5.0 Parent Observer Overview

WHAT IS A CANVAS "PARENT OBSERVER?"

Access to different elements of a Canvas course is based on your role. Teachers, students, and parents have different access levels to Canvas. As a parent, you have the Canvas role of a Parent Observer. The Parent Observer allows a parent or guardian to link to their student's Canvas coursework and assignments and the ability to directly communicate with the teacher inside Canvas.

exclamation mark icon.pngNote: Parent Observers cannot submit work for the students they observe, but they can see student grades, assignments, and calendar events. 

 

 

watch the video icon Watch the video below to see what you can do as a Parent Observer in Canvas.

 

Glossy_3d_blue_questionmark.pngIf closed captions in another language are needed, follow these steps:

  1. Click the settings icon (wheel) at the bottom of the video screen.
  2. Click Subtitles/CC.
  3. Click Auto-translate.
  4. Select a language.

exclamation mark icon.pngClarification from the video above:  ALL Parents will get a pairing code for their student's Canvas account.  Teachers will not be sending out codes at this time. The instructions for getting the pairing code and setting up your Parent Observer account are on the following pages. Please read to the bottom of the page before going on. 

 

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WHAT CAN I DO IF A BECOME A PARENT OBSERVER OF MY STUDENT'S CANVAS COURSE? 

YOU CAN:

  • View and read announcements
  • View assignments index page
  • View the calendar
  • Join conferences if invited
  • Join collaborations, if invited
  • View personal inbox
  • Send conversation messages to the instructor and student they are observing
  • View the dashboard
  • View files unless they are locked
  • View grades of students they are observing and filter, view scores and dates, and print grades
  • View modules and see due dates, point values, etc.
  • View pages and contribute if the instructor enables the Anyone can edit it setting
  • View profile pictures, if available
  • View Syllabus
  • View outcomes
  • View quizzes index page

 

WHAT WILL I NOT BE ABLE TO DO AS A PARENT OBSERVER?

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO:

  • Comment on announcements or discussions
  • View active quizzes
  • Submit assignments or quizzes
  • View course rosters
  • Send conversation messages to students in the course they are not observing
  • View locked files or folders
  • Join groups
  • View unpublished courses
  • Access the Chat tool
  • Reserve appointment slots in the Scheduler

 

After you set up your Parent Observer account and link to your student(s), you can also download the Parent Canvas app.

Then, you can log in to Canvas from your computer or your mobile device (Smartphone or tablet).

 

 

READY TO GET STARTED? 

Follow the steps on the next pages to get your student's pairing code and create your BISD Canvas account.

 

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Please click on the  "NEXT" button on the bottom right for instructions on how to get your student's Canvas "pairing code"