Spring Conference 2026

Welcome to Canvas and Essentials of Canvas

This session provides a foundational introduction to the Canvas ecosystem, guiding instructors through the "Command Center" of Global Navigation and the organization of the Dashboard to ensure a streamlined workflow. Participants will learn to customize their Course Cards with images and nicknames for better visual identification while mastering the "Favorites" feature to declutter their workspace. The core of the training focuses on the Rich Content Editor (RCE), the versatile building block found throughout Canvas; by learning to use this single toolbar, instructors will gain the skills to create engaging, accessible, and media-rich content across Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes. Ultimately, this session empowers educators to navigate the interface with confidence and leverage the RCE to build a consistent, professional, and well-linked learning environment for their students.

Session A 9:50 AM - 11:00 AM

Assignments

This session provides a comprehensive guide to managing the Canvas Assignments Index Page, transforming it from a simple list into an organized hub for course grading and assessment. Instructors will learn to build a clear grading hierarchy by creating Assignment Groups and applying weighted percentages to ensure final grades align accurately with their syllabus. The training also dives into the technical setup of individual assignments, demonstrating how to use the Rich Content Editor to provide instructions and how to select the appropriate Submission Type—ranging from online file uploads and text entries to "on paper" or external tool integrations. By mastering these tools, educators will be able to manage deadlines effectively using availability dates and provide a structured, transparent path for student submissions and grade calculations.

Session B 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM

New Quizzes and Item Banks

This session overview introduces Canvas New Quizzes, the updated assessment engine designed to provide more diverse question types and sophisticated proctoring controls. Instructors will learn to build assessments from the ground up, starting with the initial creation process and moving into the selection of critical quiz settings such as shuffling questions, password protection, and result-display options. We will explore the expanded library of interactive question types—including hotspots, ordering, and categorization—which allow for deeper student engagement than traditional multiple-choice formats. Finally, the session covers essential administrative tasks within the Moderate and Reports tabs, where instructors can provide student-specific accommodations such as adjusting time limits and attempts, analyzing item difficulty through detailed analytics, and utilizing "remove answer choices" to refine the student experience during the exam.

Session C 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

Modules

This session provides a comprehensive guide to organizing course content through Canvas Modules, the primary structural framework for the student learning path. Instructors will learn how to build a module from scratch and populate it with diverse content—such as files, pages, and assignments—while mastering advanced pacing tools like locking modules by date and setting specific prerequisites and requirements to gate student progress. Beyond organization, the training explores collaborative workflows, demonstrating how to seamlessly share modules with colleagues via the "Send to..." feature and how to copy modules directly into other courses using the "Copy to..." function. By the end of this session, educators will be equipped to create an automated, logical flow of information that streamlines the student experience while maintaining the flexibility to reuse and share high-quality instructional materials across their institution.

Session D 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Enhanced Rubrics/Grading and Feedback 

This session explores the critical "closing the loop" phase of instruction by mastering Canvas Enhanced Rubrics and the powerful grading ecosystem. Instructors will learn how to design and apply rubrics to provide transparent, criteria-based evaluations that streamline the grading process for both assignments and discussions. We will conduct a comprehensive walkthrough of the Gradebook, focusing on how to organize columns, apply late policies, and monitor student progress at a glance. Additionally, the training dives into SpeedGrader, where you will learn to provide high-impact, multimodal feedback—including inline annotations, rubrics-based scoring, and video or audio comments—to foster meaningful student growth. By mastering these tools, educators can significantly reduce their administrative workload while delivering the precise, timely feedback essential for student success.

Session A 9:50 AM - 11:00 AM

Session D 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Session E 3:05 PM - 3:55 PM

Communicating in Canvas

Effective communication in Canvas is driven by four key tools: Announcements serve as your digital megaphone for broadcasting urgent updates and weekly overviews to the entire class, while Discussions foster an interactive environment for peer-to-peer engagement and collaborative learning. For private, one-on-one interactions and targeted outreach based on performance, the Inbox acts as a centralized, secure messaging system that keeps academic correspondence organized within the platform. Finally, the Calendar provides a visual roadmap of deadlines and simplifies scheduling through the "Scheduler" tool for office hours. By strategically layering these tools—using Announcements for "one-to-many" updates, Discussions for community building, the Inbox for personal support, and the Calendar for time management—you create a transparent and supportive communication loop that keeps students informed and accountable.

Session E 3:05 PM - 3:55 PM

Group Work and Collaboration

This session introduces participants to Canvas collaboration features, including group discussions, group assignments, the collaboration tool, and web conferencing. Participants will see how these tools can infuse interactivity and cooperation into their classes. 

Work with a Canvas Consultant, Q&A

Elevate your digital classroom by attending our Canvas Strategy & Support Session, a one-on-one opportunity to refine your course with a dedicated Canvas Consultant. Whether you are building your first module or optimizing an existing shell, this session provides personalized troubleshooting, pedagogical advice on content structure, and hands-on help with advanced features like the SpeedGrader and New Quizzes. It’s the most efficient way to resolve technical hurdles and implement best practices, ensuring your course is polished, accessible, and ready for your students.

Session F 4:05 PM - 4:55 PM