Canvas

Getting started with Canvas

• Supported browsers

  Because Canvas is built using web standards, it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser. Click here for a full list of supported browsers.

• Mobile

  Most Canvas features are supported on mobile devices. Mobile apps are also freely available for both smartphones and tablets. 

  • Read about Canvas on mobile devices and mobile apps
  • What is the Canvas Student app?
  • Read about Canvas for Android and Canvas for iOS
  • Read about how to set Push Notifications for your Android device
  • Read about how to set Push Notifications for your iOS device

• Logging in

  Users with a VUnetID:

  • Go to https://vu.nl/en/dashboard
  • Login with your VUnetID and password
  • Click on the Canvas tile on your personal vu.nl dashboard to enter Canvas. If you don't see the tile, click on "All apps" under "Apps and pages." There you will find all your apps, including Canvas.

  Note: you can also access Canvas directly by going to canvas.vu.nl and logging in with your VUnetID and password.

  Users without a VUnetID:

  • Go to https://canvas.vu.nl/login/canvas
  • Login with your email address (= username) and password

  Note: if you do not remember your username or password or if you want to reset it, find how to do it futher down this page in our FAQ.

• Dashboard

  The Dashboard is the first thing you will see when you log into Canvas. The Dashboard helps you see what is happening in all your current courses. You can return to your Dashboard at any time by clicking the Dashboard link in Global Navigation.

  • Read about the Dashboard

• Courses

  By clicking on "Courses" in the Global Navigation on the left side of the screen and then on "All courses", you can see a list of all the courses in which you are enrolled. Please be aware that enrolling in courses is done in your personal Dashboard in vu.nl and not in Canvas!

  • Read about Courses

  Note: in your list of all courses you are able to 'star' your courses. All starred courses will automatically be shown on the Dashboard for easy access.

• Profile and other settings

  Profiles allows you to update your name, preferred contact methods, and any personal links for your account. You can customize your notification settings there.

  Note: you can only receive notifications in your email, if you validate your email address in Canvas. To validate your email address, you have to take the following steps:

  1. In the Global Navigation Menu, click Account and click Settings.
  2. If there is an exclamation mark next to your email address, then your email address is not yet verified. Hover over this sign to get information and follow the instructions.
  3. A confirmation link will be sent to your email address. To confirm your email address, click the link in that email. Make sure to check your spam box in case it got filtered.

  • Read about Profile and User settings

Canvas Fundamentals

• Immersive reader

  The immersive reader is a set of tools that promote accessibility and comprehension for learners of all abilities. It contains a readspeaker, simpler interface, adjustable text preferences and a line focus functionality.

  To access the immersive reader on a Canvas page click the button on the upright corner.

  More information on how to use the immersive reader can be found here.

• Assignments

  In Canvas there are multiple ways in which an assignment can be submitted, depending on how your instructor configured the assignment in Canvas. 

  Canvas assignment

  • Read about submitting an assignment in Canvas
  • Watch this short video about Assignment submission
  • Read about Assignments
  • Watch this short video about Assignments

  Google Drive cloud assignment

  Read about submitting a Google Drive cloud assignment.

  NB: Since mid September 2017 everyone at VU Amsterdam has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here for a step by step instruction on how to do this.

• Chat

  The Chat feature is for real-time communication with your instructor and/or classmates. Chat can be used for real-time conversation with course users. Any user in the course can participate in a chat conversation. All content in a course chat can be viewed by anyone in the course. Note: If you cannot see the Chat tab in your course, your instructor has restricted this feature.

  • Read about Chat
  • Watch this short video about Chat

• Calendar

  Your Calendar in Canvas shows all your courses and groups. The Calendar is a great way to view everything you have to do for all your courses in one place. Here you can for example also find deadlines for your assignments. You can view calendar events by day, week, month, or as an agenda list. You can also export your Calendar content to your phone's calendar app. Note: keep in mind that the Calendar is not synchronized with your personal schedule on vu.nl. Your personal schedule can be found on your personal dashboard on vu.nl and at rooster.vu.nl. Only use the Calendar for created assignments and events within Canvas. 

  • Read about the Calendar
  • Watch this short video about the Calendar

• Collaborations

  You can use Google Drive to create a collaboration with a Google Document, Spreadsheet, or Presentation. You can select individual users, groups, or both as part of a collaboration.

  • Read about Collaborations
  • Watch this short video about Collaborations

  NB: Since mid September 2017 everyone at VU Amsterdam has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here for a step by step instruction on how to do this. Note: If you cannot see the Collaborations tab in your course, your instructor has restricted this feature.

• Discussion

  Both instructors and students can start and contribute to discussions in Canvas.

  • Read about Discussions
  • Watch this short video about Discussions

• Files

  The Files feature is where you can keep documents and media files that are either independent of course sites or course-related. As a student, Files allows you to store files and assignments within Canvas. You can upload one or multiple files, view all details about your files, and preview files. 

