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The Thorpe Center

Canvas Support

 

Understanding Canvas Term Dates

Beginning in Fall 2025, we're implementing changes to the Canvas term dates to improve your Canvas experience and align with educational best practices. These updates will provide more control over your course content and a better structure for course creation. 

Learn More about Canvas Term Dates

Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) used at IWU. Canvas simplifies teaching and learning by connecting the most frequently used digital tools in one place. It provides a great place to create, organize, and implement course content, assignments, quizzes, discussions, files, and more. On this webpage, you will find support on the following:

Accessing the Canvas Platform

Faculty and students can login to Canvas through the MyIWU Portal.

Mobile apps are also available for iOS and Android for both student and teacher versions. Use the following links to download the appropriate app for your needs.

Teacher (iOS)
Student (iOS)
Teacher (Android)
Student (Android)

 

Instructor Guides

Use the resources below to troubleshoot the most common questions with Canvas course design.

Canvas Training Workshops

The Thorpe Center offers a variety of training throughout the year to support you in your Canvas journey. Our trainings fall into one of three categories:

  • Cohorts
  • Learning Labs
  • Office Hours/Pop Ups

Cohorts

Our cohort trainings are typically semester-long courses that meet in person or hybrid and provide guidance for designing your online course presence. For more information about current offerings, please email our Lead Instructional Designer, Stephanie Guedet.

Design Your Dream Course

This four-part series is designed for IWU instructors with some prior experience in Canvas LMS. We will explore best practices for course design, engagement strategies, effective use of Canvas tools, and assessment techniques to create an enriching and impactful learning experience for your students.

The Design and Practice of Online Teaching

This 12-week professional development opportunity will support faculty in the design and teaching of an online course at IWU. Participation will include both in-person and asynchronous activities. This course requires you to bring an existing course that you'd like to adapt for online delivery. You'll learn fundamental online teaching principles and practical strategies while developing a framework for your course's transformation. 

Learning Labs

Canvas Learning Labs are workshops intended for instructors who want to refresh or build on their Canvas skills and strategies. These workshops take place the week prior to the start of the Fall term and cover a range of topics designed to fit instructor needs.

All Learning Labs for Fall 2025 take place in Ames 129.

Back to Basics
This hour-long workshop covers best practices in course design, including calendar, gradebook, attendance, modules, and accessibility. We also review using the sandbox, using and leveraging the IWU course template, and accessing resources and tutorials through Canvas Commons, the Thorpe Website, and Instructure.

Upcoming workshops: 
Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.
Aug. 20 at 9 a.m.


Canvas Studio 
This hour-long workshop introduces Canvas Studio, a tool that allows participants to create, edit, and manage video content directly within their Canvas courses, as well as develop video quizzes and interactive assignments.

Upcoming workshops: 
Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.
Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.


Course Management and Organization
This hour-long workshop covers course management and organization, including how to use modules, set pre-requisites, import content, and customize your dashboard. We will also review the Getting Started Checklist to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running with your course at the start of the term.

Upcoming workshops: 
Aug. 18 at 9 a.m.
Aug. 20 at 1 p.m.


Assessment and Feedback
This hour-long workshop covers strategies for assessment and feedback, including rubrics and quizzes. We also walk through how to use speedgrader and make sure your gradebook is set up for both you and your students' success.

Upcoming workshops: 
Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.
Aug. 20 at 2 p.m.


Communication and Collaboration
This hour-long workshop covers ways to incorporate communication and collaboration into your course. We will review discussions, peer review, best practices for using the calendar, and how to leverage announcements.

Upcoming workshops: 
Aug. 18 at 11 a.m.
Aug. 20 at 3 p.m.

Office Hours/Pop Ups

Drop in for extra support with your Canvas courses, whether you are wrapping up a semester, preparing for a new term, or something in-between. Can't make the times listed below? No problem! Just reach out to Steph Guedet or Sara Spaniol to schedule a one-on-one support meeting.

Office Hours occur in the Thorpe Center, Ames 300.

Upcoming Office Hours

Date Time
Dec. 8, 2025 1-3 p.m.
Dec. 15, 2025 1-3 p.m.
Jan. 5, 2026 1-3 p.m.
Apr. 23, 2026 1-3 p.m.
Apr. 28, 2026 1-3 p.m.

Request Additional Training or Support

Group, one-on-one, or virtual training sessions are available to faculty through our Canvas Pop-Ups and by scheduling a meeting with our Instructional Design Team.

Request Training