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Canvas at Fresno State

Resources for Students

**You WILL NOT see your courses on your Canvas Dashboard until your instructor has made them available**

Need Help with Canvas?
The Academic Technology Resource Center is here to help!
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Zoom: https://fresnostate.zoom.us/j/86566037616
Email: canvas@mail.fresnostate.edu
Phone: 559.278.7373

After regular business hours, complete the After Hours Student Canvas Support form and someone will contact you the next business day. You can also contact the Service Desk (559.278.5000, fresnostate.edu/help/) if you are experiencing problems. Please note: There is limited support after hours as Canvas admin tools are not handled by the Service Desk.

The Canvas Student Orientation will prepare you to use the most common features in Canvas. It includes short video demonstrations and links to tutorials. Once you have completed each of the modules, you have the opportunity to test your Canvas knowledge and earn a Certificate of Completion and Badge. Some instructors may even require you to complete this orientation as part of their course. Self-enroll in the Canvas Student Orientation.

Consider downloading the Canvas Student App which allows you to access your courses using a mobile device. Using the app allows you to submit assignments, participate in discussions, view grades and course materials, access course calendars, To Do items, notifications, and messages. Read more about the Canvas Student Mobile App.

Some instructors may require that you use Respondus when taking online exams or quizzes. Respondus Lockdown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Canvas. When you use the Respondus Lockdown Browser you are unable to print, copy, go to a URL, or access other applications. When an assessment is started, you are locked into it until the exam is submitted for grading. Available for both Windows and Mac.

Respondus Monitor is a companion product for the Respondus Lockdown Browser that enables institutions to protect the integrity of non-proctored online exams. You use your own computer and a webcam to record assessment sessions, all without leaving Canvas.

Student Quick Start Guide for Respondus

Installation for Fresno State Users

Respondus Lockdown Browser uses a standard Windows or Mac installer that can be downloaded by students from the following link. Please note this link is unique to Fresno State users:
http://www.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=749643058

Beginning with the Fall 2023 semester when you submit the ePortfolio assignment to your professor, the system will automatically put a copy of your assignment into your GE ePortfolio.  This means that you no longer need to submit the assignment to your ePortfolio yourself.  Furthermore, there will no longer be ePortfolio registration holds.

Your GE ePortfolio is very important because it is used by the university to assess student learning in GE courses.  In each GE course, your professor will select one ePortfolio assignment when they set up the course in Canvas.  This ensures that the assignment will be submitted to your professor and your ePortfolio simultaneously.  Your professor will assign the grade on the assignment.  The GE Assessment Subcommittee also reviews student work, but they do not assign a grade to you.  They report overall results for Fresno State in each GE Area.

The WASC Senior College and University Commission accredits Fresno State.  This accreditation is essential because only accredited universities may offer financial aid and issue valid degrees.  Our GE assessment process must be in good standing to achieve accreditation.  If you delete your ePortfolio course, we will need to work with you to activate it again, and that is a time-consuming process.

 ** PLEASE DO NOT DELETE YOUR EPORTFOLIO COURSE FROM CANVAS.  You can, however, hide the course from your dashboard. Click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the card tile on the dashboard > Move > Unfavorite. This will add the course to your All Courses area. **

Using the Mobile App on a Smartphone: Download the iClicker Student app and create your account. You will still need to click on the iClicker Sync link in your Canvas course in order to register your account for that specific course if your instructor is giving points for polls. You have a two week free trial period after which the app is $15.99 for six months or 24.99 for one year.

Using iClicker via a browser: Go to iclicker.com and sign in as a student. You will need to create an account and click on the iClicker Sync link in your Canvas course in order to register your account for that specific course if your instructor is giving points for polls. You have a two week free trial period after which the app is $15.99 for six months or 24.99 for one year.

Using a clicker: Purchase or acquire a clicker device and use the iClicker Sync link in the Canvas Course that is using Clickers to register your device for that class. You will need to create a FREE iClicker REEF account to register your device.