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Additional Canvas Help

A Parent's Guide

Canvas can be accessed from the cdschools.org main page under “PARENTS & STUDENTS” or by entering this URL directly: https://cdschools.instructure.com/login/canvas

  • Student Pairing Codes
    • Your child will first need to log into Canvas and go to their Account Settings in the left-hand gray navigation bar to generate a code for you to use. On the right-hand side of the screen, there will be a button called “Pair with Observer”. When you check this box, you will be provided with a code that can be used to generate the parent observer account as described above.
  • At the log in screen, you can either type your child’s log in credentials or click the option in the upper right corner “Parent of a Canvas User? Click Here For an Account”.
  • When you select the option to create your own account, you will be presented with a parent signup screen where you enter your information. Your child needs to generate a “Student Pairing Code” from their account to provide to you (see instructions above). Check the box to agree to the terms.
  • When you first enter Canvas, you will see the user dashboard. The dashboard will display your entire current courses. You will also see a bar on the left with some account and other options to explore. Current assignments and other information entered by the teachers will be displayed on the right.
    • If you do not see class titles, click the 3 dots on the right side and select "Card View"
  • By clicking on a class, you will be taken into the main stream of that course. Since Canvas can be set up to display the course in a variety of ways, you may see a web page structure, a course stream, or even a module list. Explore the site and if you have any specific questions about the structure, you should email the teacher for assistance. The left sidebar displays many important features such as assignments, quizzes, grades, etc. Your child will be able to help you navigate the site. For additional assistance, explore the Help button found at the bottom of the far left menu.
    • Account - Personal account settings and notifications.
    • Dashboard - Navigate back to all classes.
    • Help - Program help and user support forums.
    • Course Navigation - Various features of the course. 
  • For additional information on navigating and using Canvas, click the “Canvas Help” button found in the home page bar on any class. That link will take you to a page of useful links, documents, and videos on Canvas basics

Student Login & Basic Information

From a web-based browser on a computer:
  • Start at www.cdschools.org, and then go to the Parents & Students portal link at the top of the page. In the list of apps, find Canvas.
  • You are taken to the log in screen, unless you are already logged into district resources. Provide your district Username and Password. It is the same user name and password you use for all district resources. If you try too many attempts to log in, your account may become locked. Contact your instructor to have your account unlocked or choose the Password Reset option in the same list of apps from the school website.
  • If you see the option to enter an Email and Password instead of a Network Username, you are not in the Central Dauphin School District Canvas site.
  • Bookmark the new page for easy access.
From the Canvas Phone App:
  • Download and install the Canvas Student App from your Apple or Android app store (free download)
  • Launch the Canvas Student App. You will be asked to Find my school. Type Central Dauphin School District. This should take you to cdschools.instructure.com and ask for your Network Username and Password, just like the web-based version discussed above. You should now be at your Canvas Dashboard. For more information about the Canvas Student app, please check out these resources:
Submitting Assignments:

In Canvas, you will see blue buttons telling you to submit work, post a reply, or take a quiz. When you submit work through Canvas, your teacher will see exactly when it was submitted and, if multiple submissions were allowed, every submission you made. Canvas will always confirm your work submission with a comment in the upper right corner of the screen as well. After an assignment is graded, you can go back into the assignment and check the submission for comments and grading notes. You can also leave your own comments for the teacher to see.

Grades in Canvas:

While Canvas has a built-in gradebook that you can access from the left side course navigation menu, it is best to check grades in the Home Access Center for official current grades. Your teacher will give you specific guidelines on course expectations, navigation, and grading protocols.