Please read this first

The following is intended as guidance for members of staff at Swansea University. Please note, it is not exhaustive and is not intended to replace the need to consult with your School/College.

Further help and support is available via Canvas Support (24/7, 365 days a year):

Canvas Support Hotline
Canvas Chat
Report a problem

These are all available via the Canvas Help icon (circled, questions mark icon) located in the global navigation menu on the left side of the screen

Canvas also has an extensive library of up to date self-help resources:

Online searchable Canvas Guides

Ask a question in the Canvas Online Community

Swansea University Canvas Essentials Self-paced online learning material

If you are unable to resolve your query using the above resources, then you can obtain further support by emailing the SALT Team at salt@swansea.ac.uk

Should you wish to test any functionality, within Canvas, we highly recommend utilising your Sandbox Course. At the bottom of this page, you can find information relating to effective practice in preparing your materials.

Frequently Asked Questions: Canvas Assessment Functionality

Canvas Assessment Functionality
Frequently Asked Question	Solution
Should I use Canvas Desktop version or Canvas App for anonymous marking?	We recommend using the Desktop version for anonymous marking due to the limited display settings in the app version.
How should I set up Turnitin assignment submissions which require multiple due dates?	Currently we recommend creating separate assignments. While this is a little more time consuming it ensures there are no barriers for students.
I, or one of my students, do not seem to be able to access the course/assignment?	Student enrolment is fed through SITS and Staff information through module maintenance. If you are unable to access material, please contact your assessment team to check the correct information is listed in the respective area. Once a member of staff is associated with a module on module maintenance, or a student is enrolled onto a module via SITS, they will have access to the relevant Canvas course within 4 hours; as the data feed updates automatically every 4 hours.
I have marked assignments but, when I download them from Speed Grader, my annotations lose their format when I download. What can I do?	When downloading assignments from SpeedGrader we recommend using Adobe Reader to view a PDF version of the document, as this will help retain your annotation(s). If External Examiners experience the same problem, College Administrators can provide them with access to Canvas courses for them to view submissions and marking.
I am trying to zoom out of a PDF but I am unable to do so. What might be the issue?	The creation of some PDFs results in an inability to use the zoom in/out functionality of SpeedGrader. To mitigate this students should be asked to either: Use the Canvas app to capture the file; or Copy the file image into a Word document If as a member of staff you are marking a submitted PDF and find that the zoom in/out function in SpeedGrader is not operating effectively you can use the keyboard short cut keys CTRL++(plus sign) or CTRL+–(minus sign) to try and make the submission viewable within your browser. Ctrl+0 (zero) will reset it to 100%.
Does SpeedGrader automatically save annotations or marks in a rubric? Do they save when I move between scripts?	To save a grade, make sure when using the app that you select the 'Grade' option and, by clicking on the '+' symbol, enter the grade and select 'ok' before moving on to the next assignment. When in the desktop version, enter the mark in the 'Grade' box and click the green 'Submit' button. We suggest, when marking, that you use either the app or the desktop version; rather than using them simultaneously. If you do need to use them simultaneously, you need to make sure that you refresh the desktop browser before it becomes visible in the Canvas mobile app and vice versa.
I have downloaded student submissions for anonymous marking via SpeedGrader but when I try to re-upload them to Canvas, submissions marked as ‘Late’ won’t re-upload.	It is necessary to manually edit the filename of the downloaded submission so that the ‘Late’ prefix is removed. For example, ‘LATE_anon_6f6f6_8768767_MA_267_837373.pdf’ becomes ‘anon_6f6f6_8768767_MA_267_837373.pdf’. The submission will then re-upload. To change the filename you must first extract the contents of the downloaded Submissions zip file. This will create a Submissions folder. Find the LATE submission in the folder and rename it as above. Then re-zip the Submissions folder before finally re-uploading your Submissions zip file to Canvas.
New Analytics - Reports New Analytics allows Teachers and TAs enrolled on my course to run reports listing missing assignments, excused assignments etc. These reports contain the names and IDs of students. If I have set up my course assignments to be marked anonymously will the New Analytics reports also anonymise the student names and IDs in the reports?	No. You may wish to take this into consideration when arranging for marking to be undertaken by asking markers to refrain from using the New Analytics reporting feature whilst marking.

Timetable for setting up Canvas Assignments by Release Date

Release Dates Timetable
3 months to release date	1 month to release date	1 week to release date
Refer to the online Canvas Guides to identify how you may want to lay out your course. Use your ‘Sandbox’ course to familiarise yourself with setting up a course and the other functions you want to utilise for the assessment Liaise with colleagues to outline the assessment, and any practice versions, to allow time for checking and validation. Where required, liaise with the SALT team to ensure any School specific challenges are addressed.	Create the ‘final summative’ assessment and the ‘practice’ assessment, ensuring submission via Welsh is an available option for students. Set up both assessments in the Canvas course – ensure you undertake a relevant check of the details and use the ‘Student View’ functionality to see them from a student perspective. Try out the submission process yourself. Does everything work? Are the guidelines easy to follow and accessible for all? Ask a colleague to take the test, or try submitting an assignment, and provide feedback. Design guidance for students on the assignment and how they can submit (using the ‘Passport to Canvas’ guide). Ensure students have strong signposts to direct them through the process; including access to help functions and guides.	Carry out final checks of your ‘test/assignment settings’. Allow students to access a practice assessment and/or practice how to submit. Ensure that this operates in the same way and with the same settings as for the actual assessment. Publish instructions on how they should access the assessment, including the option for submission in Welsh. Make it clear which processes are practice attempts and which are formal elements.