Canvas Student FAQ

• ​Independent Learner--if you require immediate feedback, online learning may not be right for you.
• Self-Motivated--if you require someone looking over your shoulder to get you to work, online learning may not be right for you.
• Proficient Reader and Writer--if you feel you are lacking in basic reading and writing skills, remember that an online course requires lots of both reading and writing. 
• Deadline-Oriented--if you tend to procrastinate or put work off to the last minute, online learning may not be right for you. Online students must meet published deadlines and online instructors rarely allow for late work. 
• Take Responsibility for the Learning Process--successful online students seek out tools and knowledge to help them accomplish their goals. If every time you get stuck on something you have to wait for someone to tell you the answer, online learning may not be right for you.  

Most online learning software just requires a browser: Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox,

• Most or all teachers will share learning materials and set up learning activities in Canvas. 
• Teachers who will hold remote class meetings via videoconference will use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
• You can use your KHSD Office365 account to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Your teachers will let you know if you need any other applications and should provide instructions to download and use them for learning.

There are several staff members who can assist you with any questions you have about how to use the different features in Canvas, the creation, and building of courses in Canvas, the development of new online and hybrid courses, and general questions about Online Learning.  KHSD Online Learning (Links to an external site.) also has a Website Dedicated to supporting staff and students. The KHSD resource provides support for personal computers, Canvas, student e-mail, and mobile devices.

BAS - Bakersfield Adult School Contacts

• Ask your instructor
• Terrence Banks - Job Spot Coordinator -[email protected] 
• Katy Perez - Dean of Students - [email protected]
• BAS Help Desk - [email protected]
• BAS Website - Has a list of Frequently Asked Questions

Please see these illustrated steps (Links to an external site.) on how to customize the notifications or alerts you receive from Canvas so that you don't receive too much email or other alerts from Canvas. By clicking on the Settings link in the upper-right corner of the Canvas interface, users can:

• change their display name
• add a profile photo
• adjust notification preferences--what kinds of activities in Canvas will prompt it to send you messages, and how you prefer to receive those messages
• upload files
• create ePortfolios
• input or change phone numbers, social media information, notification preferences, and other profile information in Canvas.
• You can link your accounts from Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Google, LinkedIn, Diigo, and Delicious to Canvas, and you can choose to receive alerts on your cell phone from Canvas too!  

Canvas doesn't have an email tool that broadcasts out emails to students.  Canvas uses its Conversations tool (inbox) as an internal messaging system entirely based within Canvas.  They messages are then sent out to whatever channel the user desires (email is the default channel, and your email is 100% private, instructors are not able to see it).]

You can use Conversations to send messages to any other BAS Canvas user in your course.  Students can contact instructors with anything you may have a question about-- and whenever you write a comment when you submit an assignment, it's copied to the Conversations inbox for you and your teacher. Likewise, any feedback a teacher provides on an assignment you've submitted will be copied into your Conversation inbox for your convenience. Click here (Links to an external site.) for a tutorial on Conversations.

In order to view your course in Canvas, two things must happen:

• You must be officially enrolled in the course; and
• Your instructor must have "published" the course to make it available to students. If an instructor asks you to access a Canvas course but it is not listed in your My Courses list, ask your instructor if the course has been published yet. If the instructor has published the course, ask your instructor to check if you are on the roster. If you have recently registered for the course, please allow one hour for your enrollment to be added to Canvas.

Visit the Student Resource pages below to learn the basics for using the most common remote learning tools--Canvas and Zoom. Teachers use Canvas to share class materials, conduct class activities, and assess learning. They use Zoom to hold remote class meetings using videoconferencing.

• Getting into and using Canvas - First-time Canvas users
• Using the Canvas Student app
• Using Zoom

If you have any remote classes that use the Zoom video conference tool, the minimum required bandwidth is 600kbps (up/down) and recommended is 1.5 Mbps (up/down).

• Visit SpeedTest.net to test your Internet connection speed (Links to an external site.).
• If you have questions or concerns about your device’s Internet capabilities, contact your mobile, Internet or cellular provider.
• Free and Low-Cost Internet Options:
  

  Phone Carrier	Service Description
  Comcast	Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering two months of free to Internet service through the Internet Essentials program (Links to an external site.).  This offer is available to new and existing customers. Additionally, Xfinity WiFi hotspots (Links to an external site.) are now available free of charge to the public.
  AT&T	AT&T is providing free access to its WiFI hot spots (Links to an external site.) throughout the country.
  Charter	Charter is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access (Links to an external site.) for 60 days to households college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Additionally, all WiFi hotspots are now free of charge.
  T-Mobile	T-Mobile is providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days. It will also provide additional data to mobile hotspot users.
  Verizon	Verizon is waiving late fees and suspending service termination  (Links to an external site.)for customers negatively impacted by the global crisis.
  California Connects	California Community Colleges students are eligible for this mobile hotspot service (Links to an external site.), powered by Sprint, which offers nationwide 4G LTE connectivity and allows users to connect up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices for up to 10 hours on a single charge for only $19.99 a month.

   

• Additionally, as part of the Keep Americans Connected Pledge (Links to an external site.), AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Google Fiber, Spring, Verizon, and T-Mobile will not disconnect any customers for the next 60 days regardless of payment status.