How to Navigate Canvas as a Student

Canvas Tutorials How to Navigate Canvas as a Student

Student Tutorial Module

The Global Dashboard

The Dashboard is the first thing you will see when you log into Canvas. Review the information in the tabbed menu below. 

Dashboard Overview

The Dashboard will display information from ALL of your courses. Review the video tutorial below. 

200 - Canvas Overview for Students Links to an external site. from Canvas LMS Links to an external site. on Vimeo Links to an external site..

Navigation Tips

Below are some tips to help you navigate your courses.

  • Students can now make the global dashboard the To Do list. This option allows students to see assignments, announcements, calendar events, and other course content by date. View the linked guides below for more details. 
  • The Studio link will display in the global menu. This option allows you to create/add and manage video content in Canvas. See Using Studio as a Student. 
  • Be sure to review the syllabus first when starting a new course. If the syllabus link doesn't display in the left navigation, this means that the instructor choose not to the use the syllabus tool in Canvas. The syllabus will be linked on the course home. 
  • No matter how your instructor organizes the content of the course you can always click Home in the left navigation to return to the course homepage. The course home will have some unique features that can help you navigate recently updated content.
  • The course menu can be hidden by clicking the hamburger menu (three lines) above it. Once hidden, click the hamburger menu again to display the course menu. 
  • If there are new grades in the course, there will be blue badge listed by grades in the left navigation. Click Grades to view more details on the new grade.
  • The right sidebar will vary depending on where you are in the course. From the home page on the right sidebar you can quickly see what assignments have been graded and any feedback your instructor has given you. Click the assignment title to view the assignment details page.

Common Issues

Courses you have registered for in IRIS will become available on the first day of the semester in Canvas. Please note that some instructors do not publish the course on the first day of the semester. Unpublished courses will not display on your Canvas dashboard but will display in the course list. If you are not sure if a course is unpublished, in Canvas click Courses in the global menu and select All Courses. Unpublished courses will be listed in the course list but will not be linked. If you do not see the course in the course list or under future enrollments, contact Information Systems and Services. 

If a course is scheduled to be available in Mod II, please note the course start date is set for the first day of the Mod II. If you are not sure if a course is Mod II course, in Canvas click Courses in the global menu and select All Courses. Mod II courses will be listed under future enrollments. 

Canvas Guides

Note: These guides are maintained by the Canvas Documentation Team and are available on the Canvas Community site Links to an external site.. Some of the information in these guides may not apply to the Lake Land College instance of Canvas. If you have a question about any features mentioned in these guides, please review the Getting Help page for details on who to contact at Lake Land College.