General Canvas Navigation | New Mexico State University (2024)

• Syllabus - This will take you to the syllabus for this course.
• Mission Statement - This will take you to a page containing the NMSU-A Mission
  Statement, Vision, and Core Values.
• Student Resources - This will take you to the website of the Online Learning Center
  where you can locate all the services available to you as a student.
• Help Forum - This is a link to the help forum for this course where you can post
  questions.

Global Navigation Menu Bar

It is imperative you understand how to navigate your course.

Begin by watching this Canvas Overview Video provided by Canvas that will help you
understand how to better navigate the course. Canvas also provides Canvas Overview and
Guides that can help you with specific issues.

The Global Navigation menu bar is the crimson bar at the far left of the screen. This bar
includes the following:

• Account - This area is where the following can be located and
  modified: profile, settings, notifications, files, and ePortfolios. It is important
  for you to go to notifications and make adjustments so information will come to
  the email address you view or even as texts when posted by your instructors.
  • Settings - Here is the location where you can make changes to your
    notifications, files, and personal settings.
  • Notifications tab - Forward Canvas emails to another email address and
    have instructor announcements and email messages forwarded as text
    messages to your cell phone.
  • Files tab - Store personal files so that you can get to them from any
    computer and keep assignments with which you are not
    finished. Nobody else can access these files--not even your instructor.
  • Settings tab - Change your personal information, add a profile picture,
    add another email address or a phone number, and any personal
    information you want, and integrate outside services like Facebook,
    Google Docs, Skype, etc.

• Dashboard - This is the area that is viewed when you first go to Canvas. It now
  includes a course card for each of your courses. These course cards include up
  to four tabs that represent the four main Canvas features for student course
  activity: announcements, assignments, discussions, and files. These four will
  be available for each course unless your instructor hides one or more of them.
• Courses - Provides another way to get to all courses. If you have several
  courses and one is not showing up on the Dashboard, it can be found here.
• Calendar - This is a calendar that includes information from all courses.
• Inbox - This is where an email from your instructor will go first. You can set
  up your settings to forward these messages to any email account you prefer. A
  copy will stay in your inbox.
• History - This is an area where you can see what you did the last few times you
  were in Canvas.
• Studio - This is where you can record videos and presentations.
• Follet Discover - This will take you to the Follet bookstore area and show the specific
  books that you need for the courses in which you are enrolled.
• Student & Faculty Help – This will give you information on various ways to get help
  with Canvas, Zoom, and general technology issues. It includes a link to Zoom to an open
  lab for immediate help with issues.

Course Navigation Menu Bar

The Course Navigation menu is the menu to the right of the Global Navigation
menu:

• Home - Default when you go to the course. Links to Start Here and various
  student support services.
• Modules - Where you will find the course content. It is imperative you go here
  each time you complete work. If you try to only go to assignments, you will
  miss the content of the course.
• BryteWave Course Materials - This is a link to access your e-textbook if one is
  used in your course unless integrated publisher materials are used.
• Announcements - Any information your instructor may want you to know. It
  could include special notes, reminders, schedule changes, etc. Make sure to
  check your announcements each time you go into the course.
• Grades - Where all your grades will be posted.
• Syllabus - Where you will find a list of graded assignments and a link to a full
  syllabus.
• Discussions - Where you will find the discussion forums for the course.
• Assignments - Where you upload your assignments for submission.
• Quizzes - Where you will find the quizzes for the course.
• People - Where you will find the names of everyone enrolled in the course.
• Syllabus Student Resources & Policy - This links to a page that includes
  system-wide policies and resources including the system calendar.
• Student Help - This takes you to a New Mexico State University Canvas Help
  page.
• Zoom - Here is where you will access Zoom meetings for this class.
• Office 365 - If use Office 365 and save your information in the Cloud, you can
  login here to access your documents.
• Google Drive - If you have a Google account, you can link it here and access it
  through Canvas.
• Purchase Course Materials - This will take you to the New Mexico State
  University online bookstore where you can see what books are associated with
  your course even though you will not need to purchase them. Books are
  purchased through an automatic per credit fee.
• Navigate Student - This is an app where you can communicate with advisors
  and financial aid, and make appointments with all areas in student services.
• Follett Discover – Will take you to information about the textbook adopted for your course