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Instructional Technology Essentials: Manage Classes and Leverage Canvas


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Instructional Technology Essentials: Manage Classes and Leverage Canvas

Owned by Gabe Nichols
Last updated: Feb 18, 2025

In this article

View helpful steps to take before class, as well as additional resources for Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, and Berklee NYC faculty.

Overview

Steps to Prepare for Class

Access Your Class Schedules, Class Rosters, and Submitting Final Grades

MyBerklee

MyBerklee is used to get your Class Schedule, Class Roster, and submit Final Grades at Berklee College of Music, Berklee Valencia, and Berklee NYC.

Boston Conservatory at Berklee - Self-Service (PowerCampus)

BCB Self Service (PowerCampus) is used to get your Class Schedule, Class Roster, and submit Final Grades at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

Learning Management System - Canvas

All Berklee faculty will use Canvas as their Learning Management System. A Learning Management System provides tools for communicating with students, collecting work, sharing resources, tracking grades, and more.

Please enroll in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee training course before clicking on any of the direct links below.

Enroll in Teaching with Canvas at Berklee

Creating a Course Site

Creating a course site in Canvas from scratch involves several key steps to ensure a well-organized and effective learning environment for your students. 

1. Home Page | Choose Course Home Page

Customize your Course Home Page to be the first thing students see, choosing from options like the Pages Front Page and Course Modules depending on your course structure.

View “Choose Course Home Page” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

2. Gradebook | Set Up Your Assignment Groups

Set up Assignment Groups in Canvas to align the grade book with your syllabus, allowing for weighted categories like homework and tests. This setup ensures the Gradebook accurately reflects the course grading structure.

View “Set Up Your Assignment Groups” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

3. Modules | Create Structure in Your Course Site

Use Modules to organize your course content, including introductions, resources, and assessments, into a structured learning pathway. You can also control visibility, access, and preview the course from the student’s perspective.

View “Create Structure in Your Course Site” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

4. Resources | Create Pages and Add Files

Create Pages and add files to embed text, links, media, and PDFs directly into your course or Modules, offering flexibility in presenting content to students.

View “Create Pages and Add Files” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

5. Activities | Create Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

Develop Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes for student assessments. Customize them with instructions, point values, submission types, and due dates, integrating these activities into the course’s grading framework.

View “Create Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

6. Announcements | Communicate with Your Students

Engage and connect with students using Canvas communication tools. Use Announcements to keep students informed with timely updates, essential reminders, and any changes to the schedule. Send direct messages to individual students through the Inbox for more personalized communication.

View “Communicate with Your Students” in the Teaching with Canvas at Berklee Faculty Course.

Additional Teaching Resources for Faculty

Classroom Technology

Familiarize yourself with Technology in your Classroom

Sign up for Instructional Technology Training Sessions