Center for Teaching & Mentoring
Canvas
MTSU fully launched Canvas as our learning management system (LMS) in Summer 2026. To learn more, visit the Canvas Project site, which includes a timeline and other news and information. Visit this faculty resource page about how to get started now learning and using Canvas.
Canvas Trainings at MTSU
MTSU trainings for Canvas began in October 2025. Most training sessions are led by Helen Wilson of Instructure (the company that owns Canvas) with support from the Center for Teaching and Mentoring, the Information Technology Division (ITD), and MTSU Online. Most Canvas training sessions for Spring 2026 are on Zoom. Representatives from ITD and MTSU Online are available during the trainings to answer questions and provide additional support.
Upcoming Canvas Trainings
| Date & Location | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| August 6 10 am – 11 am Zoom Link | Canvas Grading and Feedback Jumpstart | The Canvas Grading and Feedback Jumpstart explores the Canvas gradebook interface from both instructor and student perspectives. Participants will experience the capabilities of SpeedGrader and the various ways it can be used to provide timely, detailed feedback while making the grading process more efficient and effective. Hands-on practice will be included to encourage active participation and reinforce learning. This session is targeted to faculty teaching ONLINE courses. Agenda |
| August 11 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 264A or Online Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Basic | Day 1: 9 am – 9:50 am: Canvas Basics 10 am – 10:50 am: Modules 11 am – 11:50 am: Pages & RCE 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Assignments 2 pm – 2:50 pm: Discussions 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 11 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 272 Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Intermediate | Day 1: 9 am – 9:50 am: My First Semester in Canvas: What I Wish I Knew (Faculty Panelists) 10 am – 10:50 am: Aligning Modules with Learning Outcomes 11 am – 11:50 am: Creating Pages that Engage 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Assignment Design That Actually Works 2 pm – 2:50 pm: Designing Meaningful Online Discussions 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 12 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 264A or Online Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Basic | Day 2: 9 am – 9:50 am: New Quizzes 10 am – 10:50 am: Rubrics 11 am – 11:50 am: SpeedGrader Deep Dive 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Modules & Pages 2 pm – 2:50 pm: Canvas Studio 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 12 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 272 Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Intermediate | Day 2: 9 am – 9:50 am: Question Types & Item Banks for Deeper Learning 10 am – 10:50 am: Efficient Feedback Strategies 11 am – 11:50 am: Advanced Gradebook Settings & Analytics 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Migrating Quizzes / Item Banks 2 pm – 2:50 pm: Embedding Media with Canvas Studio 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 13 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 264A or Online Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Basic | Day 3: 9 am – 9:50 am: Q&A / Open Work Session 10 am – 10:50 am: Assignments 11 am – 11:50 am: Discussions 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Rubrics 2 pm – 2:50 pm: New Quizzes 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 13 9:00 am – 4:00 pm LIB 272 Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Intermediate | Day 3: 9 am – 9:50 am: Q&A / Open Work Session 10 am – 10:50 am: Groups & Collaboration Tools 11 am – 11:50 am: Pre-Launch Course Checks & Student Experience 12 pm – 1 pm: BREAK FOR LUNCH 1 pm – 1:50 pm: Feedback That Students Use 2 pm – 2:50 pm: Quiz Settings and Assignments for Integrity & Flexibility 3 pm – 3:50 pm: Q&A Session Click to see full schedule |
| August 14 9:00 am – 12:00 pm LIB 264A or Online Registration Required | Canvas Bootcamp: Q&A | Day 4: 9 am – 9:50 am: Canvas Q&A 10 am – 10:50 am: Canvas Q&A 11 am – 11:50 am: Canvas Q&A Click to see full schedule |
| Date & Location | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 1:00 – 2:00 pm Zoom Link | Course Queso: The Essential Ingredients for Canvas Setup TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Get your course cooking with a quick tour of Canvas notifications and settings. This session will include a 15-minute walkthrough of your Canvas notifications and course settings, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Sept. 8 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Zoom Link | The HOME Enchilada: Your Home Page TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Learn how to customize, enhance, and serve up a polished Canvas Home Page. This session will show a 15-minute overview of the Canvas Home page features and Canvas Commons templates, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Sept. 15 8:30 am – 9:30 am Zoom Link | Studio Today, Play Tamale: Creating Videos with Canvas Studio TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Get a taste of Canvas Studio’s media tools and repository with a quick walkthrough. This session will provide an overview of Canvas Studio, the media tool and repository, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Sept. 22 2:40 pm – 3:40 pm Zoom Link | Studio Today, Play Tamale: Creating Videos with Canvas Studio TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Cook up reusable item banks and spice up your Canvas quizzes! This session will focus on building quizzes in Canvas and creating item banks, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Sept. 29 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Zoom Link | Gradebook Guacamole: Organizing and