Canvas FAQ

MSU-Northern uses an online learning platform called "Canvas" for online-only and face-to-face courses. Canvas allows students to communicate with their instructors and classmates, view course content, complete homework assignments and quizzes, and check their grades. Canvas can be accessed from a web browser on most internet-enabled devices, including laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones.

Please contact Jason or Brittany in the Office of Teaching & Learning Excellence.

All students can access the "Passport to Canvas" course on their Canvas dashboard. This course will walk you through how to use and navigate the platform.

Yes. All users can customize how they receive Canvas notifications. For each notification type, you can sign up for immediate notifications, or you can elect to receive a daily or weekly summary. If you still need help, contact the Canvas support staff in OTLE.

Yes, all students have access to an official campus email using Office365. This email is different than your Canvas Inbox.

While there is no direct link to Outlook in Canvas, you can login to your Microsoft Office365 account through the Microsoft OneDrive link on the side navigation bar in your courses. Once logged into Office365, you can access the Outlook application in your browser. You can also download the Outlook mobile app and access your Outlook email directly on your mobile device.

Canvas does have a mobile app that you can find in both the Google Play and Apple App stores: Canvas Student.

It is still recommended to complete your course work on a desktop computer or a laptop. The Canvas Student app can be used to track deadlines, view announcements, track grades, and keeping up-to-date on course changes. 

If you need to use your phone or tablet to do work in Canvas, we recommend simply accessing the Canvas site itself on your phone.The site is mobile friendly and provides a much better overview than the app. You can bookmark the site on your phone or tablet for quick access.

The best way to contact your instructor is through the Canvas Inbox.

The instructor may have additional contact information outlined in their syllabus or in the Canvas course homepage.

You should plan to spend 2 to 3 hours per week for each course credit. For instance, for a 3-credit class, you should plan to spend an average of 6 to 9 hours per week academically engaged in that class.

No, but you can store files in your Microsoft OneDrive account and access those files directly inside of Canvas.

First, review the syllabus, the Canvas Announcements, and the assignment instructions. If you still need clarification, contact your instructor by sending them a message through the Canvas Inbox (see “How do I contact my instructor?” above). If messaging back and forth is not getting the question answered, ask them if a phone call or a face-to-face meeting is possible. If you still have questions, contact MSUN’s Canvas support staff.

This video from Canvas is a student tutorial that walks you through taking quizzes in Canvas. 

Contact your instructor and explain the situation. They may be willing to extend the due date for you, for partial or full credit.

You can view all grades in Canvas under the "Grades" button on the side navigation bar inside a Canvas course. 

You can view feedback in the Gradebook by clicking on the comment icon displayed next to the grade. This Canvas webpage walks you through how to locate feedback in the Gradebook.

Yes! Canvas has a document reader that will read most types of documents in the Modules area to you.  

MSUN has also recently implemented a new accessibility platform, YuJa Panorama, that offers a variety of accessibility features for users. This YuJa webpage explains the possible features you can use as a student. 

Email tutoring@msun.edu or submit a request on the Tutoring Request page.

Contact Tutoring Central to request a tutor.

There are computers for use in the Vande Bogart Library, in Student Support Services (Cowan Hall 211), and in the Little River Institute (2nd floor of the SUB). Various campus computer labs are open for student use as well, as long as a class is not in session in the room.

Students can purchase a university-approved Dell laptop at the MSUN Bookstore (under "General Merchandise" on the website).

If you are remote and don't have a computer, consult with your instructor. You might be able to compose a paper on your smartphone with a mobile-friendly word processing app like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Or, if the instructor will allow it, you might be able to compose it by hand and submit a photo from your phone.

iPhones have a built-in document scanner app in the Notes tool (directions here) and Android phones have a number of free document scanner apps that you can download (directions here). Scanner apps turn your phone's camera into a scanner by converting photos into PDF documents.

You may have limited internet bandwidth available. Turn off your own video input in Teams so that you are only participating through audio but can still see the video. If you’re on your phone, try switching data to WiFi (if you have WiFi available). If you’re using WiFi at home on your phone or computer, try to make sure that no one else on your network is using a lot of bandwidth (e.g., Netflix, gaming).