As of May 2, 2016, Rowan Online will switch to the new Canvas User Interface (UI). The new Canvas User Interface (UI) is an updated interface structure enhanced by a responsive user experience for the Dashboard and Global Navigation menu. The Course Navigation menu also collapses on smaller screens, allowing for a more content-focused and responsive layout. 

The New Canvas User Interface (UI) includes two main components: the Dashboard and the Global Navigation Menu.

• The Dashboard [1] defaults to the course view, which provides access and updates in favorited courses.
• The Global Navigation Menu [2] provides quick links to all main Canvas areas and can be accessed from any area in Canvas.

Click on one of the following links for more information:

• The Dashboard
  • View Course Cards
  • Change Course Card Color
  • Change Course Nickname
  • View Recent Activity
  • View Sidebar
• The Global Navigation Menu
  • View Account
  • View Dashboard
  • View Courses
  • View Groups
  • View Calendar
  • View Inbox

The Dashboard

The Dashboard is the first thing you will see when you log into Canvas. The Dashboard helps you see what is happening in all your courses and allows you to figure out what to do next. The Dashboard includes:

• The Dashboard course view includes a course card [1] for each of your favorite courses with quick links to main course features.
• The Dashboard includes a Sidebar [2] with To Do and Coming Up lists to help manage assignments.
• Depending on your user role, the Sidebar also includes other information and settings as well as a link to view Grades.
• The Dashboard also supports a Recent Activity stream, which can be toggled at the top of the Dashboard based on user preference. The Recent Activity stream shows activity for all your Canvas courses.

View Course Cards

The Dashboard course view includes a course card for each of your favorite courses. Each card can include up to four tabs [1], which represent the four main Canvas features for student course activity: Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, and Files. These tabs mimic visibility and order in Course Navigation, so for instance, if an instructor hides the Announcements link, the Announcements tab will not display on the course activity.

If the tabs are visible, Discussions and Announcements indicate the number of new activity items in the course [2].

Change Course Color

You can also change the color of your course, which is synced with the color shown for the course in the Calendar.

To change the color:

1. Click the card Settings icon [1], then select a new color.
2. The check mark indicates the selected color.
3. Click the Apply button.

Add Course Nickname

If one of your courses includes a long or confusing name, you can create a nickname for your course. Course nicknames appear in the Dashboard, Course Navigation Menu, course breadcrumbs, and notification emails.

A course nickname does not affect the course name at the account or course level; it only changes the name of the course for the individual user who created the nickname. 

If users needs to know the original name of the course, they can hover over the nickname and the original name will appear. Users can also restore the original name completely by deleting the nickname. Additionally, the course code is not affected and always displays on the dashcard for course reference.

Note: This feature does not currently apply to the global Grades page and Dashboard sidebar elements such as the To Do list.

To create a course nickname:

1. Click the card Settings icon.
2. In the Nickname text box, enter in a nickname for the course.
3. Click the Apply button.

To remove a course nickname:

1. Click the card Settings icon.
2. In the Nickname text box, remove the nickname for the course.
3. The Nicknametext box displays the original name of the course. 
4. Click the Apply button.

Add Course Nickname

If one of your courses includes a long or confusing name, you can create a nickname for your course.

To change the course nickname:

1. Click the card Settings icon.
2. In the Nickname text box, enter in a nickname for the course.
3. Click the Apply button.

View Recent Activity

To help manage Canvas activity, the Dashboard also supports the Recent Activity Stream, which can be toggled at the top of the Dashboard based on user preference. The recent activity stream shows activity for all your Canvas courses. To view Recent Activity, click the Dashboard icon. The icon will switch from the left side to the right, indicating the current Dashboard view.

About View Recent Activity Indicators:

• Recent Activity contains a stream of recent notifications from all of your courses, also including announcements, discussions, assignments, and conversations. This activity stream helps you see all recent activity in your courses and easily ask questions and post to discussion forums.
• Activities are indicated by activity type and display an icon [1] for the activity. New or unread activities are shown by the blue indicator dot [2]. Recent Activity items remain for four weeks.
• Note: To receive notifications for Discussions, users must actively post in the discussions at least once every two weeks. If a user stops participating in a discussion after two weeks, Canvas will no longer display discussion notifications.

View Sidebar

The Sidebar helps you see what you need to do next across all your courses and can contain up to three helpful sections.

The To Do section [1] shows assignments or events that require your attention. Each item in the To Do list displays the assignment name, the number of points, and the due date for the assignment. If you are enrolled in a course as a student, the list shows assignments you need to turn in. If you are enrolled in a course as an instructor, the list shows assignments you need to grade. Items remain in this section for two weeks.

The Coming Up section [2] shows assignments and events coming due in the next seven days. If an assignment in the Coming Up list has already been graded, the assignment includes the assignment score.

If you are enrolled in a course as a student, the Recent Feedback section [3] shows assignments with feedback from your instructor. (This section still appears for instructors but does not display content.)

The sidebar also allows you to view grades. To view grades for your courses, click the View Grades button [4]. This button is available to all user roles.

Global Navigation

The Global Navigation Menu provides quick links to all main Canvas content areas. The menu is displayed on the left side of the interface to allow more room for content on smaller resolution devices and displays links to the user's Account, Dashboard, Courses, Groups (if applicable), Calendar, and Inbox. Users can receive help in Canvas by clicking the Help icon located at the bottom of the Global Navigation Menu.

View Account

To view your user information:

1. Click on Account in the Global Navigation Menu.
2. A menu will expand and display links to access your profile, user settings, notification preferences, personal files, and ePorfolios.
3. You can also use the Account area to log out of Canvas. 

View Dashboard

To view the Dashboard, click on Dashboard in the Global Navigation Menu.

The Dashboard is the landing page after a user logs in to Canvas. The Dashboard can be toggled to a course view or recent activity view and shows notifications for all Canvas courses. Learn more about the Dashboard. Click here to learn more about the Dashboard.

View Courses

To view your courses:

1. Click on Courses in the Global Navigation Menu.
2. A menu will expand and display any courses where you are enrolled. This menu also displays any courses marked as favorites. If no courses are selected as favorites, the course list will display all current courses. If a course includes term dates, the name of the term will appear as part of the course listing.
3. To view a course, click the name of the course.
4. To customize your courses list or view all your Canvas courses:
   • Note: When you are enrolled in more than one Canvas course, you can customize the active courses you want to show in your Course list. Courses you want to show in the Courses drop-down menu are called favorite courses. You can favorite any published course that appears in the My Courses section on the course list page.
   • Click on All Courses.
   • To favorite a course, click the star next to a course. Courses with yellow stars show the course is a favorite.

View Groups

To view your groups:

1. If you are enrolled in Groups, click on Groups in the Global Navigation Menu.
2. A menu will expand and display all groups where you are enrolled.
3. To view a group, click the name of the group. To view all your groups, click on All Groups.
4. Note: Groups cannot be customized in the drop-down menu. 

View Calendar

To view your calendar, click on Calendar in the Global Navigation Menu.

View Inbox

To view your Conversations Inbox, click on Inbox in the Global Navigation Menu.

Conversations is the Canvas messaging system where you can communicate with other users in your courses. The number of new messages are shown as part of the Inbox icon.