Professional Development

If you plan to use a graduate assistant, let them know about this self-enrolled, online course to get started using Canvas.

Canvas for Graduate Assistants introduces several Canvas features to assistant teaching. Demonstrations and overviews present creating announcements; reviewing quiz, discussion, and assignment settings; and understanding the Gradebook and SpeedGrader; taking Attendance; and previewing with student view. Graduate Assistants will be ready to support their instructor after learning these important Canvas features.

Any GA can self-enroll using these access steps:

1. Enroll in Canvas for Graduate Assistants [TWU Username and password required for sign-in]
2. Select the blue button to the right that says "Enroll in Course."
3. On the next page, select the blue button to the right that says "Go to the Course."

Note: GAs will need a Canvas account to access the training. Any GA that doesn't have a Canvas account should contact the Service Desk.

This self-guided course will introduce instructors to the Canvas learning management system (LMS) and provide resources on creating, designing, and facilitating Canvas courses at Texas Woman's University. Instructors can move through the content at their own pace and return to content throughout the semester to review. There are five content modules with step-by-step guides and optional videos; helpful checklists for before, during, and after the semester; and links to Canvas and university resources.

Start the Getting Started with Canvas Self-Guided Course

Canvas Training offers training webinars allowing you to go into greater depth on a variety of topics. There are On Demand Courses that you can attend at any time on your own and Sessions that are interactive, allow some hands-on experience, and are taught by Canvas trainers available to answer questions. 

How to Get Started

Follow these steps to set up an account and register for a Canvas Training:

Open the Training Services Portal

1. Log Into Canvas using your TWU Username and Portal Password
2. Click Help > Training Services Portal from the Global Navigation Menu
3. On the "Training Portal is requesting access to your account" page, click Authorize
4. On the "Authorize canvaspd idp prod to use your account?" page, click Authorize
5. The Canvas Professional Development Training Portal LTI course will open. There is a "New Training Services Portal Walk Through" on demand course to help you get started.

Learn more about The Canvas Training Services Portal.

The Office of Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) has prepared guides on a variety of teaching topics with summaries of best practices, links to helpful online resources, and information about TLT resources available to instructors at Texas Woman's University. Our guides cover course design and delivery, accessibility & Universal Design for Learning, classroom technology, and quality assurance at TWU.

Learn more about Teaching and Learning Guides.

The Office of Teaching and Learning with Technology values the scholarship and creative works presented at the 2021 Teaching and Learning Symposium. Please view these recorded sessions in the TLS Repository@TWU.

Please email TLT@twu.edu if you need any assistance.

In March of 2022, TLT hosted the annual Academic Success Lecture with Dr. Kevin Gannon, Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and Professor of History at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Gannon’s topic was, “Being Transparent about Equity and Student Success”. In his lecture, he speaks about how barriers to equity and success are put into place, as well as specific strategies which may be used to remove them. A captioned recording of Dr. Gannon’s lecture is now available online.

If you were not able to attend the 2021 Academic Success Lecture featuring Dr. Kevin Gumienny, the presentation is available for you to view on the TLT YouTube channel.

The PowerPoint, Design for All: Create Online Courses That Everyone Can Use is available to download and view as well.

Also, look at the Universal Design Toolkit resource that includes articles, step-by-step roadmaps, links, and resources designed to help you:

• Apply Universal Design for Learning principles to your course materials;

• Create new course materials that meet accessibility guidelines;

• Revise existing course materials to become accessible to all students;

• Request support from your Instructional Design Partner, Disability Services for Students, and the Technology Service Desk.

The purpose of the Pioneer Teaching and Learning Academy (PTLA) is to provide expert peer support and a forum for growth/enhancement in teaching and learning. Learn more about the Pioneer Teaching and Learning Academy

The purpose of the Universal Design Champions is to help instructors learn about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, develop relationships with instructional designers, and become acquainted with universal design for learning (UDL) strategies to design course materials that meet the needs of all students. The program will provide instructors with information and strategies to create accessible instructional materials (Canvas pages, videos, slides, and documents) that meet the WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Implementing these standards into the course materials, faculty can better engage all students enrolled in their courses.

Learn how to become a Universal Design Champion!