Getting Started with Online Learning

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Before Classes Begin
• Recommended Devices for Online Courses
• Canvas
• Zoom
• Tech Support for Students

Before Classes Begin

• Penn has an application called PennKey Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR). SSPR is a modern, secure, easy-to-use app for resetting your PennKey password – using only your pre-registered personal (non-Penn) email address and cell phone number. Enroll Now in SSPR  

  PLEASE NOTE: YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING IN YOUR ONLINE COURSE WITHOUT YOUR PENNKEY. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR PENNKEY PASSWORD ASAP AND BEFORE THE START OF CLASSES. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR PENNKEY PASSWORD OR ARE HAVING OTHER PENNKEY ISSUES, PLEASE FILL OUT THE PENNKEY SUPPORT FORM ASAP AND BEFORE THE START OF CLASSES. 

• Make sure that you meet the technology requirements for online learning.

• A few days before your class starts, we recommend that you update your operating system, as well as your Chrome and Firefox web browsers (these are the only recommended browsers for our online courses). 

• Please follow these steps ASAP to add your email to Canvas: 

  1. Create your Penn email if you have not yet.  

  2. Add your Penn email to your Canvas user account. As a Penn LPS Online Student, your Penn email is based on your PennKey followed by “sas.upenn.edu.” For example, if your PennKey is "bfranklin,” your email address will be "bfranklin@sas.upenn.edu.”  

  4. Set Your Primary Address in Penn Directory: Use the same email address as your default email address in Canvas (used in step 3).  

  5. Make Penn email your default email in Canvas 

  
  

  If you need help with your Penn email, please use the Email Help for SAS Students form. 

  
  

Recommended Devices for Online Courses

• You can participate in your online course from a Mac or PC, desktop or laptop.
  We do NOT recommend tablets, smartphones, or computer notebooks, like Chromebooks for your online class since not all technology used for a online class works consistently with these types of devices.

• If you need to use a mobile device for Canvas, it is recommended that you only use the Canvas Student app.

  • Please note: You can use the Canvas Student App for some actions in Canvas, but you can't use it for everything. For a list of what you can and can't do, please consult Canvas Student App Tips. 

Canvas

Canvas will be a key piece of your program experience and might will the syllabus, weekly or topical modules, and important interaction and discussion with your peers, TAs, and professor. 

• Use your course’s Canvas site to complete coursework. To access your course’s Canvas site, log into canvas.upenn.edu with your PennKey username and password. If you are having trouble logging in with your PennKey password, please reach out to Pennkey Support as soon as you can.

• We recommend that you update your Canvas notifications and set the time zone to match the time zone where you will be while you are taking your course.

• Don't see your site yet? Don't worry! Your course's Canvas site will be published by 12pm ET the first day of classes for your session. To see when your session starts, please consult the Penn LPS Online academic calendar. 

• Follow all instructions for your instructor(s) and TA(s) on how to complete your coursework. These instructions might include:

  • Checking Canvas announcements, the Canvas inbox, and your Penn email for information about your courses.

  • Viewing videos and other materials posted to Canvas modules.

  • Posting to Canvas discussions.

  • Submitting Canvas assignments.

  • Submitting  Canvas quizzes.

• For complete documentation on how to use Canvas, please see the Canvas Student Guide.

Zoom

Your course might use Zoom for synchronous class meetings, office hours, or other purposes. Your instructor or TA will let you know if your course will use Zoom and if the meetings are optional.

• Students should create their own Penn Zoom account for use with their Penn LPS classes. This will give you access to premium Zoom features that your instructor may use in class.
• For information on using Zoom as a student, please consult Zoom for Students or watch the helpful Zoom Student Tutorial video below.
  

Tech Support for Students

Need help? Write to us at online-learning-help@sas.upenn.edu