Canvas Getting Started for Students

Issue or Question

How do I get started with Canvas, manage notifications, use the mobile apps, find support, and add my Canvas calendar to another calendar application?

This article answers common questions about accessing and using Canvas at the University of St. Thomas. It includes information about supported browsers, mobile apps, notification settings, Canvas support, calendar feeds, and the Tommie Tech course.

Environment

This information applies to:

  • University of St. Thomas faculty, staff, and students
  • Canvas in a supported desktop or mobile web browser
  • Canvas Teacher for instructors
  • Canvas by Instructure for students
  • Personal calendar applications that support an Internet calendar feed

Resolution

Before You Begin

Important: For the best experience, use the current or previous major release of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari. Enable JavaScript and cookies, and install available browser updates before troubleshooting Canvas.

Select a Canvas Topic

Select a section below to show or hide its information.

Instructure provides separate mobile apps for instructors and students. Select the app that matches your Canvas role.

Canvas Role Apple Devices Android Devices
Instructor Download Canvas Teacher from the Apple App Store Download Canvas Teacher from Google Play
Student Download Canvas by Instructure from the Apple App Store Download Canvas by Instructure from Google Play

Canvas Teacher provides mobile teaching and course-management tools. Canvas by Instructure provides student access to courses, assignments, grades, messages, discussions, and other learning activities.

Canvas notification settings control how often Canvas sends information about supported course activities.

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Select Account from the global navigation menu.
  3. Select Notifications.
  4. Review the available notification categories and contact methods.
  5. Select the preferred delivery frequency for each notification type.

Available notification frequencies may include immediate notification, a daily summary, a weekly summary, or no notification.

Caution: Turning off a Canvas notification does not change a course requirement, deadline, or instructor expectation. Continue to review the Canvas Dashboard, Calendar, Inbox, announcements, and course modules regularly.

Suggested Notification Starting Point

Consider using the following settings as a starting point, and adjust them to match your course responsibilities:

  • Announcements: Notify immediately
  • Discussions: Send a daily summary
  • Conversations: Notify immediately

Expected result: Canvas saves the selected notification preferences for the associated contact method.

Use the Help menu in Canvas to view the support options currently available for your Canvas role.

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Select Help from the global navigation menu.
  3. Select the support option that best matches your need.
  4. Provide the course name, affected content, error message, and steps already attempted when reporting a problem.

Available options may include Canvas guides, Canvas support, or a problem-reporting form. The options displayed can vary by role and institutional configuration.

For account access, St. Thomas authentication, or broader University technology issues, use the Tech Desk support options available through the Tommie Tech Services interface.

Canvas provides a calendar-feed link that can be added to a compatible calendar application, such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar, or Google Calendar.

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Select Calendar from the global navigation menu.
  3. Select Calendar Feed.
  4. Copy the calendar-feed link displayed by Canvas.
  5. Open the calendar application where you want to display Canvas events.
  6. Use that application's option to subscribe to or add an Internet calendar.
  7. Paste the Canvas calendar-feed link.
  8. Save the calendar subscription.

Canvas Calendar page showing the Calendar Feed control

Canvas Calendar Feed dialog showing where to copy the calendar-feed link

Caution: Treat the calendar-feed link as private account information. Do not post it publicly or share it with others.

Expected result: Canvas calendar events appear in the selected calendar application. The receiving calendar application controls how often subscribed events refresh.

The Tommie Tech course provides students with an overview of Canvas and other technology systems used at St. Thomas.

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Navigate to the Canvas Dashboard.
  3. Select the Tommie Tech course card when it is available on your Dashboard.
  4. Open the applicable module or training activity.

Expected result: The Tommie Tech course opens and displays the available technology orientation resources.

Troubleshooting

Canvas Does Not Open or Displays a Browser Warning

  • Update the browser to the latest available version.
  • Confirm that JavaScript and cookies are enabled.
  • Sign out of Canvas, clear the browser cache and cookies, and sign in again.
  • Try the current version of another supported browser.
  • Try a private or incognito browser window to determine whether an extension or stored browser information is interfering with Canvas.
  • Disable browser extensions that interfere with Canvas when permitted by University policy.

Canvas Sign-In Fails

  • Confirm that the username includes @stthomas.edu.
  • Confirm that the St. Thomas password was entered correctly.
  • Try signing in through OneStThomas.
  • Record the complete wording of the error message before contacting support.

A Course Does Not Appear on the Dashboard

  • Select Courses from the global navigation menu.
  • Select All Courses.
  • Look for the course in the complete course list.
  • Confirm that you are signed in with the correct St. Thomas account.
  • Contact the instructor or appropriate University support team if the expected course remains unavailable.

Notifications Do Not Arrive as Expected

  • Review the notification frequency for the affected activity.
  • Confirm that the intended contact method appears in Canvas.
  • Check the junk or spam folder for email notifications.
  • Confirm that the Canvas mobile app is allowed to send notifications when using push notifications.
  • Continue checking Canvas directly for announcements, messages, assignments, and deadlines.

The Calendar Feed Does Not Update

  • Confirm that the calendar subscription remains enabled in the receiving application.
  • Confirm that the Canvas calendar-feed link was copied completely.
  • Refresh the receiving calendar application.
  • Remove and re-add the subscription if the calendar application reports an invalid feed.
  • Review the receiving calendar application's subscription documentation for its refresh behavior.

Information to Include When Requesting Support

  • Your Canvas role, such as student, instructor, or teaching assistant
  • The Canvas course name and section
  • The affected page, assignment, quiz, discussion, file, or calendar
  • The browser or mobile app being used
  • The device and operating system
  • The steps already attempted
  • A screenshot and the complete wording of any error message

Additional Resources

External Resources and Reference Information

Use the following vendor resources for current Canvas instructions and system requirements:

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