Unit 5: Introduction to Communication Tools

Announcements

Announcements are a great tool for communicating with your students in Canvas. Announcements can be used to communicate with students at the beginning of a course and for weekly updates. Announcements can be scheduled to go out at a certain date and time, or can be sent immediately. Additionally, recent announcments can be embedded on your home page.

Announcements Overview (4 minutes)

519 - Announcements Overview Links to an external site. from Canvas LMS Links to an external site. on Vimeo Links to an external site..

Tips for Using Announcements (3 minutes)

Canvas Inbox

The Canvas Inbox, often referred to as 'Conversations', is not linked to your SMCCCD email account, but you will get copies of your inbox messages in your email (depending on your Notification settings). Therefore, messages initiated through the Canvas inbox can be answered and tracked through your email account. You can respond in your email and the message will be sent to the student through Canvas. Encouraging students to communicate with you through Canvas helps to track instructor-student contact in Canvas activity reports. 

Conversations Overview (5 mintes)

115 - Conversations Overview Links to an external site. from Canvas LMS Links to an external site. on Vimeo Links to an external site..

Calendar

SMCCCD students often live by the calendar in Canvas! The calender includes all assignments and discussions that have a due date. The calendar can also include events such as field trips, course reading, etc. To learn more about the features of the calendar, please review the video below:

Calendar Overview (4 minutes)

528 - Calendar Overview Links to an external site. from Canvas LMS Links to an external site. on Vimeo Links to an external site..

Chat

The Chat tool in Canvas allows students and teachers to interact in real-time.

Once Chat has been enabled as an LTI tool in your course, the Chat tool can be used for real-time conversation with course users. Any user in the course can participate in a chat conversation and view all chat content. Currently there is no load limit for a course chat, but larger numbers of course users may affect performance.

A user must be actively viewing the chat tool to appear in the chat list. You may consider posting chat hours in the course calendar to let students know when you are available. Or you can open Chat in a new browser window while viewing other areas in Canvas.

Notes:

• The Chat tool must be enabled for your institution before it can be used in Canvas courses. If you are an admin, contact your Customer Success Manager for assistance.
• Chat is not available when masquerading.
• If you cannot view the Chat tool, Chat has not been enabled for your institution.

View Course Chat

Chat is a course tool that is available to all students in the course. Chats cannot be limited to specific students.

Instructors can use the chat tool to allow students to contact them when online, create virtual office hours, conduct group discussions or study sessions.

All users in the course can also access the chat history.

Note: Students cannot delete chat comments.

ConferZoom

ConferZoom is the tool we recommend for video conferencing with students. ConferZoom is free for all California Community College's Faculty and Staff. You can do this to hold virtual office hours, or for class meetings off campus. You can also request live captioning to keep your live broadcasts accessible.

1. Create an account with ConferZoom.
   1. Note: Be sure to use your '@smccd.edu' email address to create your account.
2. Read through ConferZoom Meeting Host Guide.
3. Follow the ConferZoom LTI Guide. (14 pages) to synch your ConferZoom account in your Canvas Sandbox. 
4. Share the ConferZoom Participant Guide Links to an external site. with students to help them navigate the interface.