Welcome back to our Summer Essentials series! As we jump into the Summer teaching period, here’s your guide to ensuring your Canvas site is ready for an intensive, fast-paced session. A clean, well-structured site sets the stage for student success and makes your teaching experience smoother. If you missed the earlier posts in this series, access them via the links:
- Summer essentials, part 1: using GenAI in your Summer 2025 subjects
- Summer essentials, part 2: secure assessment in your Summer 2025 subjects
This third part of the series provides you with a checklist to help you get started and ensure your site is set up for students.
Main calendar subject sites will have been published in Canvas from 24 November 2025. For subjects on a different calendar, please check the key session dates website.
Before teaching starts: get your subject site ready for students
- Check settings, dates and content – keep your updates on track with our downloadable step-by-step subject rollover checklist
- Consider how GenAI will be used and acknowledged in your assessments with our guide to teaching with GenAI in Summer
- UTS courses cannot prohibit use of GenAI, so scaffold your approach in your subject materials. Visit our Teaching and Learning with GenAI site for guidelines and toolkits
- Remove pages called ‘Use of Generative AI in this subject’ – this information should now be provided as contextual guidance in individual assessment instructions
- Include reference to Academic Integrity resources
- Update your Reading Lists with the UTS Library to ensure students have clear links to resources
- Make sure your Canvas site is accessible to everyone when teaching session commences
- If you haven’t done so yet, familiarise yourself with UTS Faculty Board Protocol related to assignment late penalties and short extensions
- If you’re a new subject coordinator, consider attending an online workshop on Canvas essentials you may find our Canvas resource collection useful
O week: connect, communicate and offer support
- Kick things off with a welcome announcement to introduce yourself. Make sure students know how you’ll communicate, how they can access support and expectations regarding academic integrity and GenAI use
- Ensure no students are enrolled in a staff role in your Canvas subject site – to add co-teachers, tutors and other staff, follow our People in Canvas guide (there is a Tutor/Marker role available)
- Remind students that the option to request a 72-hour automated short extension on assignments is available in Canvas
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 participation and engagement from the first tutorial.
Communicate a subject schedule in Canvas
Subject Information in Canvas does not have a weekly breakdown of topics and readings. Update and customise the subject schedule page in your ‘Get Started’ module to make sure that information is visible for students.
To get access to your faculty templates site, log a Digital Learning Support ticket with ‘request access to [Faculty] templates site’ in the description. The Canvas site includes guidelines on how to copy and edit the templates. If you’d like a private space in Canvas to explore and test site design, you can request a Canvas Sandpit.
Help and support for students
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
- The 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
Help and support for staff
- Education Portfolio support: Contact us through ServiceConnect (quick link: https://edsupport.uts.edu.au)
- UTS Library: Find out everything that UTS Library can do to help you prepare
- UTS curriculum support: UTS Curriculum Management in Sharepoint