Canvas

The University has changed its virtual learning environment from VITAL to Canvas.

Moving from VITAL to Canvas

The last day you will be able to access modules and learning resources within VITAL is 31 July.

The majority of learning content associated with your VITAL modules has been automatically copied over into Canvas and you will be able to access these resources from 1 August.

There are a few items that cannot be copied to Canvas, such as Turnitin submissions and feedback. If you haven’t already checked what you want to download and save from VITAL, please make sure you do so before 31 July.

If you have any questions about downloading and saving your VITAL materials, please contact CSD Service Desk by emailing servicedesk@liverpool.ac.uk using the online chat facility, available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

Accessing Canvas

In order to have the best experience when using Canvas, we recommend that you use the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge as your browser. You are advised not to use Internet Explorer. 

How to access Canvas:

  • Login to Canvas via the website
    • On-campus– If you are logged on and using a computer connected to the University network, clicking on this URL will take you directly to the Canvas Homepage – you will not need to log on again
    • Off-campus– If you are using a computer that is not on the University network, you will be taken to a log-in screen. You will need to type in your email in the following format: username@liverpool.ac.uk, followed by your University password
  • Login to Canvas via the Student intranet
    • Click Access Canvas via Quick Links 
  • Download the Canvas app
    • Go to your App Store and search for Canvas Student
    • Download and open the App
    • Use the Find my school button to search for The University of Liverpool
    • Login using username@liverpool.ac.uk and your University password.

Help using Canvas

If you are new to using Canvas, you may find the following helpful:

Using the search tool

The search capability of Canvas makes it quick and easy to find the content you need. You can search the full text of your course content including pages, modules, discussion boards, quizzes, URLs and assignments using keywords, phrases, and other search terms. Plus you can filter by relevance, semester, and how recently content was added.

  • Log on to Canvas
  • On your Dashboard, click in the search box at the top right of the screen
  • Type the search terms you want to find results for
  • You can search for parts of words using the wildcard function (eg Eng*) or whole phrase searches (eg “English Literature”)
  • Use the second filter to search results by relevance and when published
  • When you’re ready, hit enter and your search results will display below.

24/7 advice and support

If you need any help and advice on how to use Canvas, you can get support 24/7, 365-days-a-year from the Canvas Support Team. To access this support:

  • Log into your Canvas account (via your desktop or Canvas app)
  • Click on the Help icon in the left-hand toolbar and choose your preferred way of asking for advice: by email, online chat or by giving them a call

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