Canvas has two major communication tools -- Announcements and Inbox (or the messages tool)

Announcements can be formatted, scheduled, and commented on (think class blog) and are the quickest way to get your students alerts and pertinent messages about the class. Announcements will have the 'eye w/ a line' until there is content there. Also, if you site is unpublished, students cannot see or receive Announcements you post. Make sure you review your settings for Notifications in your Canvas account to reflect how and when you want Canvas to notify you.

**If you are not expecting a reply from the students/audience to your message, we highly suggest using Announcements as the way to communicate with the entire class**

Inbox is the email tool. It is on the your main account menu and can be used across course sites. You cannot format messages. Once a course site has been concluded, you cannot message a student.

About Notifications

Account>Notifications>You can look at Notifications settings as a whole, or from the drop down, select your course.

Here is a short video tutorial about Notifications:

Course Content is the area that controls posted Assignments:

Overall Notification Settings: Faculty

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-manage-my-Canvas-notification-settings-as-an-instructor/ta-p/1222 (Links to an external site.)

Notification Settings for a Single Course: Faculty

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-manage-notifications-for-a-single-course-as-an/ta-p/1008