Teaching During a Canvas Disruption
Communicating with Students
Emailing Class Roster
If you wish to email your whole class, you can email by simply using the following format: DepartmentCourseNumberSectionSemester@uwlax.edu
Examples: PSY46101Spring2026@uwlax.edu or MGT39301Spring2026@uwlax.edu
Alternatively, you can garner the student list from WINGS and cut-and-paste into Outlook's bcc. You can use these instructions to review how to email your students from WINGS or Outlook.
Collecting Student Work
If you need to collect student work outside Canvas or the classroom, the best option is to have students email you their submissions.
Provide students with a clear email subject line and file naming convention such Last- name-FINAL-Class-section-SP2026 (example: Morgan-FINAL-PSY461-01-Sp2026) to help you sort and store submissions.
Providing Alternative Assessment
If you were planning to conduct a final exam, quiz, or test via Canvas, a recommended alternative is to create a version of the assessment that can be administered outside Canvas via a print-based offering or by accessing Akindi outside of Canvas.
Managing Grades
It is recommended that you download a copy of your Canvas gradebook and back up that information to OneDrive so it is available to enter final grades should there be additional disruptions. Download updated versions and replace on OneDrive at intervals appropriate to your grading pattern.
Sharing Course Materials
OneDrive
If you need to distribute readings, PowerPoint slides, study guides, or other course materials, you can use OneDrive. Create a folder for your class, upload your materials to that folder, and share that folder by creating a shared link that you can email to your students. Make sure to select the appropriate share settings to either “People with the link” or “People in your company” (i.e., UWL) so that students will have access.
Mediaspace
If Canvas is down, Course Recordings in Canvas may still be available through Mediaspace (if you were uploading/recording with Kaltura/My Media). You can find your recordings by selecting the Guest Icon in the top right corner of the page and then My Media from the dropdown. It will prompt you to log in, and then you will see a list of videos you have uploaded to My Media.
To share links to your videos, follow the directions in this KB.
Accessing Teaching Technologies Outside Canvas
If you use other teaching technologies that are usually accessed through Canvas, some of those may still be available even if Canvas is down. You can find direct access to those tools or additional supports through the links below:
- Kaltura/My Media – How do I access outside of Canvas?
- Akindi – Login outside of Canvas
- Zoom Login
- MS Teams - Accessing, Managing, and Sharing Files
Getting Help and Staying Informed
If you need help during a Canvas outage, contact the Eagle Helpdesk.
To stay informed with the latest information, you can check the Canvas system status page. Keep an eye on your email for updates from the university. Students should frequently check their UWL email for any updates from their instructors throughout finals week.
Advice adapted from UPenn, UW Parkside, and UW Superior. Thank you!