When you initially log into Canvas, I assure you, it can be as overwhelming as any new website. It's a barrage of colors, images, and intricate buttons that might lead you down unexpected paths. However, in a matter of weeks, you'll find yourself mastering the platform, uncovering every hidden feature, and achieving this with our guidance.
Somewhere between receiving your acceptance letter and embarking on your first day of classes, a highly skilled tech expert will configure your Canvas account, linking it to your Whitman email. Upon your first login, it may seem quite barren. The full potential of Canvas unfolds only after you've registered for your courses and your professors have added you to the respective Canvas class sites.
Your Canvas dashboard will proudly display each class in which you're enrolled (if it has a Canvas page), serving as your central hub for efficiently navigating through different realms of information. After completing assignments in one class, you'll seamlessly return to the dashboard to embark on tasks for the next class.
Your professors will incorporate handy quick-link buttons onto the dashboard, tailored to each class's specific needs. These could include links to the syllabus page, assignment pages, announcement sections, and more.
On the right side of the dashboard, you'll find a 'To-Do' list, likely containing upcoming assignments and important dates. While this serves as a valuable reminder, I wouldn't advise solely relying on it, as not all professors list every requirement on Canvas. Some might solely feature them in the syllabus or assign them in person. Moreover, assignments without specific due dates won't appear on this list.
Directly beneath the 'To-Do' list, you'll discover a quick-link section for feedback provided by your professors on Canvas. Some educators choose to add comments and annotations directly to your Canvas submissions when grading, and this dashboard section offers rapid access to recent feedback.
I wholeheartedly recommend acquainting yourself with the Canvas dashboard as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the more stressful it can become as classes progress.
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