05/06/24
Canvas FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Gadsden State Community College is transitioning to Canvas, a new learning management system that has a user-friendly interface that includes an intuitive dashboard, streamlined courses design and accessible layout. Below are answers to your questions:
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a web-based LMS used by learning institutions, educators and students to access and manage online course learning materials and community about skill development and learning achievement.
What are the benefits of Canvas?
Canvas has a variety of customizable course creation and management tools, course and user analytics and statistics and internal communication tools.
Why is Gadsden State transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas?
Gadsden State and all institutions in the Alabama Community College System will use Canvas. It is a part of a major statewide initiative to evolve our learning experience and increase student success.
How do I transition to Alabama.edu?
Go to your PERSONAL email and open an email from RapidIdentity.com. This will allow you to claim your new Alabama.edu and activate your new single sign-on account.
What if Gadsden State does not have my personal email address?
Go to OneACCS’s Self-Service Banner and click on Personal Information. You will be able to add your personal email there.
What if I deleted the RapidIdentity email or if I didn’t receive it?
Reach out to the Gadsden State Help Desk and they will resend the email to you.
Why are Alabama.edu emails being implemented?
ACCS is moving to a unified identity for all applications including Banner, Canvas and Microsoft Office 365. The domain name of this environment is alabama.edu. The username for every user at Gadsden State will be the user’s A#@alabama.edu.
Will I still be able to use my GadsdenState.edu email address?
Students will transition completely to Alabama.edu. GadsdenState.edu emails will continue to be available for use for employees.
How am I going to learn to use Canvas?
Students enrolled in ORI 101 will be provided with Canvas training. Students who will not be in ORI 101 should enroll in Passport to Canvas, a simple online training course.
Faculty members should go to Free Canvas Basics Course to enhance online teaching capabilities using Canvas. Instructors can also receive in-person training sometime in July. Dates and locations to be determined.
What products are included with Canvas?
- Canvas Studio and Canvas Impact along with Tier I support are included in the ACCS contract.
- Canvas Studio is an interactive video management platform that enhances student engagement and collaboration.
- Canvas Impact provides self-help content and easy access to support channels, empowering students and faculty to focus more on teaching and learning and less on traversing technologies.
- Additional FAQs for instructors can be found here.
- Visit the Libguide for more information.