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Learning Management System

Learning Management System Texas A&M University Learning Management System

Course Management


Digital Learning Environment Reminders

Best Practices for the Semester

As you navigate the semester with Canvas, take a look at these curated videos that address some of the top questions we are receiving through our Service Desk and Office Hours. 

Canvas Third-Party Tools

Several third-party tools are available to use in Canvas at the enterprise and subaccount level by School and College. Stay up to date with all third-party tools in Canvas by browsing our Status page.  

Digital Learning Environment Reminders

Course sections can be merged via ORCA . We have implemented a merge deadline for each semester to limit potential loss of student data. View the Course Availability in Canvas table for the merge deadlines for each semester. 

All About Canvas Shells

Canvas Shells at a Glance

Shell TypeAbbreviationTemplateFile Storage QuotaVisibility DurationStudent EnrollmentsCourse Associate RolesDeliver ContentRequest Process
Practice ShellsPRAC_Yes1 GBTBDNoneNoneNoUpon Request via Support
Eventually via ORCA
Development ShellsDEV_No (by default); can be added upon request1 GBTBDNoneUpon Request via SupportNoUpon Request via Support
Eventually via ORCA
Storage Shells*ZSTOR_No1 GBThrough August 2022NoneNoneNoView Storage Shell FAQs
Live Shells
Yes1 GBLast late grading date of each semesterYesAdded via ORCAYesAutomatically Provisioned
*For purposes of eCampus Exit only. Not available past August 26, 2021.

Canvas Shell Typology

TAMU Course Definitions 

Course Availability in Canvas

TermAvailable in BannerDate Loaded into CanvasIOR Course Merge DeadlineCourse Start DateCourse End + Available Until*
Summer I and 10-week 2024Available4/8/20245/23/20245/28/20248/23/2024
Summer II 2024Available4/8/20246/28/20247/3/20248/23/2024
Spring 2024Available
11/6/20231/11/20241/16/20245/31/2024
Fall 2023Available4/10/20238/16/20238/21/20231/19/2024
*After the Course Available Until date has passed, courses will be removed from the Canvas dashboard for faculty, TAs, and students. Courses will then move to the Past Enrollments section under All Courses as a Read only course, in line with the TAMU System Records and Retention Policy. The dates in the table above are for the main part of term at TAMU; there are unique part of term start dates that are not reflected in the table. Instructors have 4 days prior to the start of classes to combine course sections. To identify the exact date for when the course will be available to students to begin interacting, please refer to the dates located within the Settings of a course in Canvas.

Student Interaction in a Course


When a course is published, the published content is visible to students who are enrolled in the course. However, the course remains in a Read Only state until the first day of the term (set by the part of term start date), at which time students are able to interact with the course content, including posting on Discussions, submitting Assignments, and taking a Quiz. Please note that courses are NOT automatically Published. This needs to be completed by the course instructor.

For a current list of features that can be viewed by instructors and students in the read-only and open states, please view our Course Interactions in Canvas PDF. 




How to Manage the Course Dashboard

All course roles can manage the courses on their dashboard by using the Star feature under All Courses. Watch the Starring Courses in the Canvas Dashboard (1:38) for additional information.  

Grade Submission to Howdy from Canvas


Use the integration in Howdy to import midterm and final grades from Canvas. Instructors of Record should first review their Canvas course and gradebook setup prior to performing the grade submission in Howdy. This process will only be available during the defined grading period window.
Before submitting final grades, ALL grades must be entered in Canvas (including zeros where necessary) to ensure accuracy. The import process for submitting final grades will assume missing grades are zeros and may lower the grade imported in Howdy, potentially causing students to view a lower grade in Howdy than what is displayed in Canvas.  


Final Grades Checklist

 Prior to submitting final grades to Howdy, ensure the following items have been completed: 
  • Ensure gradebook is setup correctly
  • Ensure grading scheme is enabled for the course
  • Enter all grades (including zeros)
  • Post all grades to students that should be included in the Total grade
If you are concerned with final grades, we recommend exporting the gradebook in Canvas and comparing the Unposted Final Grade column with the Unposted Current Grade and Current Grade columns. 
  • Unposted Final Grade column is used when submitting final grades to Howdy. When importing, any missing grades will be zeros and any columns that are not posted for students will be included (eyeball with slash)
  • Unposted Current Grade column matches the Total column located in the Canvas gradebook. This column will only include any entered grades or unposted columns and will not include missing grades. This column is referenced during the midterm grade submission window. 
  • Current Grade column reflects course grade based on graded, posted (not hidden) assignments. This will not include missing or unposted columns. This is the grade that the student views in Grades.
 
For more detailed instructions on Finalizing Grades, Follow the steps below.

Finalize Grades in Canvas

Submit Grades to Howdy

After the gradebook is finalized in Canvas, is set up correctly and reviewed for accuracy, the Instructor of Record or Grade Submitter roles can submit final grades to Howdy by pulling Midterm or Final grades from Canvas. If the course has multiple sections, this process will have to be completed for every course section, even if the course is merged in Canvas. 

Additional Resources

Resolving Incompletes


There are two methods for resolving an incomplete: outside of the LMS, and inside of the LMS. The instructor and student can determine which method to use. 

Resolving Incompletes Outside of LMS

Course instructors needing to resolve an incomplete have the ability to do so outside of Canvas. Below are suggested strategies and resources depending on the scenario necessitating the “Incomplete.” 

Resolving Incompletes in Canvas

If the Instructor opts to resolve the incomplete in Canvas, Instructors of Record for a course have the ability to request an incomplete section in Canvas through ORCA. For additional information on this process, visit Request Incomplete Sections in ORCA.