Canvas - Logging into Canvas


Introduction

Canvas is Virginia Tech's learning management system (LMS). Instructors use Canvas to manage teaching materials like assignments, quizzes, feedback, and student grades. 

  • Official courses are automatically created in instructors' Canvas accounts.
  • Enrolled students are automatically added.
  • Instructors can reuse teaching materials by importing them to a new course site.
  • Canvas provides 24-7 support by phone (833-639-7621) and chat (click Help on any Canvas screen).

The Canvas Student Guide and the Canvas Instructor Guide have full instructions on using Canvas. These instructions are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Canvas topics, please see How to Use Canvas at Virginia Tech (for Instructors) or How to Use Canvas at Virginia Tech (for Students).

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Contents

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Instructions

Logging into Canvas

  1. Go to Canvas.
  2. Log in with your PID and PID password.

Notes:

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Acceptable Use & Privacy Policy

When you first log into Canvas, the Terms of Use will appear. It will also appear if Instructure changes their Acceptable Use Policy.

After logging into Canvas for the first time:

  1. Check the I agree to the terms of use and privacy policy box.
  2. Click Submit.

    Image of the above instructions

If you want to read the Acceptable Use Policy and Privacy Policy again:

  1. Log into Canvas with your Virginia Tech PID and PID password.
  2. Click the Acceptable Use Policy or Privacy Agreement links at the bottom of the Canvas window.

    Image of the above instructions

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Troubleshooting

I Can't Log in to Canvas

Is your Virginia Tech PID password working? 

Try logging in to Virginia Tech's OneCampus. If you can't log in, see Changing or Resetting My Password. 

Are you new full-time or adjunct faculty?

  • If yes, your Canvas account will be triggered on your start date as listed on your HR form P-14. Contact your department administrator for details. 
  • If you want to start learning Canvas before your start date, do a Canvas free trial, then export your materials. You can import them to Virginia Tech's Canvas once your account is enabled. See Get Started with Canvas Free for Teacher. 

Are you a guest?

  • If you've forgotten your password, use the Passphrase Reset Request Form to reset your password.
  • If you cannot reset your password, your Virginia Tech Guest account may have expired or you've never set up a guest account. Contact 4Help by clicking Get Help on the 4Help portal.

Are you a visiting scholar? 

Visiting scholars don't get Canvas accounts automatically. Contact your sponsor and ask them to request an account for you. They can do so by contacting 4Help by clicking Get Help on the 4Help portal.

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Script Blocker Problems

Canvas uses JavaScript. However, browser security settings or security suite software increasingly block JavaScript by default. If JavaScript is blocked, Canvas will not appear and function correctly, for example: 

  • The Canvas Dashboard shows flashing courses.
  • Clicking Help and Courses do not show the menus.
  • Clicking Assignments, Announcements, Discussions, Grades go to a blank page.
  • The +Guests button doesn't appear in People.
  • Videos in Files don't automatically play.
  • SPOT doesn't appear on menus.
  • Kaltura videos won't play.
  • Instructors can't add files to Canvas. 
  • Students can't upload files to Assignments.

To fix browser and script blocker problems:

  1. Check/update your browser. We recommend using an updated version of Google Chrome. To check for and install updates to Google Chrome:
    1. Click [...] in the upper-right corner of your browser.
    2. Click Help, then click About Google Chrome.
    3. An automatic update may start. When it finishes, click Relaunch.
    4. To update, see Update Google Chrome.
  2. Check the Canvas URL.
    1. Click your Canvas bookmark in Chrome. Make sure it links to https://canvas.vt.edu, not the Instructure URL. If it links to the Instructure URL, update it to link to https://canvas.vt.edu. 
    2. If tools are malfunctioning in Canvas, check and make sure the URL is https://canvas.vt.edu. If not, go to https://canvas.vt.edu.
  3. Bypass/clear your browser's cache.
    1. To bypass the cache, go to the Canvas page where you should see the link to the LTI tool. Hold the Shift key while clicking the browser's refresh button.
    2. To clear the cache, see Clearing Browser Cache.
  4. Whitelist Canvas URLs in your script blocker; set your script blocker to allow JavaScript from Canvas and related URLs. 
    1. Go to your script blocker's settings for trusting/allowing/unblocking/whitelisting websites. Instructions for common script blockers: 
    2. Set your script blocker to trust/allow/unblock/whitelist the following Canvas-related URLs:
      • vt.edu
      • instructure.com
      • amazonaws.com
      • canvas-user-content.com
      • inscloudgate.net
      • kaltura.com
      • ops.cielo24.com
      • evaluationkit.com
      • cloudfront.net
      • jquery.com
      • bootstrapcdn.com
      • iclicker.com 
      • smc-service-cloud.respondus2.com

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Getting Help

Instructure, the creators of Canvas, provide 24-7 Canvas support, including live chat and a support hotline. 

To get Canvas help, click Help on any Canvas screen and choose from help options: 

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