Build - Scheduling Activities
Keep in mind that deadlines will generate questions. In face-to-face classes you might have time to talk about that in session, but for hybrid and online classes, that typically means emails. Pick a date and time that you’re willing to be available to answer. Monday morning deadlines mean students who use the weekends to study don’t get answers, or you’re online all weekend to respond.
Include the date, hour and time zone that the assignment is due in any materials. Some students will be in different time zones, and there is no scheduled “class start time.” Canvas will adjust the assignment times based on the student’s profile, so make it clear what time zone you will be using. (Watch out for
"midnight" and 12:00 - specify 11:59am, or 11:59pm Pacific Time.)
We also recommend using 11:59pm the previous night instead of noon. For instance:
- For assignments that you want to grade on Friday, specify "All assignments for a module are due Thursday at 11:59pm Pacific Time."
- For discussion posts that you want students to respond to, specify "Initial posts are due by 11:59pm Pacific Time, Monday; responses are due by 11:59pm Pacific Time, on Thursday. All other assignments (quizzes, response papers, etc.) are due at 11:59pm Pacific Time, on Thursday.
Regarding Online and Hybrid Classes
In both online and hybrid classes, daily deadlines are at odds with one of the main reasons students take online classes. Online classes need to be designed to have some schedule flexibility, but they are not independent study. Consider a strategy of one to two deadlines per week, with several days between those deadlines. That will give students the flexibility needed to do their course work.
What about the Canvas Calendar?
The calendar will automatically show any items that have a deadline added in their settings (e.g. Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes). However, it won’t automatically show work done in support of those assessments, for instance the readings required to be successful on the quiz. For this reason, don’t rely on the Calendar tool to fully communicate the to-do list for a course to your students.