Communication and Engagement - Canvas | Montana State University

Messaging and Annoucements

Canvas Inbox (Internal Messaging Tool) – Send messages to individual students, groups, or the entire class directly within Canvas.
Creating Announcements – Post announcements to share important information with your students.
Enable or Disable Announcements for Homepage – Control whether announcements appear on the course homepage of your course for students.

Engagement Tools

Set up and grade a discussion with checkpoints – Set multiple due dates and assign different point values for each stage of a graded discussion.
Discussions – Facilitate online conversations and collaborative learning among students.
Canvas Portfolios - A feature that enables instructors to incorporate long-term or showcase assignments, where students curate, reflect on, and present their work in one place.

Calendar & Chat

Canvas Calendar – View and manage assignments, events, and due dates for your course and students.
Using the Course Chat Feature to Communicate with Students – Chat with students in real time to provide quick feedback or support.

Still Need Help?

You can use the Canvas Instructor Guides or email us at ecat@montana.edu for questions.