Joel VannerAbout Student View
Use the Student View feature in Canvas to preview your course from a student’s perspective through a user called Test Student. This feature lets you check quizzes, assignments, modules, grades, and navigation to ensure everything works correctly. You can even submit quizzes and assignments to test the experience.
When you use Student View, Canvas creates a placeholder called Test Student, which may appear in your Gradebook. This is not a real student — it only stores the activity you generate while testing.
Using Student View
To use the test student, select the “View as Student” button from the top of your course in Canvas.
The pink bar at the bottom will let you know you are currently logged in as Test Student, and have two buttons on the right to Reset Student or Leave Student View.
If you select Leave Student View, Canvas will save any submissions or interactions made as the Test Student.
If you want a fresh start (e.g., to reattempt a quiz), or if something isn’t displaying with the latest changes, you may need to use Reset Student.
Reset Test Student
To reset Test Student, select the Reset Student button on the pink bar at the bottom when viewing the course in student view. This clears all activity done by the Test Student (submissions, grades, etc.).
Resolve Issues With Test Student Not Resetting
- Hard refresh your browser before using Test Student
- On Windows: Ctrl + F5
- On Mac: Cmd + Shift + R
- Use a Private or Incognito window
- Clear your browser’s cache
Faculty, staff, and students have access to 24/7/365 phone and chat support through the Help menu in Canvas.
Visit the Faculty Advancement in Teaching Excellence Canvas site for teaching resources, opportunities for engagement, and spaces to connect with colleagues about teaching!
Additional Resources
Use the buttons (drop-down menu on mobile) below to toggle through resources.
