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Using the Canvas Student App: Home

Install and Log in to the Canvas Student App on your Device

  1. On your mobile device, go to your app store (App Store on iPhones/iPads or Google Play on Android devices) and install the Canvas Student App.
  2. Once the app has been installed, open the app.
  3. Tap on Find my school.
  4. Under "What's your school's name?" enter the name of our college: Los Angeles Valley College.
  5. Tap on our college name from the list: Los Angeles Valley College.
  6. Log in with your student login and password.

screenshot for step 2screenshot for step 3screenshot for step 4screenshot for step 5screenshot for step 6

For step-by-step instructions on how to use the Canvas Student app (basic overview, settings, features, etc.), see the appropriate link for your device:

Get Familiar with the Dashboard

  • After you install the Canvas Student App and log in with your student account, you will be able to see all your courses, access course content, complete assignments, take quizzes, and submit discussion responses. 
  • Use the Canvas e-mail feature to communicate with your professor in your specific course, or to communicate with other students in the class.
  • We recommend that you check each course daily. 
  • After you install and sign-in to your Canvas app, take time to explore the dashboard. 
  • The dashboard is where you will find a menu of all your classes, you can access your account settings, and find tools on the bottom toolbar.

screenshot of Canvas app dashboard, showing how to access your account, courses, and tools

Access a Course and Get Familiar with the Homepage

  • Tap on a course from the dashboard.
  • Take time to get familiar with the homepage for each course.
  • Tap on each component to explore the contents.

Note:

  • All courses will not look the same, or have the same arrangement.
  • Be flexible in your approach.
  • Become familiar with each course individually.
  • Each page in the app will have a consistent toolbar at the bottom with important tools and features:
    • Dashboard: to take you back to all your courses.
    • Calendar: keep track of deadlines.
    • To Do.
    • Notifications: keep track of notices.
    • Inbox: send and receive correspondence from your classes.

screenshot of canvas course dashboard, demonstrating how to select a class and what you first once in that class

 

Inbox to Send and Receive E-mail Messages from a Course

  1. After you access the dashboard or course in the app, tap on the Inbox button (located in the toolbar).
  2. Tap on the plus sign +.
  3. Tap on Select a Course.
  4. You will see a list of all of your courses, so tap on the appropriate course.
  5. Tap on the plus sign +.
  6. Select Teachers (if you would like to only send to your instructor).
  7. Tap on the teacher's name.
  8. Enter a subject for your email.
  9. Enter the message.
  10. Tap on Send.

step by step screenshots for steps 1 through 10

Uploading Files from your Device to the Canvas Student App

The steps below assume that you already have the Canvas Student app installed and set up on your device.

  1. If you do not already have OneDrive or Google Drive apps on your device:
    1. Go to the app store to search for the appropriate app and install it.
    2. If you are using OneDrive, be sure to log in using your student e-mail address and password in order to access advanced features.
  2. Find or create the essay or the file in OneDrive, Word app, or Google Drive.  Be sure that your file has a meaningful name.
  3. Download the document into your device (instructions on how to download files from OneDrive onto Your Mobile Device).
  4. Navigate to the class and to the assignment.
  5. Click on Submit Assignment.
  6. Click on File Upload, then select the upload source. If you are submitting an essay, then select File and select the appropriate file, then click on Submit. 

For more details and visual guides:

Submitting Essays from the OneDrive App into Canvas

  1. If you do not already have the Canvas Student App on your device:
    1. Go to the app store to search for the Canvas Student app and install it.
    2. Open the app and find your school.
    3. Enter your student login credentials.  This is the same username and password that you use to access your portal in order to register for class and to find your online classes in Canvas.
  2. If you do not already have OneDrive or Google Drive apps on  your device:
    1. Go to the app store to search for the appropriate app and install it.
    2. If you are using OneDrive, be sure to log in using your student e-mail address and password in order to access advanced features.
  3. Find or create the essay or the file in OneDrive, Word app, or Google Drive.  Be sure that your file has a meaningful name.
  4. Select either Export or Send a copy of this file, then select the Canvas Student app.
  5. If the connection is successful, then you should be able to select the course and the assignment from Canvas.
  6. Tap on Submit.  

For more details and visual guides:

 

credit: This guide was created based on LASC's "How Do I Use the Canvas Student App" FAQ