Overview
The majority of instruction for Fall 2021 is expected to be in-person, with some exceptions. The following page serves as a resource guide for students and instructors using supported digital learning tools in an in-person, online, or hybrid environment.
Please visit the University’s COVID-19 Response website for the latest information. We recommend checking with your individual school for additional guidance.
On this Page
Quick Links
- Canvas Login: Log into the Canvas system used by your school/course. Your login consists of your PennKey username (all lowercase) and password.
- System Status: Check the operational status of a tool by vendor.
- Known Issues in Canvas: Confirm whether an encountered issue is a common or known issue in Canvas.
- Creating a Canvas Profile: Creating a Canvas profile is optional, but is a good way to share information about yourself with anyone enrolled in a Canvas course with you.
- Profile and Account Settings: Setting your Profile, Notification Preferences, and other account settings can help you use Canvas more effectively.
Recommended Tools
- BlueJeans is a video conferencing platform with video, audio, and screen-sharing available to all students, faculty, and staff.
- Zoom is a video conferencing platform with video, audio, and screen-sharing available to all students, faculty, and staff.
- Panopto is a video creation and storage platform that integrates into Canvas.
- Piazza is an anonymous question and answer tool that has been integrated into Canvas system-wide.
- Poll Everywhere is a web-based polling tool that doesn’t require clickers, available to all instructors at Penn.
For additional recommended tools, please visit Remote Work Tools & Guidelines from Information Systems & Computing.
Please be sure to check with your school or unit for any specific program or course-related recommendations or requirements
Getting Help
- Email Canvas Support Contacts for immediate assistance with Canvas and other digital learning tools
- Virtual Support for Teaching, Research & Learning from the Libraries
- Instructional Technology Support by Schools from the Center for Teaching & Learning
- Computing Support by Local Support Provider from Information Systems & Computing
Resources for Faculty, Staff, & TAs
Quick Guides
- Canvas for Faculty/Staff/TAs: Find more information about using a variety of features in Canvas.
- Canvas Guides: Learn more about Canvas tools used for course information, videoconferencing, collaboration, participation, and assessment.
- Getting Started with Canvas: Overview of settings to create and publish a course site in Canvas.
Resources & Strategies for Instruction
Resources for Instruction
- Request a New Canvas Site
- How to Make Your Canvas Page Friendly (via CTL)
- Practices for Teaching Students Living with Stress and Trauma (via CTL)
- Strategies to Help Students Stay on Track When They Must Miss Class (via CTL)
- Sevent Steps for Making Your Canvas Course More Accessible (via Wharton)
- Electronic Documents Accessibility (via Web Accessibility)
Strategies for In Person Instruction
- Teaching in Person Fall 2021 (via CTL)
- Strategies for Teaching with a Mask (via CTL)
Strategies for Online Instruction
- Preparing to Teach Online (via CTL)
- FAQ About Teaching Remotely (via CTL)
- Planning an Online Course (via Wharton)
Resources & Strategies for Assessment
- Adapting your final exam for the remote teaching environment
- Canvas Quizzes: Capabilities, Limitations, and Best Practices for Remote Testing
- Types of Polls & Surveys
- Hiding Grades from Students
Canvas FAQ
- How Do I Find My Canvas Sites from Past Semesters?
- How Do I Create a Question Bank in a Course?
- Do You Know Students Can Submit Late Assignments Unless You Use an “Until” Date?
Resources for Students
Quick Guides
- Canvas for Students: Find more information about using a variety of features in Canvas.
- Canvas Guides: Learn more about Canvas tools used for course information, videoconferencing, collaboration, participation, and assessment.
- TurnitIn CPF for Students: Turnitin may be used to check the originality of student work and to detect for possible plagiarism. Learn how to submit a Turnitin assignment in Canvas.
Resources & Strategies for Learning
- Remote Learning: Tips for Students (via OLI)
- Student Remote IT Support
- Penn Libraries Virtual Support for Teaching, Research, and Learning
- Student Disabilities Services and Learning Resources