  You may have access to files (documents, images, media, etc.) in three different feature areas:

  1. User files, located in your user account
  2. Course files, located in each course where you are enrolled (if your instructor allows you to view Course Files)
  3. Group files, located in each group where you are a member

  • Read about Files
  • Watch this short video about Files

• Grades

  The Grades page in a course displays all grades for all course assignments. You can also view scoring details, comments, and rubrics. To see grades, while you are in the course site, click Grades in the left-hand navigation. View the scoring details for an assignment by clicking the checkmark icon. If there are comments, click the bubble icon to view. Note: be aware that your official, final grades can be found on your personal dashboard on vu.nl. 

  • Read about Grades
  • Watch this short video about Grades

• People en Groups

  Groups are a great way to share files, conduct discussions, and even video conference between team members.

  As a student, you can create your own Student Groups for study groups, to discuss an assignment, etc. You can be part of more than one student group. Note: If you cannot see the People tab in your course, or if you cannot see the Add Group button, your instructor has restricted this feature.

  • Learn more about Groups
  • Watch this short video about Groups

• Pages

  The Pages feature enables teachers and students to order information or other content. You can for also use this function of Pages to collaborate with other students in Groups. To add a page, click Pages in the left-hand navigation, click View All Pages, and click + Page.

  • Read more about Pages

• Quizzes

  Take a Quiz to test your knowledge of the material in a course.

  • Learn more about Quizzes
  • Watch this short video about Quizzes

• Canvas Guides

  Of course there are many more possibilities and functionalities in Canvas than those listed above. The Canvas Guides contain a lot of explanatory documents and videos on all Canvas features, created by the Canvas Documentation Team. Click on the Help button at the bottom of the Global Navigation Menu on the left side of your screen (in Canvas). There you will find the Canvas website, where you can also find the Canvas Guides for students. You can also click here to go to the student Canvas Guides directly.

Canvas FAQ

• I am in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the region of Crimea and I cannot log in on Canvas. Why is that and what should I do?

  Unfortunately access to Canvas is not possible in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the region of Crimea. This is due to U.S.A. law enforcement that Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, has to obey to. 

  If you cannot log in on Canvas in one of these countries, we advise you to contact your teacher by email.

• How can I find the Canvas app? 

  Search for 'Canvas by Instructure' in your Store. When installed, search for 'Vrije Universiteit' and you will find VU Amsterdam. 

• My personal schedule is not visible within the Canvas Calendar

  That is correct; you should be aware that the Canvas Calendar is not synchronized with your personal schedule on vu.nl. Your personal schedule can be found on your personal space on vu.nl and at rooster.vu.nl. Only use the Calendar for created assignments and events within Canvas. It is possible however to export your Calendar content to your phone's calendar app.

• There are no courses on my Dashboard / I cannot find a specific course on my Dashboard.

  There are 3 possibilities: 

   - It is possible that your teacher has not published the course yet. Please wait until the start of your course or ask your teacher. 

   - You may have removed the course from your dashboard. Go to Courses -> All Courses and star the course you want to see on your dashboard. If your course is not listed there, then there is another issue. 

   - You are not registered for the programme or course. Please check at the Student Desk. 

• I cannot see some parts of my course.

  Probably, your teacher has not published that part of the course (yet). Ask your teacher if needed. 

• Which account should I use when using Google Drive in Canvas?

  Since mid September 2017 everyone at the VU has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here for a step by step instruction on how to do this.

• I am getting a notification while using Kaltura (in Internet Explorer) that I have to allow third party session cookies to proceed.

  Adjust your settings by clicking on Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy -> Advanced -> Third Party Cookies -> Accept -> OK.

• Can I receive my notifications on a personal email address?

  Yes, that is possible. Go to Account -> Settings -> Add email address. After doing so, go to your Account -> Notifications and set the notifications for your extra email address. 

• I do not receive my notifications on my VU/personal email

  You can only get the notifications in your email, if you validate your email address in Canvas. To validate your email address, you have to take the following steps:

  1. In the Global Navigation Menu, click Account and click Settings.
  2. If there is an exclamation point next to your email address, then your email address is not yet verified. Hover over this sign to get information and follow the instructions.
  3. A confirmation link will be sent to your email address. To confirm your email address, click the link in that email. Make sure to check your spam box in case it got filtered.

• Can I adjust notifications for a specific course?

  Yes, you can: for any course that you're enrolled in, you can go to course's homepage (usually the Syllabus page) then click on View Course Notifications on the menu to the right. There you can adjust notifications for this course.

• I forgot my password. How can I reset it?

  Users with a VUnetID

  If you don't remember your password or if you want to reset it, you can do so by clicking here. 

  Users without a VUnetID

  If you don't remember your password, please take the following steps to reset your password:

  • Go to this page https://canvas.vu.nl/login/canvas
  • Click on “Forgot Password?”
  • Enter your Username and click on "Request Password"
  • Follow the instructions that you will receive in your email

• I want to join a Zoom meeting via Canvas, but I get the error message "User does not exist or does not belong to this account".

  If you encounter an error in Canvas that says “User does not exist or does not belong to this account”, then this is because you already have a personal Zoom account tied to your @vu.nl or @student.vu.nl email address. Read what you can do on this page.

View the rest of the Digital Student Guide