The Academic Technology team offers three different micro-credentials that lecturers, faculty, and teaching assistants can earn to help show their Canvas prowess. These sequential credentials cover three different stages of Canvas learning, allowing learners to gradually advance as they become more familiar with both the technical aspects of Canvas and how to make best use of the platform for designing engaging and easy-to-manage learning experiences.
These microcredentials have also been developed with the professional development of educators at CU Boulder in mind. In completing these credentials, you will be tasked with designing or redesigning a course to implement these new technologies and best practices. These courses can then be added to a teaching portfolio for graduate students or faculty. Additionally, for faculty, we recommend tracking these activities using FRPA code 307 (New Course Development) or 310 (Major Revision of Existing Course).
We want to hear from you!
To make sure that these new training resources are meeting the needs of educators at CU, we are offering incentives to early adopters who can give us feedback and suggestions to help us refine our content. For the Fall 2026 semester:
- All earners of the Canvas Fundamentals for Educators badge will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 prizes of $50 in Campus Cash. Prizes will be drawn at the end of the semester.
- The first 5 earners of the Best Practices for Teaching with Canvas micro-credential will earn $100 in Campus Cash.
- The first 5 earners of the Canvas Course Design Mastery micro-credential will earn $100 in Campus Cash.
To be eligible for any of these prizes, you must have completed the relevant credential, submitted a subsequent feedback survey which will be sent directly to you, and have a current teaching appointment at CU Boulder, including a Teaching Assistantship.
Canvas Fundamentals for Educators (Level 1)
The Canvas Fundamentals for Educators micro-credential demonstrates an understanding of the basics of Canvas course design, including how to use and configure key Canvas items like Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Pages and Modules. Moreover, learners who earn this micro-credential will be familiar with Canvas student support initiatives and have the knowledge to leverage tools like Canvas Announcements and the Calendar to effectively communicate with students.
Learners must complete a self-paced Canvas course, including a series of tutorial videos, knowledge check questions, and a number of other materials. Learners will attest to completion of this course through a tracked Canvas Quiz.
Best Practices for Teaching with Canvas (Level 2)
This micro-credential develops educators’ skills in Canvas course design and management. Participants leverage Canvas features that center student success like rubrics, Canvas analytics and outcomes. Learners gain proficiency in efficiently managing Canvas course content and implementing design best practices. Learners demonstrate these skills by redesigning a current course and creating a video presentation discussing how their design choices contribute to a more positive learning experience.
Learners must:
- Complete the criteria to earn the Canvas Fundamentals for Educators Recognition Badge.
- Attend any two of OIT's Academic Technology trainings focusing on Canvas. Attendance from sessions prior to Fall 2026 WILL count towards completion of this credential.
- Complete a self-paced Canvas course and all included assignments, with the final project of creating a course tour of a current Canvas course that demonstrates proficiency in core Canvas functions: assignments and the grade book, use of advanced functions including rubrics and Canvas analytics, and an understanding of student-centered design practices in Canvas such as a week-to-week module structure and implementing digital accessibility practices.
Canvas Course Design Mastery (Level 3)
The micro-credential refines educators' course-building skills in the Canvas platform using multimedia tools like Canvas Studio and PlayPosit, while also showing how to implement course navigation and engagement tools from the Cidi Labs DesignPLUS suite. Learners engage with these tools to create dynamic Canvas content that can be used to help facilitate all learning experiences, especially courses that are being taught asynchronously.
Learners must:
- Attend an OIT Academic Technology training on Canvas Studio and Cidi Labs DesignPLUS. Attendance from sessions prior to Fall 2026 WILL count towards completion of this credential.
- Complete the criteria to earn the Best Practices for Teaching with Canvas micro-credential.
- Complete the criteria to earn the Canvas Fundamentals for Educators Recognition Badge.
- Complete a self-paced Canvas course course, and all included assignments, with the final project of creating a course tour of a current Canvas course attesting to how the learner is implementing DesignPLUS, Canvas Studio and PlayPosit.
Micro-credentials will be awarded through the Credly platform, allowing you to easily share your earned credential through LinkedIn or other platforms. Credentials will be added within two weeks of completing all necessary components. If you have any questions or if you need to check the status of your progress towards a micro-credential, please contact Jacob Henry (jacob.henry-1@colorado.edu).
