Canvas Course Websites for Harvard
Canvas by Instructure is the default platform for FAS course websites, and we're here to help you get your sites ready. On this page, you can find out how to access your course websites, download quick-reference guides to key Canvas tasks, and learn where to find more training, information, and resources.
Key dates, including course publication and registration deadlines, can be found on the Registrar's Academic Calendar page. Canvas sites for the current academic year can be accessed via the my.harvard course portal. If you'd like assistance setting up your Canvas site, or with any other aspect of integrating digital tools and methods into teaching and learning, Academic Technology for FAS is here to help. You can attend one of our Canvas workshops, digital methods seminars, or open office hours, or simply drop us a line at atg@fas.harvard.edu.
Is your Canvas course website published? If your site is not published, students will be unable to view it as they are deciding on their classes this semester. Even if your site is not completely ready, we recommend that you publish it so that students can view it.
You can continue to work on your site after it is published. Alternatively, after registration is complete, you can unpublish your site and continue working on it until a time closer to the start of term.
Publish your Canvas site
Is your Canvas course website published? If your site is not published, students will be unable to view it as they are deciding on their classes this semester. Even if your site is not completely ready, we recommend that you publish it so that students can view it.
You can continue to work on your site after it is published. Alternatively, after registration is complete, you can unpublish your site and continue working on it until a time closer to the start of term.
Copy a Previous Course Site
You may want to copy a previous version of your course or import over specific content. You can do this by using the Import Existing Content too.
Click here for a Step by Step Guide or here for a short tutorial video
Quick-Reference Guides to Key Canvas Tasks
Canvas Training, Information, and Resources
Academic Technology for FAS is offering regular Canvas workshops and open office hours for faculty and staff supporting FAS courses, and you can watch an Introduction to Using Canvas anytime. You can also get help any time by emailing us at atg@fas.harvard.edu.
Help With Canvas
Get 24x7 Live Help (online chat or phone) from the Help link inside Canvas, or visit the HUIT IThelp knowledge base for Harvard-specific information on common Canvas questions and on available support and resources.
Canvas Behind The Scenes
Find helpful behind-the-scenes information on how Canvas integrates with my.harvard, common administrative questions, and more.
Extend Canvas with LTI Applications
Whether you want your students to collaboratively annotate a text or image, access the latest content from NBC News, or write Python code in a Jupyter Notebook, there are apps are available to do this and more directly from your course website.
For instructions on extending your course website, visit our Adding Apps to Canvas page.
Canvas Syllabus Template
To help students make informed course choices, Canvas sites are now pre-populated with a standard course information template.
If this content was erased or overwritten during site setup, you can use the text on our Registration Reminders page to replace it.