed” system, emails you send are not in danger of being sent to a junk folder.
- How do I use Canvas Inbox?
- How do I find unread messages in the Canvas Inbox?
- How do I send a message to the professor or another student in my class?
- How do I attach a file to the message?
- How do I reply to a message?
Accessing Class Content
Most Canvas courses are organized into Canvas Modules, where the modules are like folders that organize the course materials by week, chapters or topics. For ex., a course on crocheting may be set up either by Week 1: Introduction to Crochet, Week 2: Basic Tools, etc.; or by chapters (Chapters 1-2: Introduction to Crochet, Chapter 3: Basic Tools, etc.); or by topic (for ex., Module 1: Introduction to Crochet, Module 2: Basic Tools in Crocheting, etc.)
Each module may include Canvas Pages (documents created in Canvas), Word files, Excel files, and/or PowerPoint slides/presentations posted by your professor. The module may also include videos, audio podcasts and/or links to other materials relevant to your learning the module’s topic and contents.
Submitting Assignments
As part of your learning, the instructor may give you assignments to complete. These assignments may mirror an activity or assignment that would have taken place in the face-to-face classroom.
There are several ways which the professor may accept your assignment submission. For ex., they may ask for an essay (text entry), a file upload, a website URL, or a media recording.
See How to Submit Assignments in CanvasTaking Quizzes or Exams
During the time that the campus is closed, it may be necessary for you to take a quiz or exam in the Canvas system. Note that Canvas labels both quizzes and exams under the broad category of Canvas Quizzes, but your professor may rename the quiz (for ex., Midterm exam #1, Midterm exam #2, Final exam). The instructor may also set a time limit for the quiz/exam, and a specific due date and time for submitting the quiz/exam. Be sure you know when these days/times are!
- How do I take a quiz/exam?
- How do I answer the different types of questions in a quiz/exam?
- How do I resume a quiz/exam that I have already started taking?
- How do I submit a quiz/exam?
- How do I view quiz/exam results?
Checking on Your Grades
Professors have been encouraged to use the Canvas Gradebook to provide you, the student, with information on your standing in the class. There is also the What-If Grades feature in Canvas that allows each student to approximate his/her/their grade.
- How do I view my grades?
- What do the icons and colors in the Grades page mean?
- How do I approximate my course grade using the What-If Grades feature?
Join a Zoom Meeting
Canvas Notifications
By default, your college assigned email address (@mywvm.wvm.edu) will be used for your Canvas Notification messages. These are the messages sent by your instructor to you via Canvas, as well as general course updates. Please see the links below to learn how to customize your Canvas Notification settings and add an additional email address.
If you would like to forward college email messages to a different address, you can. To set up forwarding, log into your college email and follow these steps. Click on 1. the gear icon, 2. View all Outlook settings, 3. Mail, and 4. Forwarding. On the next screen, click on 1. Forwarding, 2. Enable forwarding, and then, 3. enter the forwarding email address. It is recommended also to select Keep a copy of forwarded messages. View screenshots of this process below.
