The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) utilizes an online platform called Canvas to serve as the principal Learning Management System (LMS) for its students and faculty. Canvas streamlines the educational experience by providing a suite of digital tools and content which support and enhance learning. It is accessible to the university community and designed to foster engagement, allowing students to access course materials, submit assignments, communicate with instructors, and collaborate with peers online.
Implemented across the UM System, the Canvas course replaced multiple LMS platforms previously used, consolidating them into a single, unified system that went live in Fall 2021. This transition aimed to create a more connected and seamless learning experience for all campuses within the system. At UMKC specifically, students can find all essential apps and campus information through MyRoo portal, which links directly to Canvas, ensuring that resources for academic success are readily available.
Canvas at UMKC is part of a commitment to provide reliable and comprehensive computer resources to its students. Through Canvas, students have uninterrupted access to their coursework and are encouraged to be engaged members of the UMKC community. Additionally, the platform’s implementation supports UMKC’s objective to deliver an exceptional education aided by modern technology.
Content Compass
UMKC Canvas Overview
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) utilizes Canvas as its official learning management platform, offering a robust and connected experience for students, faculty, and staff across all UM System campuses.
Canvas Basics
Canvas is a widely adopted learning management platform that integrates digital tools and content to facilitate educational courses and experiences. It supports UMKC’s academic community by streamlining access to course materials, assignments, and collaboration tools. The platform is cloud-hosted, ensuring high availability and accessibility.
- User Groups: Students, Faculty, Staff
- Purpose: Course Management, Educational Resources, Student Engagement
- Operated by: Missouri Online office of eLearning, UM System
Accessing UMKC Canvas
To access UMKC Canvas, students and other users must log in with their UMKC SSO username and password. The login portal can be reached through the UMKC MyRoo portal or directly via the Canvas login page.
- Login Steps:
- Navigate to the MyRoo portal or Canvas login page
- Enter UMKC SSO credentials
- User Support:
- Assistance is available through UMKC’s support channels
- Email and chat support offer direct contact for troubleshooting
Account information is kept secure, ensuring that only authorized users gain access to their respective courses and resources.
Getting Started
Successfully beginning a course with UMKC’s Canvas requires a straightforward enrollment and login process. This section is designed to guide students through the initial steps, ensuring they can access and navigate their dashboard with ease.
Enrollment and Login
Students must first enroll in their desired courses through UMKC’s registration system, Pathway. Once enrolled, they will use their UMKC username and password to log into Canvas. This username typically follows the structure of an individual’s campus email address, which ends with @umkc.edu.
To login to Canvas, students should:
- Visit the UMKC Canvas login page
- Enter their UMKC username
- Input their associated password
In case a student forgets their password, a password recovery option is available where they can enter their login to receive a link for resetting their password.
Navigating the Dashboard
Upon successful login, students arrive at the Canvas Dashboard, a centralized hub for course management. The dashboard provides an overview of course enrollments and quick access to course materials.
Key features of the dashboard include:
- Courses: List of current courses a student is enrolled in
- Assignments: Upcoming submission deadlines
- Grades: Overview of academic performance in each course
Students can click on individual courses to access specific content such as lectures, assignments, discussions, and grades. Navigation is intuitive, with a clear menu available for each course to direct students to different sections of their course environment.
Canvas Tools and Resources
The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources through its Canvas platform, aimed at enriching the educational experience and streamlining academic success.
UMKC Apps
UMKC offers a portal named MyRoo that consolidates the most popular apps and campus information in one accessible location. This portal is designed to give students a seamless connection to the services they require to excel at UMKC, which includes managing their courses on Canvas and accessing Wi-Fi services.
- Favorite Apps: Students can mark their preferred apps for quick access.
- Campus Information: Essential campus details, including resources and support services.
Digital Learning Tools
Canvas at UMKC incorporates an assortment of digital tools which enhance the learning process. The learning management system (LMS) integrates these tools to provide a connected and efficient learning experience.
- RooLabs: Remote labs that offer access to software used in computer labs, enabling remote coursework completion
- Online Resources: UMKC’s vast online resources include educational technologies that support a range of canvas-installed tools
UMKC Online Resources
The university’s Canvas LMS is supported by UMKC Online, which provides resources and educational technologies available for students and faculty. It includes:
- Support Solutions: Assistance for enabling and using Canvas tools
- External Tools: A selection of installed tools that can be used within Canvas for various functions, such as e-portfolios and competency-based assessments
Instructional Support and Development
Within the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s (UMKC) landscape for online education, Canvas operates as a central platform providing robust options for instructional support and course development. The university offers resources to facilitate the use of technology in the classroom, ensuring that educators and students make the most of Canvas’s capabilities. Here, we explore the dedicated services aimed at enhancing teaching efficacy and course quality.
