Canvas URL: vcschools.instructure.com

What is Canvas? Canvas is a course management system that supports online learning and teaching. It extends the classroom to simplify teaching and learning by connecting all the digital tools teachers use in one easy place.

Each teacher has control over what their Canvas course looks like. For some courses, the teacher might just have a home page that covers the important things they are working on that week. In other grades, there may be online quizzes, videos, discussions and collaborations that bring a whole new level to the experience.

If you are a parent or guardian, you are invited to register as an observer in your student’s courses. You will see what is going on in a course without interrupting the flow of daily course communication. You cannot submit work on behalf of your student, but you can see their grades, upcoming Assignments, and interaction in the course.

These initial steps must be completed from a computer browser and not on an iPad or mobile device. Once the initial registration is complete, Canvas works well on any device.

IF YOU ARE A RETURNING PARENT

• If you signed up for Canvas last year, you can continue to use your existing account, where your username is your email address. Click on "Forgot Password?" if you need help.
• To add a student to your existing account, first follow the steps to get a pairing code.

CREATING A STUDENT PAIRING CODE
*For each student you wish to observe, you will need a "pairing code".

1. Go to vcschools.instructure.com
2. Sign in as your student (your student login info is mailed home or provided at a school event)
3. Click on "Account" (first link under top left logo), then "Settings"
4. Click the "Pair with Observer" button
5. Note the pairing code. (this is a one-time use code for one parent and will eventually expire)
6. Click on "Account" and "Logout" to sign out of the student account.

ADD THE STUDENT TO YOUR PARENT ACCOUNT

1. Visit vcschools.instructure.com and login with your parent account. Your login is your full email address.
2. Go to "Account", then "Settings" and click on "Observing"
3. Enter the pairing code from the steps above

IF YOU ARE NEW TO CANVAS:

CREATING A STUDENT PAIRING CODE
*For each student you wish to observe, you will need a "pairing code".

1. Go to vcschools.instructure.com
2. Sign in as your student (your student login info is mailed home or provided at a school event)
3. Click on "Account" (first link under top left logo), then "Settings"
4. Click the "Pair with Observer" button
5. Note the pairing code. (this is a one-time use code for one parent and will eventually expire)
6. Click on "Account" and "Logout" to sign out of the student account.

CREATING A NEW PARENT OBSERVER ACCOUNT

1. Go to vcschools.instructure.com
2. Click on the link: "Parent of a Canvas User? Click Here for an account"
3. Enter your name, email, desired password, confirm the password and a pairing code* (see above)
4. Agree to the terms of use and click the "Start Participating" button
5. More than one student? Go to "Account", then "Settings" and click on "Observing" to add additional students*