Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make sure that the assignments of my students are checked for plagiarism?
If you want the assignments of your students to be checked for plagiarism, you have to create an assignment using Ouriginal (formerly called Urkund). More information: Ouriginal plagiarism checker .
How can I organize peer review assignments?
Peer review assignments can be created in Canvas as well as with FeedbackFruits. More information: Peer Review Assignments.
Can I set limited attempts for an assignment?
Yes, that is possible. More information in this video Links to an external site.

What can I do when my students cannot see (parts of) the content of my course?
If students see an empty course or they cannot access certain parts of the course, make sure you have published all the necessary content. More information: Publish Course, Modules & Content.
I am in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria or the region of Crimea and I cannot log in on Canvas. Why is that and what to do?

Unfortunately access to Canvas is not possible in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the region of Crimea. This is due to U.S.A. law enforcement that Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, has to obey to. For more information see this page Links to an external site..

If you cannot log in on Canvas in one of these countries, we advise you to ask a colleague to update your course if necessary and communicate with students via e-mail.

How can I prevent getting emails from Canvas?
Canvas has a set of default settings that determine when you receive emails. You can change these settings in your own notification preferences. More information: Update Your Notification Preferences.

Why don't I receive Canvas notifications in my mailbox?
In order to receive notifications in your mailbox, you have to validate your emailaddress in Canvas. Follow these steps:
1. In the Global Navigation Menu, click Account and click Settings.
2. If there is an exclamation mark next to your email address, then your email address is not yet validated. Hover over this sign to get information and follow the instructions.
3. A confirmation link will be sent to your email address. Follow the instructions in the email. Make sure to check your spam box in case it got filtered.
NB: the above does not apply to students, their emailaddresses have all been validated automatically.
Do all students receive their emails from Canvas on their VU email address?
By default students receive their email on their VU email address. Students can also add additional email addresses in Canvas. More information: Update Your Profile.

Can I link multiple times to the same file in a course?
Yes, you can. First, upload the file to the course. Then link to this file in the Rich Content Editor using the Files tab in the content selector (on the right or lower side of your screen).
Is there a limit to the files I can upload in my course?
The limit is 500 MB. You will get a warning when you exceed this limit.
How can I give half-points to assignments?
In Canvas there are only whole points. If you want to use half-points assign 100 points to the assignment (instead of 10 points).

Which account should I use when using Google Drive in Canvas?
Since mid September 2017 everyone at the VU has a VU Google account (your account name is your VU or ACTA email address). Always make sure you are using your VU Google account - and not your personal account - when using Google Drive in Canvas. Click here
for a step by step instruction on how to do this.

What is the difference between groups and sections?
Groups are used as a collaborative tool where students can work together. Sections are used for administrative purposes. For example, with sections teachers can 'filter' their students in Grades. More information: Groups & Sections.

Is there an integration between Canvas and the content of publishers?
From August 2017, there will be an integration with Pearson and McGraw-Hill. If you require any other integrations, please send an email to your faculty Canvas team.

Can I use Canvas on my mobile device?
On mobile devices, you can use the Canvas app 'Canvas by Instructure'. More information: Canvas on Mobile Devices.

Why can't I see all my courses in my Dashboard?
There are two possibilities:

The Course has been removed from the Course Menu. Go to Courses > All courses and click on the star of the courses you want to add to your Dashboard.
You are not enrolled in some courses as a teacher yet. Send an email to your faculty Canvas team and ask to enroll you in these courses.

Is it possible to use different notification settings for different courses?
Yes, that is possible. If you are enrolled in the course you can mute all course notifications for this course. The Course Home Page displays a View Course Notifications button, where you can adjust the notifications by course.
Students can turn off all notifications. Can you overrule this?
No, that is not possible. Everyone determines for themselves which notifications he/she wishes to receive. However, students can see everything as soon as they login on Canvas.

How can I add another instructor to my course?
If the instructor has a Canvas account, you can add him/her through the People tab in your course navigation. If the instructor does not have a Canvas account yet, send an email to your faculty Canvas team.

How do I add my first name to my personal settings in Canvas?
You can add your first name to your Full name, Display name and Sortable name to Canvas through your personal dashboard on vu.nl. Login with your VUnetID, go to Services > Personnel > Change my personal details > Personal Data, click on the edit button and fill in your Nickname. If you do not have a VUnetID, send an email to your faculty Canvas team.
Can I change the language of Canvas to Dutch?
Yes, that is possible. Read how to do it here Links to an external site.. The default setting is English (UK), because the Canvas terms are not always correctly translated into Dutch. Therefore, it can be confusing to change the language and it is recommended to keep the default setting.

Does Canvas have a search functionality?
No, Canvas does not have a search tool. However, you can use Ctrl+F to search in the Modules page.

How can I add a weblecture (Mediasite) to Canvas?
Via the Rich Content Editor. There is button 'mediasite' and by clicking on it you can search your video and embed it into your Canvas page. More information: Video.
How can I add a Kaltura video to Canvas?
Via the Rich Content Editor. There is button 'embed Kaltura media' and by clicking on it you can search your video and embed into your Canvas page. More information: Video.