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How To Use Canvas

How To Use Canvas
Canvas is the online learning system used across the Wake County Public School System to support student learning—whether in the classroom or at home.
 
Our educators use Canvas to create engaging, accessible lessons that support every student’s success. Whether you're checking in daily or reviewing a project, Canvas keeps learning connected and on track.

Log in to Canvas

1. All WCPSS students have a Canvas account. Students log into Canvas through the WakeID Portal and click the Canvas icon.

Canvas icon

 

Canvas Parent Observer Accounts

Families can view their student's course content and progress by creating a Canvas Observer Account. If you have multiple students, you can link all your students under a single Observer account. Note: This is a separate account from your Campus Parent (Infinite Campus) account.

Creating an account

  1. Wait until after the first day of school if you do not already have a Canvas account.
  2. Your student must log in to Canvas on a computer (not a mobile device) and generate a pairing code. View a tutorial on how to generate a code for a parent observer account.
  3. Go to https://wcpss.instructure.com/login/canvas and click the link Click Here for an Account. 
    log in page for canvas with username and password box

     

  4. Complete the form and click Start Participating. If the pairing code does not work, have the student generate another pairing code and make sure to click “OK” instead of the X to close the pop-up.

Canvas Observer Permissions

As an observer, you will have limited permissions that allow you to see what is going on in a course without interrupting or participating in the course. You can:

  • See the calendar
  • See the modules page
  • View course announcements
  • Preview documents in course pages
  • See Quiz titles
  • See Canvas grades and assignment due dates
  • Access conversations in the inbox

Canvas Interface

You can view global navigation, course navigation, breadcrumb navigation, sidebar, and help link.

  • The global navigation helps you get to where you want to go across all of your Canvas courses [1].
  • The course navigation helps you get to where you want to go within your Canvas course [2].
  • The breadcrumb navigation shows you where you have gone inside of a course and gives you a quick and easy way to move backward [3].
  • The sidebar will be mostly empty for Observers [4].
  • The help link is for when you need assistance. [5].
screen grab of the canvas interface with instructions

Canvas Mobile Apps

  • Canvas has multiple mobile apps. We recommend that parents use the Canvas Student app for the best user experience. 
  • When using a Canvas Mobile App (iOS and Android), search for Wake County Public Schools (NC) - Parents and use your Canvas parent login credentials.
  • Using the student app as a parent is recommended. This allows the parent to view more details regarding their student's assignments.

Elementary and Middle How-to videos

High School How-to videos