Teaching with Canvas
UMKC’s Academic Technology Support provides comprehensive tools within Canvas, including Panopto for lecture capture and Zoom for synchronous sessions. For faculty, a suite of training opportunities in the use of these technologies aligns with professional development opportunities that sharpen online teaching skills. The integration of evidence-based best practices ensures that teaching methods are grounded in research, thus enhancing the learning experience. Faculty can take advantage of:
- Online Teaching Certification programs
- Workshops and webinars focused on Canvas utilization
Instructional design services are in place to assist faculty with incorporating various technologies into their teaching. The approach ensures that instructors receive personalized support tailored to their specific needs.
Course Design and Review
When it comes to online course design, UMKC emphasizes quality and engagement. Working with design specialists, faculty members are aided in crafting courses that are not only informative but also interactive. Quality course review processes are implemented to guarantee that courses meet high standards. Services include:
| Service Offered | Description |
|---|---|
| Online Course Design | Assistance with building Canvas courses from the ground up. |
| Instructional Design Input | Expert advice on structuring courses for optimal engagement. |
| Course Review | Evaluation of course content and structure for quality. |
Through professional development and quality review, UMKC reinforces its commitment to instructional excellence. These efforts are supported by ongoing professional development opportunities for faculty, which encourage the continual refinement of courses and teaching methods.
Student Engagement and Services
The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) offers a robust set of student services designed to foster a sense of community and enhance student engagement. These services include support and coaching, as well as online community and collaboration platforms that are integral to a student’s success.
Support and Coaching
UMKC provides comprehensive support and coaching services aimed at academic and personal development. These services cater to a wide range of student needs, from academic advising to mental health resources. Student Success Services include:
- Academic Support: Tutoring, writing workshops, and study skills development
- Health and Well-Being: Counseling services and wellness programs
- Coaching: Personalized guidance to help students navigate their college journey and achieve their academic and career goals
The aim is to create an inclusive environment that supports a community of empowered learners.
Online Community and Collaboration
Through the UMKC Canvas platform, students are brought into an interactive online community that enhances collaboration and communication. Features of the Canvas platform include:
- Course Content Presentation: Tools for instructors to share materials and resources
- Interactive Tools: Discussion boards and group project functionalities
- Connection Services: Easy access to various UMKC apps and services via the MyRoo portal
By leveraging Canvas, UMKC establishes a collaborative, online learning environment that is inclusive and fosters connections among students and faculty.
UM System Integration
The University of Missouri System has adopted a unified approach to digital learning by implementing a single instance of Canvas across all its campuses. This strategic move ensures consistency and fosters a collaborative educational environment within the four-university network.
One Canvas for All Campuses
Canvas, a cloud-hosted learning management platform, is now the cornerstone of eLearning across the University of Missouri System. This centralized platform, termed ‘One Canvas,’ was launched with the intention to harmonize the digital learning experience for students and faculty alike.
- Key Benefits:
- Unified Experience: Students and staff across all UM System universities can access a common set of tools and resources
- Simplified Access: There is no need for multiple logins, streamlining the process for users system-wide
The One Canvas initiative was rolled out before the Fall 2021 semester and is aimed at enhancing digital learning by integrating a collection of digital tools and content for a more connected experience. Each of the UM System campuses, including the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC), now offers courses on this integrated platform, facilitating a consistent and quality learning environment.
Missouri Online serves to administer and support these online courses and programs, equipped with advanced technology platforms, ensuring that high-quality education is accessible not only to students in Missouri but also to a broader national audience.
Is UMKC Canvas similar to UNT Canvas in terms of navigation and features?
When comparing UMKC Canvas and UNT Canvas, both are known for their ease of use. Navigating through the platforms and accessing features is straightforward, making it simple for students and faculty to engage with the academic content. The similarity in ease of use enhances the overall user experience for both institutions.
UMKC’s Vision and Values
The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) upholds a deeply integrated vision and a set of values aiming to foster excellence and student empowerment within its educational model.
Commitment to Excellence
UMKC is resolute in maintaining quality and excellence across all its operations. Leadership at UMKC is invested in being change agents, consistently adapting and innovating to stay at the forefront of academic and research excellence. They are committed to scaling the institution’s impact—both in terms of modality and reach—while remaining transparent and true to the university’s core values.
- Vision: To become the best university possible
- Excellence: Through continual improvements in quality and scale
- Leadership: As change agents and collaborators
Empowering Students
UMKC’s values are student-centered, emphasizing the need to recruit, retain, and graduate empowered learners who are curious and ready to contribute to society. With a strong commitment to access for students, UMKC strives to create an environment where all students feel supported, respected, and empowered to achieve their individual educational goals.
- Values: Accountability, Learning, Respect, Diversity, Collaboration, and Integrity
- Students: Central to the institution’s mission, becoming well-rounded, empowered learners
Through these pledges, UMKC defines itself not only by the learners it shapes but also by the standards it upholds.