Alternative Instructional Tools During Canvas Outage

Course Materials

Resources in alphabetical order.

• Class email lists: Instructors can use the class mailing list tool to quickly and easily generate email lists for their courses. These lists sync enrolled students from Banner; instructors will need the Course Reference Numbers (CRNs).
   
• Equitable Access textbooks: Students can access Equitable Access textbooks outside Canvas by visiting VitalSource, selecting Sign In, choosing Continue with Google, and signing in with their @ucdavis.edu email address and UC Davis credentials.
   
• Gradescope: Available outside of Canvas. If you use Gradescope in your class, you can update grades directly through the Gradescope website and direct students to submit assignments and check grades using the platform.
   
• Kanopy: Access movies and documentaries. You may need to use the Library VPN if accessing from off campus.
   
• Lecture capture videos: All lecture capture videos are stored outside of Canvas. Instructors retain ownership of their lecture capture content, and recordings automatically appear in the instructor’s My Media area in Aggie Video. Instructors can share video content with students by creating a playlist in Aggie Video and sharing the playlist link with the class via email or another communication channel. Currently, students do not have individual Aggie Video accounts: Sharing is link-based, so you will need to change each video’s publish state to “unlisted.” Please note that unlisted videos can be viewed by anyone with the link. Getting Started with Aggie Video Guide.
   
• Microsoft Teams: Set up a live meeting with students (alternative to Zoom); sign in with your UC Davis credentials account.
   
• MyUCDavis: View class rosters, download student emails, and then communicate via email with students to distribute course materials and enable students to submit assignments via email; use the BCC function for student emails to maintain student confidentiality. Once logged in to MyUCDavis, click the heading My Classes and then Classes I'm Teaching. You will then see links titled View Roster for any classes you are teaching for the current academic term or any other term you may select. Find more detailed steps in the How to locate student information such as waitlist status, email address, major, and more Knowledge Base article.
  • Share course materials with students by attaching documents or embedding URL links directly in the body of the email. Make sure links point to content stored outside of UC Davis Canvas (e.g., Google Drive or Box) and keep attachment file size small, as some email systems limit or block large files.
     
• PlayPosit: Current PlayPosit users can access their content via direct login to WeVideo (use the PlayPosit sign in link in the upper right corner and sign in with your UC Davis Google login). Within PlayPosit you can then share selected videos with students.
   
• Photo Rosters: Instructors can find enrolled student contact details in the Photo Rosters tool.
   
• UC Davis Box: Share course materials with students and facilitate student submission of assignments. Consider delaying submission deadlines to allow sufficient time for students to adjust to alternative submission processes.
   
• UC Davis Google Workspace: Use Google apps, including Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, etc., to facilitate content delivery, assignment submission/retrieval, and communication.
  • Google Docs and Slides: Share course materials with students and facilitate student submission of assignments and shared annotations.
  • Google Forms: Conduct student polls, surveys, and quizzes.
  • Google Meet: Set up a live meeting with students (alternative to Zoom).
     
• UC Davis Zoom: Instructors can use the same Zoom links they already set up for their course, which are available through their UC Davis Zoom account, and share those directly with students.

See the Keep Teaching website from Academic Applications for tips and tools supporting instruction. 

Many thanks to UCLA whose resources served as the basis for this document.