Overview

Make it easy for students to find your course from the Canvas dashboard by adding an image in your course Settings.

Why Would I Want to Include a Dashboard Image for My Course?

When you and your students log into Canvas, the Dashboard is the first page everyone sees, and it will show all current courses. The Dashboard page shows each course as a course “card” which you can click to enter your course site. You can customize the course icons on the dashboard so that they are easily recognizable and represent your course topics!

Sample Dashboard Images

Sample Dashboard Images

How Do I Create a Canvas Dashboard Image?

If you would like your course to be quickly recognized on the Canvas Dashboard, you can add an image to it by following these directions. Accepted images include JPG, JPEG, GIF, and PNG files. For best practice, images should be approximately 262 pixels wide by 146 pixels high. Anything larger, and Canvas will crop it.

Option 1. Create a Dashboard Image In PowerPoint or Google Slides

If you would like to make a custom course card with text on it, you can do it fairly easily using one of these two templates.

Download and open this PowerPoint Canvas Course Card Template (downloads pptx file). Or go to the Google Slides Canvas Course Card Template (you’ll be prompted to log in to Google if you’re not and then asked to make a copy of the template file)
Place the graphic and text you want for your Canvas class box completely inside of the slide boundaries.
From the File > Save as type drop menu select JPEG. Save your graphic. If prompted select "export this slide."

Option 2. Creating a Dashboard Image In Canva

Canva, not to be confused with Canvas, is an online tool for creating and editing images and text for things like web banners, postcards, brochures, etc. There is a Canva “Canvas Course Card Template” that you can edit and then download the image for your fall course. The benefit of Canva is that it comes with a library of free images, backgrounds, and fonts that you can choose from. There is also “premium content” so make sure to look for the word “free” on each image or background you use.

To use the Canva template:

Create a free Canva account. We recommend using your IU Google account, but you can also use any Google account, Facebook, or email.
Once you are logged in to Canva, follow the link to the Canvas Course Card Template.
Click the “Use Template” button below the image to make a copy and open it in the Canva editor.

We've included an example called, "Humanizing Online." You'll notice that We've created this using layers of images, shapes, and playing with opacity.

Option 3. Choose an image using 'Unsplash'.

To change your course card image in your Canvas course Settings

Click on the three vertical dots (the options menu)
Click on “Choose Image”
Click the “Unsplash” tab
Search Unsplash for pictures
Click on the one you would like to use for your card

How Do I Upload a Canvas Dashboard Image?

1. In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

2. Open Course Details. Click the Course Details tab.

3. Click the Choose Image button.

4. Upload File. To upload your own image, drag and drop your image in your browser. Or, to browse your computer and locate an image, click the browse your computer link.

Images will automatically upload, but larger images may take a few seconds to process. The image will be centered, so if the width of the image exceeds the recommended width, the sides of the image will be cut off.

Upload File

6. View the image as it will be shown in the Dashboard course card.

7. Manage Image. To manage the image, click the Settings icon [1]. To change the image and select a new one, click the Change image option [2]. To remove the image completely, click the Remove image option [3].

8. Click the Update Course Details button.

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