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Learning With Canvas

Canvas is Ontario Tech University's learning management system. It is an online platform where students can access their courses, submit assignments, check grades, and communicate with instructors. This is one of the main ways students access their course materials at the university.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

  • How do I login to Canvas?
  • What browsers and devices can I use Canvas on?

    Supported Browsers

    Current and previous major releases of:

    • Chrome 135 | 136
    • Firefox 137 | 138 (Extended Releases are not supported*)
    • Edge 135 | 136
    • Respondus LockDown Browser (supporting the latest system requirements)
    • Safari 17 | 18 (Macintosh only)
    Unsupported Browser Banner in Canvas

    Some supported browsers may still produce a banner stating Your browser does not meet the minimum requirements for Canvas. If you have upgraded your browser, but you are still seeing the warning banner, try logging out of Canvas and clearing your browser's cache and cookies.

    Computer System Requirements

    Screen Size

    Studio is best viewed at a minimum resolution of 800x600.

    Operating Systems
    • Windows 8.1 and newer
    • Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
    • Linux - Chrome OS
    • Chromebook - Chrome OS
    Computer Speed and Processor
    • Use a computer 5 years old or newer when possible
    • 1GB of RAM
    • 2GHz processor
    Internet Speed
    • Along with compatibility and web standards, Studio has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments
    • Minimum of 512kbps
    Screen Readers
    • Macintosh: VoiceOver (latest version for Safari)
    • PC: JAWS (latest version for Firefox; we currently do not support the Edge browser for accessibility)
    • PC: NVDA (latest version for Firefox)
    • There is no screen reader support for Studio in Chrome

    For more details, visit the Canvas Community site.

  • Can I use a mobile device to access Canvas?

    You can access Canvas from any supported browsers on your Android/iOS device. However, mobile browsers are not fully supported, and features may not function as expected compared to when viewing Canvas in a fully supported desktop browser.

    The Canvas Student app is also available, but not all Canvas features are available on the app.

    For more information, visit the Canvas Community site.

  • I can't login to Canvas, what should I do?
    Students should contact the IT Service Desk and copy LMS@ontariotechu.ca regarding any technical issues within Canvas.

Accessing Courses

  • I don't see my courses in Canvas, what should I do?

    If you have registered for a course, but can't find it in Canvas, there may be a few reasons. They are:

    • The course has not been released to students. Typically, this happens about 2 weeks before the start of classes each semester.
    • You have not paid your fees or there are financial or other holds on your student account. Contact connect@ontariotechu.ca for information.
  • How do I get access to previous Canvas courses?
    After 120 days following the end of a course, you will not be able to access past courses. We suggest you download all necessary material before classes end.

Notifications and Messages

  • How do I change my Canvas notifications?
    • Open your Account settings, then go to Notifications to add or update your notifications.
    • You can receive notifications for due dates, grades, new course content, announcements, and discussion posts.
    • It is important to receive notifications for Course Announcements, as instructors use this method to communicate time-sensitive information to their students.

    For more information, visit the Canvas Community site.

  • How do I send a message in Canvas?
    • Use Canvas Inbox to send messages to instructors or teaching assistants.
    • Email notifications can be enabled in your Notifications.

Important Dates

  • How do I track important dates in my courses?
    • The Calendar function in Canvas summarizes important Assignment and Quiz due dates in each of your classes.
    • Events that aren't in Canvas but are shown in your course syllabus, like the final exam, may not be listed here. It is important to review your course syllabus in addition to using the Calendar.
    • Add your own events by clicking the ‘+’.
    • Show and hide calendars by selecting them in the Calendars tab on the right.
  • How do I connect my Canvas and Google Calendars?
    • Calendar can be added to your Ontario Tech Google Calendar.
    • On Canvas, select Calendar Feed.
    • Copy the link that appears (right click the text, then click Copy, or Ctrl+C).
    • Open Google Calendar and locate Other Calendars from the left sidebar.
    • Click the '+' icon.
    • Select From URL, and paste the Canvas Feed URL.
    • Click Add Calendar. 

Quick Canvas Tips

  1. When you log into your Canvas account, you will see the Dashboard, which shows a preview of all your courses that you have registered for.
  2. Courses shows a list of all courses you're registered for. Scroll down and click All Courses to see past courses as well.
  3. Calendar shows important dates, like Assignment dates, for all courses. Use the check boxes on the left to show or hide dates for specific courses.
  4. Inbox functions as a messaging service within Canvas. 
  5. History shows your recent page views.
  6. My Media shows videos that you've uploaded to Canvas using Kaltura Media.
  7. Resources/Help links you to Canvas 24/7 Support.
  8. Library is a quick link to the Library OMNI Search page.
  1. Click the Inbox icon on the left side dash.
  2. The Inbox page will appear.
  3. Select the All Courses dropdown menu to help filter out your courses.
  4. Click the Compose icon to write a message. Then, find and select the individual whom you’d like to send a message to.
  5. The message window will pop up. Find the recipient by selecting the course and recipient name.
  6. Type in an appropriate subject line and write your message. When completed, click Send. 

  7. If you’d like to attach a file from your computer, click the Paperclip icon. You can also attach a video link using the Youtube icon.

  1. To submit an assignment on Canvas, go to a Course. To do so, click the Course icon located on the left side dash.
  2. Now, on the Course page, located on the left side, find and click on Assignments. Select the assignment that you want to submit by clicking New Attempt.
  3. The assignment page will appear. You can upload one file at a time by clicking Add Another File. You may need to agree to the End-User License Agreement by checking the box.
  4. Click Submit Assignment once completed.
  1. To take a quiz on Canvas, go to a Course. To do so, click the Course icon located on the left side dash.
  2. Now, on the Course page, located on the left side, find and click on Quizzes. Select the quiz that you want to submit by clicking Take the Quiz.
  3. Complete the quiz per your instructor's instructions. Quizzes will either have all the questions on one page, or each question will be shown one at a time.
  4. When you are finished, click Submit Quiz.

Types of Quiz Questions

There are several different question types in Canvas that your professors may choose to employ, from True/False to Essay format. Questions can vary by question type. Each question will show in the top right corner the point value of the question. Each question will be divided from others by a box surrounding the question and answers.

You can use other areas in the quiz to help you navigate and complete quiz questions, including the sidebar and the flagging questions feature.

Quiz Sidebar

At any point during the quiz, you can view a summary of your quiz. Questions you've answered will be faded out and identified by a checkmark icon, while unanswered questions will be bolded and identified by a question mark icon.

You can also view the due date for the quiz. In the sidebar, the quiz due date refers to the autosubmit date, which can be a specified Until date or the last day of the course. This is not the due date set for when the quiz will be marked late.

You'll also see a timer showing your progress on the quiz. For untimed quizzes, the quiz shows as the elapsed time. If you are taking a timed quiz [5], the timer shows the running time and counts down until the time expires.