Getting Started with Canvas

eLearn is Sinclair’s name for Canvas, the learning management system you will use to access your courses, assignments, grades, messages, and course updates.

When you log in to eLearn, your Dashboard is your home base. It shows your courses, upcoming work, and recent activity.

Canvas has two main menus:

Global Navigation: The menu on the left side of Canvas. Use it to access your Dashboard, Courses, Calendar, Inbox, Grades, and Help.
Course Navigation: The menu inside each course. Use it to access course-specific areas such as Home, Announcements, Modules, Grades, and Syllabus.

Set Up Your Canvas Profile and Settings

You can manage your profile, display name, language, time zone, and contact methods in Canvas.

Select your Account icon in Global Navigation.
Select Settings.
To add or change your profile image, select the profile image icon next to your name.
Select Edit Settings to make changes.
Select Update Settings when finished.

You can also adjust accessibility and appearance options, such as Dark Mode, Immersive Reader, and Closed Captions, when available.

Customize Your Notifications

Canvas can send notifications about course activity by email, text, or push notification through the Canvas Student app.

Select your Account icon in Global Navigation.
Select Notifications.
Choose how often you want to receive different types of notifications.

Notification settings apply to all of your Canvas courses. You can also add additional contact methods in Settings under Ways to Contact.

Use the Canvas Calendar

The Canvas Calendar helps you see course activities and deadlines in one place.

To open your Calendar, select Calendar in Global Navigation.

You can use the Calendar to:

View course deadlines by week, month, or agenda.
See course, group, and personal events.
Add personal events or to-do items.
Use color-coded calendars for different courses.
Sync your Canvas Calendar with Google, Outlook, or Apple Calendar using the Calendar Feed.

Access Your Courses and Syllabus

You can find your courses from the Dashboard or Courses menu.

Select Dashboard in Global Navigation.
Choose the course card or course name.

You can also select Courses in Global Navigation to view all courses you are enrolled in.

To view your syllabus:

Open your course.
Select Syllabus from the Course Navigation menu.
Review the syllabus carefully so you understand course expectations, deadlines, grading policies, and instructor requirements.

View Course Announcements

Announcements help you stay updated on important course information.

Open your course.
Select Announcements from the Course Navigation menu.
Select an announcement title to read it.

The newest announcements usually appear at the top. Some announcements may also appear on the Course Home Page. Depending on your instructor’s settings, you may be able to reply.

Participate in a Discussion

Discussions may be graded or ungraded. Your instructor may use discussions for class participation, reflection, or group interaction.

Open the discussion from your course module.
Select the discussion title.
Read the instructions carefully.
Select Reply.
Write or upload your response.
Select Post Reply.

Some discussions require you to post your response before you can see replies from classmates.

Submit an Assignment

Assignments are usually accessed through Modules.

Open the assignment from your course module.
Select the assignment title.
Read the instructions carefully.
Select Start Assignment.
Choose the required submission type.
Complete or upload your work.
Select Submit Assignment.

After submitting, confirm that Canvas shows your assignment as submitted.

Take a Quiz

Quizzes are usually accessed through Modules.

Open the quiz from your course module.
Select the quiz title.
Read the quiz instructions carefully.
When ready, select Begin.
Answer the questions.
Select Submit Quiz when finished.

Canvas saves quiz answers automatically. Depending on your instructor’s settings, quiz questions may appear all at once or one at a time. Your score may be available immediately or after your instructor reviews the quiz.

Check Your Grades

Use the Grades page in each course to view scores, feedback, rubrics, and comments.

Open your course.
Select Grades from the Course Navigation menu.
Review your assignment scores and feedback.

You can sort grades by assignment name, assignment group, due date, or module.

Canvas may also allow you to use What-If Grades. This tool lets you enter possible future scores to see how they could affect your overall grade. What-If scores are only estimates and do not change your real grade.

Get Help Using Canvas

Help is available through the Canvas Help menu.

Select Help in Global Navigation.
Choose the option that best fits your need.

Common options may include:

Ask Your Instructor a Question
Report a Problem
Canvas Student Guide

For course content questions, contact your instructor. For technical issues, use the Help menu or contact Sinclair support as directed by your course or college resources.