Spring is coming round again, and subject sites will soon be published and made available to students. Here’s your regular springboard into the teaching session with a list of everything you need to get started.
Main calendar subject sites will be published from 29 July. If your subject is on a different calendar, please check publication dates with your faculty admin.
🛑 REVIEW is no longer available
Due to vendor closure, starting from Spring session, REVIEW will no longer be available. We are reaching out to support Subject Coordinators who have used REVIEW previously for Spring and minor sessions. If your Spring subject uses REVIEW for assessment, you have not yet been contacted and would like support for updating your assessments, please book a consultation with the LX Lab.
🗓️ Before 29 July: get your subject site ready for students
- Before your site is published, check settings, dates and content – use the step-by-step subject rollover checklist to keep your updates on track
- Consider how GenAI will be used in your assessments and plan how you will scaffold your approach in your subject materials – use our resource on developing guidelines, which includes links to a generative AI toolkit and instructions on importing an information page from Canvas Commons
- Include Academic Integrity resources in your subject site to ensure that students have clear information about academic integrity
- Update your Reading Lists with the Library to ensure students have clear links to resources
- Make sure your Canvas site is accessible to everyone when teaching session commences
- Disable non-expiring essential cookies in Mentimeter to maintain privacy
🗓️ 29 July: connect, communicate and offer support
Kick things off with a welcome announcement to introduce yourself. Make sure students know how you will be communicating with them throughout the session, how they can access support, and expectations regarding academic integrity and use of GenAI.
Ensure no students are enrolled in a staff role in your Canvas subject site. To add co-teachers, tutors and other staff to your Canvas site, follow our People in Canvas guide (note that a new tutor/marker role was added in 2023).
🗓️ 5 August: Week 1
Give students space and support as they navigate your subject for the first time. Consider how you will build belonging and community in your teaching to boost students’ participation and engagement from the first tutorial.
🖼️ Canvas site design inspiration
Did you know that each faculty has a Canvas site full of ready-made professional page layouts, module structures and design elements? These templates and elements are user-friendly and can be one-click copied into your Canvas site. Examples include:
- suggested layouts for enhanced welcome pages
- specialised modules for case studies and lab subjects
- design elements for columns and showing and hiding details
- faculty-specific banners and colours
Get access to your faculty templates site by signing up here. The site includes guidelines on how to copy and edit the templates. If you would like a private space in Canvas to explore and test site design, you can request a Canvas Sandpit.
👩🏽💻 Help and support
Here are some of the key student support resources:
- Canvas 24/7 online and phone support
- IT Support: log a ticket for online IT support, phone 02 9514 2222 or drop-in to Building 10, Level 2, room 212 (CB10.02.212)
- UTS Canvas Student Guide
- UTS Student Centre for administrative and hands-on support
- Student Learning Hub for advice and guidance on UTS student support services, including peer to peer coaching on how to use Canvas
- Online exams for information about exam conditions and technology requirements
- Supporting Study page for support options, study resources, fun stuff and general help with being a student at UTS
Read our blog post on academic support and services so you know where to go for help this Spring: