Author: Karen Turpin

Free Online Canvas conference, Friday 10/25

Can innovate - Friday October 25, 2019

The online Can-Innovate Conference is coming soon – Friday, October 25, 9 am – 5 pm. This event features a variety of sessions about online teaching, course design, and the use of Canvas, by and for California Community College faculty and staff. It’s completely free; you do need to register for the sessions that interest you in advance to be able to attend online from anywhere.

MiraCosta’s C3 Teaching and Learning Center will also be hosting viewing throughout the day with refreshments provided, so feel free to check out the program and drop in anytime – no registration required. The C3TLC is on the second floor of the Oceanside Library, rooms 1252 and 1253B. We also have Canvas giveaways – bags, pens, notepads, and stickers – for those who stop by the C3TLC during the event.

Participation either way is, of course, Flex-eligible. I hope you are able to identify at least one session of interest and attend! [Of special note perhaps – Karen Turpin and I are co-presenting with CVC-OEI during the closing 4 pm session, showcasing MiraCosta’s Student Support Hub that we’ve added to Canvas this year.]

Jim Julius, Ed.D.
Faculty Director, Online Education

Submit Handwritten Work to Canvas using Camscanner App and a Phone

CamScanner allows students to use their phone to scan multiple pages of handwritten homework to a PDF to submit to an online course. The app is available for Android, iPhone, and iPad. The basic version is free and should be sufficient for students to scan multiple pages to one file that can be submitted to a Canvas assignment.

Camscanner App Tutorials for Canvas

Android

iPhone (iOS)

Try These 10 Things To Fix Your Computer Problem Before You Call Support

Troubleshooting computer problems is part of modern life when you teach online. Before you make that support call, try your hand at fixing some of the most common problems yourself.

  1. Check your Course Management System (CMS) Status
    Is it a maintenance time? Or is  Canvas currently experiencing an outage?

     

    1. Canvas Status Updates
    2. Stay Up To Date with Changes Happening within Canvas
  2. Clear Browser Cache (history, cookies, etc.)
    Clearing your browser cache often will resolve the problem by allowing your computer to download the latest version of the webpage and/or software.

     

    1. How do I clear my browser cache on a PC?
    2. How do I clear my browser cache on a MAC?
  3. Try a Different Browser
    If you have cleared your browser cache and things are still not working as you expect try a different browser. Example: if you are using Chrome, try Firefox and visa versa. Ensure that your browsers are up to date. You can always download the latest version free online.

     

    1. Chrome
    2. Firefox
    3. Which browsers does Canvas support?
  4. Restart your Computer
    Many faculty and staff solve their problems with this simple step. Always a good option to try.
  5. Check your Internet Connection Speed
    A slow connection could be why your CMS system is running slow.  Share your result with your internet service provider as necessary to resolve.
  6. Enable Browser Cookies
    Cookies are small files which are stored on a user’s computer. They are designed to hold a modest amount of data specific to a particular client and website, and can be accessed either by the web server or the client computer. This allows the online server to deliver a page tailored to a particular user, or the page itself can contain some script which is aware of the data in the cookie and so is able to carry information from one visit to the website (or related site) to the next.
  7. Enable Java
    It strongly recommended to have the latest version to ensure proper functionality of our online systems.

     

    1. Review ‘What is Java and Why do I need it?‘
    2. Download Java
  8. Manage Pop-Up Blockers
    Pop-up windows, or pop-ups, are windows that appear automatically without your permission. They vary in size but usually don’t cover the whole screen. They are often required for certain online website applications to work properly.
  9. Make sure that your Operating System is fully updated. 
    Neglecting updates could deprive you of important bug and performance fixes.

     

    1. Apple Computer
    2. PC Computer 
  10. Check your Device Settings
    This is a great tool to identify what is on your computer, browser version, plugins, etc. This tool can help you update your computer yourself, and/or can be provided to tech support to assist you further with troubleshooting.

     

    1. What are the basic computer specifications for Canvas?
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