Mastering Canvas at Miramar College: A Comprehensive Guide

Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) available for all classes, offering a centralized platform for accessing educational resources, completing assignments, and interacting with instructors and peers. This guide provides Miramar College students with essential information and resources to effectively navigate and utilize Canvas, focusing on accessibility, academic support, and information literacy.

Accessibility Features in Canvas

Canvas is designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that all students can effectively engage with course content. Several features and tools contribute to this goal:

Headings and Structure

Headings provide an organizational and navigational framework for content, communicating both the informational hierarchy and the relationship between different sections. In Canvas, a style will apply to the whole line across the Canvas page. Canvas automatically tags the page title as Heading 1. Heading styles are nested in a logical and sequential order.

Lists

Lists neatly present related ideas and outlines steps in a process.

Alternative Text for Images

Images that support the content require a text description (also called "alt text") that communicates the purpose and/or content of the image. This information is presented to the individual using assistive technologies, allowing them to hear the description of the image. Image descriptions should be short and communicate the main purpose of the image. A text description should convey the purpose or content of the image in approximately 140 characters or less.

Read also: Library Resources and Services

Accessible Links

Place cursor on link.
A submenu will appear. In the Text field, write descriptive text.
In the “Insert Link” window, add the URL to the Link field.

Data Tables

Tables in Canvas should be used for data and not layout purposes. The easiest method to ensure an accessible data table in Canvas is to use Pope Tech Instructor Accessibility Guide or the native Accessibility Checker.

Color and Contrast

Color and contrast are sufficient. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. Such color options do not provide sufficient contrast against a white background. When using color to indicate a specific condition or state, include text formatting to provide a distinguishing characteristic. This infographic provides a guide of text colors accessible on Canvas' white background and text colors accessible on black backgrounds as guidance. The Color Picker dialogue box should appear with the option of entering either the decimal or hex code.

Accessibility Checkers

There are two accessibility checkers that you can use to check your Canvas pages. The Pope Tech Instructor Accessibility Guide is an accessibility remediation tool available to instructors in Canvas. The Rich Content Editor includes an accessibility tool that checks common accessibility errors within the editor. You can use the Accessibility Checker to design course content while considering accessibility attributes. This tool only verifies content created within the Rich Content Editor. To learn more about Pope Tech and find more tutorials and resources. The Accessibility Checker Tool is limited in that it is an open-sourced work-in-progress tool. Accessibility checkers are like robots. They cannot, for example, determine whether an alt text describes the image that ties it to the content of your course.

Run the Accessibility Checker button.
Select Apply to save your work.

Quiz Accommodations

Some students may require additional time on a Canvas Quiz. Instructors can modify Canvas Quiz settings to allow for multiple attempts or to support students approved for an extended time.

Adaptable Design

Different colored themes are based on each college. Adaptable module and page layouts.

Read also: Student Resources at SDMC

Immersive Reader

Students can take advantage of the free Immersive Reader in Canvas. Immersive Reader is a learning tool that uses proven techniques to improve reading for people, regardless of their age or ability. Key features include "read text out loud," "break it into syllables," and "increase spacing between lines and letters." It offers text-decoding solutions for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, and it encourages independent reading and helps teachers support students’ unique learning needs. Canvas Pages store educational resources that are plugged into courses or groups. These resources can include text, video, links to files, and other content. Select a word to see a related picture and hear the word read aloud as many times as necessary. Note: The Immersive Reader does not function the same as a screen-reader such as NVDA and JAWS.

Academic Support at Miramar College

Miramar College provides comprehensive academic support services to help students succeed in their courses. The Academic Success Center (ASC) offers a variety of resources, including tutoring, workshops, and study spaces.

Academic Success Center (ASC)

The ASC is a welcoming and inclusive center that provides academic support programs and services to increase student retention and success for our diverse student population. Through tutorial services, collaborations, and resources, we empower students to cultivate the skills, strategies, and behaviors of confident and independent learners. The ASC is a student-friendly space that offers students a place to study, lounge, relax in between classes, meet with other students and faculty. Our knowledgeable and friendly team are here to make sure to connect our students with tutoring support and help direct students to other services available from the college.

Tutoring Services

The ASC provides free tutoring to SDCCD students. We are here to help you develop the skills needed to succeed in your academic journey. We look forward to working with you soon. Let us know how we can support you!

In-Person Tutoring: In-person tutoring is available Monday through Friday, from February 2, 2026, to June 1, 2026 (excluding weekends and sanctioned holidays). The information about in-person tutoring is under the "In-Person Tutoring" tab below. There are three centers to serve you: ASC (L-101), Math Lab (M-210), and Writing Lab (H-103). Please note that the hours of operation vary at the different centers.
Online Tutoring: Online tutoring is through NetTutor and STAR-C, from February 2, 2026, to June 1, 2026. on May 26, 2026 (excluding Fridays, weekends, and sanctioned holidays). The information about our drop-off service is under the "Assignment Drop-Off Service" tab below.

Mission

Read also: Academic Calendar Guide

Information Literacy Resources

Developing strong information literacy skills is crucial for academic success and lifelong learning. Miramar College provides resources to help students effectively find, evaluate, and use information.

Information Literacy Program Chapters

Chapter 1: Introduction to Information Literacy - What is information literacy and why is it important? This video introduces information literacy and its benefits, discussing the dangers of information illiteracy and the spread of misinformation. It cautions against information generated by AI.
Chapter 2: Seven Habits and Skills - This program presents seven habits and skills for improving one's information literacy. It discusses finding your information needs, developing search strategies, evaluating sources, analyzing information, considering information, using information ethically, and practicing.
Chapter 3: Evaluating Information Sources - This program examines ways to know if a source is credible by looking at authorship and expertise, the publisher or platform, objectivity and bias, citations and references, and timeliness and currency of the information. It also presents tips for evaluating online sources by checking domain and URL, extensions, cross-referencing, and exercising caution with user-generated content.
Chapter 4: Effective Search Strategies - Discussing how Boolean operators work, this program teaches search techniques for refining online searches. It also considers phrase, date range, file type, language, site-specific, numeric range, related terms, and advanced image searches.
Chapter 5: Fact Checking and Verifying - False or misleading information can easily be mistaken for truth, so the importance of fact checking and verifying cannot be overstated. This program teaches practical strategies for verifying information. It also looks at how to identify fake or manipulated photos and videos.
Chapter 6: Ethical Use of Information - Emphasizing the importance of using information in a way that is fair, honest, and shows respect for others, this program discusses aspects of copyright, plagiarism - including self-plagiarism), fair use, and privacy of information.
Chapter 7: Media Literacy - How do you know if something is fake news? This program emphasizes the value of developing your critical thinking skills. It looks at source evaluation, media bias, political bias, ideological bias, corporate bias, sensationalism, and confirmation bias. It discusses how to use fact-checking sites, considers critical analysis of news media and deconstruction of messages, and looks at media manipulation.

Changing Your Password

For security reasons, it's important to know how to change your password. Here are the steps:

On a college computer: Once you are signed into a college computer, hit the Control-Alt-Delete buttons. This will bring up the following options: Lock, Switch users, Sign out, Change a password, Task Manager, or Cancel. Select Change a password. You will first be asked to enter your “Current password”, followed by your new password, and then also to confirm that new password.
On the Microsoft 365 Portal: Once you have logged in at office.com, click on the Settings icon in the upper-right corner, it looks like a circular gear. Click on "Change your password ->" in the Settings panel. You will first be asked to enter your “Old password”, followed by your new password, and then also to confirm that new password.

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