Weighting Grades in Canvas TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Mix the perfect blend of assignments, groups, and weighted grades for a smooth Canvas experience. This session will focus on setting up your Canvas Gradebook, including organizing your assignments and groups and weighting grades, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Date & Location | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 6 1:00 – 2:00 pm Zoom Link | SpeedGrader Street Tacos: Quick and Efficient Grading TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Learn the ingredients for faster grading and more efficient feedback in Canvas. This session will feature a 15-minute overview of Canvas SpeedGrader, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Oct. 20 2:40 – 3:40 pm Zoom Link | Let’s TACO Bout it: Canvas Discussions TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Spice up student engagement with Discussions and Checkpoints in Canvas. This session will feature a 15-minute overview of Discussions and Checkpoints to engage students, followed by a Q&A period. |
| Oct. 27 8:30 am – 9:30 am Zoom Link | RUBRIC Rellenos: Stuffing Assessments with Clear Expectations TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Fill your assessments with clear criteria, consistent grading, and meaningful feedback. This session will demonstrate how to create, align, and apply Canvas rubrics to streamline grading and provide meaningful feedback. |
| Date & Location | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 3 11:30 – am 12:30 pm Zoom Link | Studio Salsa: Spicing Up Your Videos in Canvas TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Turn up the flavor of your videos with Canvas Studio’s powerful engagement tools. This session will explore how to edit videos, add annotations, and create interactive quizzes with Canvas Studio. |
| Nov. 10 2:40 – 3:40 pm Zoom Link | Fast, Flavorful FEEDBACK in Canvas TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | From comments to rubrics, discover the ingredients for better feedback in less time. This session will highlight features such as SpeedGrader, annotation tools, media comments, and rubrics that can save time while enhancing student learning. |
| Nov. 17 8:30 am – 9:30 am Zoom Link | Add the Guacamole: Extra Credit in Canvas TACO Tuesday (Tech and Canvas Offerings) | Learn the recipes for building extra credit opportunities that work for you and your students. This session will focus on the ways to assign Extra Credit in Canvas, followed by a Q&A period. |
Previous Canvas Trainings
Listed in alphabetical order. Click to view video. Video length is approximate.
- Accessibility (60 minutes)
- Accessibility – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Accessibility Checker (30 minutes)
- Add the Guacamole: Extra Credit in Canvas – TACO Tuesday (15 minutes)
- Assignments – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Assignments and Discussions (60 minutes)
- Beautifying Your Canvas Course (45 minutes)
- Canvas Basics (90 minutes)
- Canvas Discussions Jumpstart (60 minutes)
- Canvas Essentials (60 minutes)
- Canvas Essentials, Modules, Pages Jumpstart (60 minutes)
- Canvas First Look (90 minutes)
- Canvas for Math and Science (90 minutes)
- Canvas Studio (90 minutes)
- Canvas Studio – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Course Communication Tools – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Course Data and Analytics (90 minutes)
- Course Design Considerations (90 minutes)
- Course Design Considerations – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Course Settings and Sharing – Canvas Intensive (45 minutes)
- Discussions – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Enhanced Rubrics (45 minutes)
- Enhanced Rubrics – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Extra Cheese: More About Your Gradebook – TACO Tuesday (15 minutes)
- Getting Caught Up with Canvas (60 minutes)
- Grading and Feedback / Gradebook and SpeedGrader (60 minutes)
- Grading and Feedback – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Group Work and Collaboration (60 minutes)
- Group Work and Collaboration – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Let’s TACO Bout it: Canvas Discussions – TACO Tuesday (30 minutes)
- Mobile Apps – Canvas Intensive (20 minutes)
- Mobile Apps: Teacher & Student App (60 minutes)
- Modules – Canvas Intensive (60 minutes)
- Modules and Course Communication (60 minutes)
- New Quizzes Essentials (60 minutes)
- Pages and Rich Content Editor (60 minutes)
- Pages and Rich Content Editor – Canvas Intensive (45 minutes)
- Performance-Based Teaching (90 minutes)
- Quizzes – Canvas Intensive (90 minutes)
- Studio Today, Play TAMALE (25 minutes)
- The HOME Enchilada: Your Home Page – TACO Tuesday (20 minutes)
- What’s at STEAK: Setting up your Gradebook – (20 minutes)
Canvas Champions
| Name & Office Hours | College | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Abolins Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | mark.abolins@mtsu.edu | College of Basic and Applied Sciences |
| Jenn Caputo Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | jenn.caputo@mtsu.edu | College of Behavioral and Health Sciences |
| Bonnie Barksdale Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | bonnie.barksdale@mtsu.edu | College of Education |
| Eric Detweiler Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | eric.detweiler@mtsu.edu | College of Liberal Arts |
| Michelle Conceison Wednesdays 9 am – 10 am and by appointment Zoom link for Wednesday meetings Make an appointment for another time: www.calendly.com/meetmc | michelle.conceison@mtsu.edu | Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment |
| Amy Harris Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | amy.harris@mtsu.edu | Jennings A. Jones College of Business |
| Holly Zolt Availability for Fall 2026 coming soon. | holly.zolt@mtsu.edu | University College |
