Keep Teaching Without Canvas

Northwestern IT is monitoring an issue affecting Canvas. The vendor is aware of the issue and is investigating it. We can also confirm that other institutions are experiencing the same impact. Updates to this issue will be posted to the Status of University IT Services web page.

We understand how disruptive this is and encourage leading with empathy and flexibility. While we are working with the vendor to restore service as soon as possible, please consider the following steps to keep teaching and supporting students during this disruption.

Communicate with Students

• Email students in your course. Download the class roster with emails from CAESAR.
• Consider the following:
  • Attach files of readings or other resources your students might need in the short term.
  • Consider rescheduling due dates for upcoming assignments.

Continue Online Classes via the Zoom Portal

• If you previously created Zoom links via the Canvas portal, access the links via the Northwestern Zoom portal and email the link.
• Use the Northwestern Zoom portal to create new course meeting links if needed.

How to Get Student Work Submitted

You may wish to collect student work during this time outside of Canvas. Options include:

• Submit directly to you via email. 
• Collect submissions via Microsoft Forms by using the “Upload File” question.
•  Create a OneDrive folder and have students upload files there.
  • Instructions here: Keep Teaching - How To Create a OneDrive Folder and Share It with Your Students.

Please note: With a class-wide OneDrive folder, students will be able to see each other’s work, which is helpful for peer review, peer teaching, and group work.

How to Give Quizzes or Other Assessments

• Create a form with Microsoft Forms to build or recreate quiz or exam questions. 
• For complex quizzing with threaded questions, use Qualtrics.
• If you already have a Crowdmark account, use the Assigned Assignments workflow to administer assessments. Log in to Crowdmark via the email option.

Using Microsoft Teams for Communication, Collaboration, Meetings, and File Sharing

Microsoft Teams is available for instructors and students. Within a Team, instructors can:

• Create channels for general course-wide messaging or specific group chats.
• Share and create files for class members to access or collaborate.
• Hold individual voice calls and video meetings.

For information on creating a Team, adding members, and using Teams for teaching, please follow this guide: Using Teams for Teaching.