Using Canvas Features Connecting Announcements to SMS Text Messages Canvas has the ability to communicate with the user in a variety of ways. The information will be push-based which means Canvas will send out messages without having to log into Canvas. Communications through Canvas is one through Conversations and Announcements. A Conversation consists of messages and responses, which can be viewed by clicking the Inbox icon. Announcements are sent out by the Instructor. In both cases, you can tell Canvas how to send out a Conversation and Announcement to the user. The two ways to have these two things sent to the user are through email and SMS text messages. By default, Canvas has your email installed as a communication channel. If you wish to add SMS you will have to insert this as a registered channel of communication. 1. After logging into Canvas click the Account link in the left side of the screen:
2. Click the Settings option under the Account tab: Along the right side of this screen you see the Ways to Contact area: (Yours won t have the orange bar). By default, your email address is the default method Canvas will use to send messages. If you wish to add an SMS (text message) option click the blue Contact Method link to add a new contact method.
3. Click the Contact Method link. You see the dialog box to add a new communication channel. 4. Click the Text (SMS) tab and enter your cell phone number (with area code) and choose your cell phone carrier from the drop down. The SMS Email will be displayed. (Most major carriers use a special email that contains your phone number and carrier domain). 5. Click Register SMS. A sample text will be sent to the device for verification. You see a confirm window on the screen:
6. Type the confirmation number and click Confirm to validate your phone. You will next choose the information you want sent to this phone number. 7. Under Account, click the Notifications tab. You see the Notifications screen. Under Course Activities are listed the various events you want to be notified about. One of these is Announcement. The four icons under the email address area are: The check mark indicates that a notification should be sent immediately. The Clock Icon means that a daily summary will be sent that contains all the notifications in one message. The Calendar Icon means that a weekly summary of all events will be sent as a single message, and the green X icon means don t send any. The SMS options are only for send immediately and not send. 8. Locate the Announcement option and, after adding the SMS push channel for your phone, click the Check Mark icon. You will now be notified of any new announcement made by the Instructor and it will be sent to your email address and as a text message to your phone. 9. Locate the Conversations section. 10. Click the green Check mark icon next to Conversation Message and next to the SMS message for Conversation Message. Now, new Inbox messages to you will be forwarded to your email and to your phone as a text
message. 11. Click the Account link icon and then click Profile. You see your profile information. By clicking the Picture icon you can upload a picture. Using the Inbox The Inbox is the method you will typically use to communicate with your Instructor. Inbox messages can also be configured to be sent to your email account and your SMS Text message on your phone. 1. Click the Inbox link along the left side of the screen. You see the Inbox window: 2. Click the Compose a new Message button:
You see the New Message dialog box: 3. Click the Select course drop-down box and choose the class you wish to send the message to. 4. In the To field start typing the name of the Instructor. A name will be automatically displayed:
5. Click on the name to choose it: Enter a Subject and text to the message. The two links at the bottom of the message allow you to add attachments or an audio/video
6. If you have a camera/microphone system you can click the video tab (next to the paperclip) and then record a video:
7. When done, click the Save button in the video. The media is now attached to the message: 8. When ready to send click the Send button. Using the Calendar The calendar feature in Canvas allows you to view due dates for various assignments on a calendar linked to the class and add your own calendar events. Each course has its own calendar and the student has its own calendar. 1. Click the Calendar icon along the left side of the screen
2. The Calendar screen shows information about the class
3. Pick a date and double-click. This opens the Edit Event dialog box: 4. Enter a Title (that will show up in the calendar), choose a time (From:) a Location and choose which calendar this entry will be applied to. If you apply the event to your own name it will appear in all calendars for all classes. If you choose a specific class calendar it will only appear in that calendar.