Observer Accounts

Learning Intentions

Success Criteria

communicate with parents on how they can access the courses as an observer.
create a pairing code for parents so they can observe their students in Canvas.

Parent & Guardian Observer Information

Task: Create pairing codes for your students Canvas accounts that you can share with parents.

Canvas provides parents/guardians the ability to create their own Canvas accounts and connect their account with their student's Canvas account. This process allows parents/guardians to observe the students class and stay informed on what is happening in the classroom. If parent's don't have a Canvas account the direction below show you what a parent/guardian should do to create one.

Parents/guardians use a pairing code to connect their accounts with their students. The contents of this page share directions on how to do that.

How Parents Create a Canvas Account

Go to: https://canyons.instructure.com/
Click to Register

Links to an external site. 3. Click the account link at the top of the page.

Sign Up As a Parent (Free Account)

Click the Parents sign up here link.

Enter Signup Details

Enter the following information:

Enter your name in the Your Name field.
Enter your email in the Your Email field.
Enter your child's username in the Child's Username field.
Enter your child's password in the Child's Password field.
Agree to the terms of use by clicking the You agree to the terms of use checkbox.
Click the Start Participating button.

Use Canvas

While your account is not entirely set up, you can begin participating in Canvas immediately by clicking the Get Started button.

To finish registering for Canvas, log into your email account.

Complete Registration Process

Open the email from Instructure Canvas. To visit the provided URL and complete the registration process, click the link provided.

Register for a Parent Account

To complete the registration process fill out the following fields:

Verify your email in the Login field.
Set your password by typing in the Password field.
Set your timezone by selecting the Time Zone drop-down menu.
Click the Register button. You will be redirected to the Canvas URL login page for your account.

Creating Pairing Codes for Observers

Pairing codes can only be generated from the web version of Canvas. Pairing codes cannot be generated from the Canvas mobile apps.

Open People

In Course Navigation, click the People link.

Open User Details

Click the student's Options icon [1], then select the User Details link [2].

Pair with Observer

Click the Pair with Observer link.

Note: If you cannot view the Pair with Observer link, the permission to generate pairing codes has not been enabled for your role, or self-enrollment has not been enabled for your course.

Copy Pairing Code

Confirm the name of the student [1].

Copy the six-digit alphanumeric pairing code [2]. You will need to share this code with the observer who will link to the student's account. The pairing code will expire after seven days or its first use.

To close the window, click the OK button [3].

Note: Pairing codes are case sensitive.

Export Pairing Codes

You can also export a list of new pairing codes for all students in your course. Click the Options icon [1], then select the Export Pairing Codes link [2]. Canvas exports a CSV file with one pairing code for each student in your course.

View Pairing Codes

Locate and open the pairing codes CSV file on your computer. The CSV file displays the first and last name of each student, the student's pairing code, and the date and time at which the pairing code will expire.