When you're leveraging an online learning platform for teaching and facilitation, your instructor persona is an extension of your academic brand. Keeping a current profile and updating your user settings is part of maintaining your image.

What Should I Put On My Profile?

Students may access your profile to learn about you and connect with you during the semester. Here are a few ideas of things to include in your profile:

Photo
You have the ability to change your profile picture. Put a photo that best represents you.
Display Name
By default your display name will be your first and last name - which can be very formal. Update it to align with how you'd like to be addressed, i.e. Professor Smith or Mrs. Beasley.

Title
Add an official or unofficial title. For instance, Faculty in Dept. of Public Health or "Teacher of all Things Science."
Contact information
By default, Canvas messaging system (Inbox) will always be listed under 'ways to contact me'. However, you can include other services like your LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, Skype ID, Facebook profile, Delicious, or Diigo sites.
Bio
This would be a great opportunity to include a brief bio about you or your teaching philosophy or academic background. You can also post your office hours and phone number in this area as well.
Links
Do you have a faculty page? Department website? Academic blog? Personal website? Why not feature them under the links section?

Guides icon

The following tutorials relate to profiles and personal settings: