Title: Course Navigation
Course: CIS 205 Part 1: T&I Preparation > Section: Module 3: EDCC LMS

Course Objective: Successfully navigate both global and course level features of Canvas, such as calendars, tasks, settings, Canvas Mail, syllabi, outcomes, modules, discussion boards, grades, and assignments.

Canvas and Course Navigation

Learning management systems are widely used to organize online studies for students.  Canvas is a student centered platform, which many students find intuitive. Take a look at the key areas of Canvas, outlined in detail below, to prepare yourself to navigate easily through the course.
Dashboard
When you first log into Canvas, you will be presented with the Canvas Dashboard.  While yours will look a bit different than the graphic provided below, all of the basic components will be present.
1. Courses is a drop down list that will display all the courses that you are currently enrolled in at Edmonds Community College.  Click on this link and locate your course.
2. Recent Activity is a quick list of what is happening in all of your classes.
3. System Menu displays
  1. your current log information
  2. a link to your Canvas-based inbox
  3. settings for your Canvas environment
  4. a link to Canvas Help topics
4. Coming Up is a quick reference area to see what assignments or tasks are required of you.
Recent Feedback will summarize any feedback given to you on assignments that you have turned in.

Additionally, there is a quick link in this area that allows you take a look at your current calendar.

For more information on the Canvas Dashboard, visit Canvas Help Center - Student Guides.
By hovering over Courses, you will see a drop down list of the course(s) that you are currently enrolled in.  Select the course that you want to view.
Course Home page
Click on your course and you will be taken to the home page for the course.
The home page will provide you with (1) Canvas Navigation, (2) course navigation, (3) a welcome to the course, quick links to the help center, inbox, (4) your Canvas System Settings, and (5) a summary of any recent feedback for the course.
You will move around the course through (2) the course navigation area.  The areas that you can navigate are:
- Home - the opening page of the course. For this course it is a course welcome message.
- Syllabus - the syllabus defines how the class will be run, what grading policies for this course are, what the preferred contact method for the Academic Coach, and a list of assignments for the course.
- Outcomes - the course wide competencies / outcomes as stated on the syllabus.
- Modules - the course content.  If you are reading this, you have seen this area of the course. You start at the beginning of a module by reading and completing the modules' content and assessment. To move through a module click the first link in the module, complete the directions on the page, then click "Next" to continue to the next content.
- Discussions - In this area you will find:
  - Assigned discussions for the course- this may not be required in all courses.
  - Ask a Question - This forum should be used to ask a question about the topics of this course
  - Cyber Cafe - An area where you can talk off topic for the course or provide your classmates with additional great information that you have located- this may not be available in all courses.
- Assignments - a list of all assignments for the course- this view may not be available in all courses.
- Quizzes - Quizzes that need to be completed for the course- this view may not be available in all courses.
- Grades - This area allows you to check on the grades that you have received for assignments, quizzes, discussion board posts, and quizzes or tests.
- People - A list of classmates and the mentor(s) for the course- this view may not be available in all courses.

The center portion of (3) the Home page is the welcome message.  On subsequent pages, it will be the content of this course

Syllabus

The syllabus states the official rules on how the class will be run, how grades will be issued and policies on assignments, tests, and quizzes.  This is an important document for all the courses that you take.  Please be sure to read the complete syllabus for this course.

Within the syllabus area, you will also notice a calendar.  Because the PACE-IT grant allows students to work at their own pace, due dates are not assigned to tasks within a course.  Your mentor or your course assessment team will be looking at your work as you turn in the required tasks.

Conclusion
I hope that this quick overview of global navigation of the Canvas LMS will help you be successful throughout your studies.  If you need further help with Canvas, you have a number of resources.  They are:
- START - Student Technology Advice and Resource Team: get help with technology from this student led group.
- Canvas Guides - Canvas Student Guide You can access these through the Help link in the upper right of your Canvas screen.

Click on the Next button to continue.