Texas A&M Course-Level Roles

COURSE TEACHING AND LEARNING ROLES   

The table below lists the Course Teaching and Learning roles that are available at Texas A&M. These roles are managed and updated through feeds provided by Compass daily. The Teacher role is identified as the Instructor of Record for a course, while the Alternate Teacher is enrolled via Compass by a department scheduler as the Additional Instructor. Students are enrolled in a course through Howdy. For additional guidance on enrolling Course Teaching and Learning roles or identifying your Department Scheduler, email scheduling@tamu.edu. 
 

LMS Course Role Code	Definition	Banner Table	Description in Banner
Teacher	Instructor for an academic course.	Instructor enrolled from SSASECT with primary indicator checked.
Alternate Teacher	Secondary instructor for a course and enrolled in a section as indicated from Compass.	Instructor enrolled from SSASECT with primary indicator not checked.	LMS Alternate Teacher
Student	Individual student for an academic course and enrolled in a section.	Enrolled from SFRSTCR.
***Special Note: Course roles are derived from SSBSECT, SFRSTCR, and SWASECT forms in the SIS or through ORCA. An individual may only be assigned to one course role per course. Students enrolled in the course may not be assigned any other course role other than the Student role.

 

Assigning Teaching and Learning Roles To be assigned as instructor of record (IOR) or as an additional instructor the departmental scheduler will add the access on either SSASECT or SWASECT in Compass as follows: Instructor of Record (IOR) – Added on SSASECT and has the primary indicator checked, can only have one per section/course. Additional Instructors – added on SSASECT and do not have the primary indicator checked, can have multiple.

Permissions

The table below illustrates the permissions provided by Canvas that determine how a Course Teaching and Learner role can interact with course content, features, and tools. 

 

Permissions	Teacher	Alternate Teacher	Student
Analytics - view pages	X	X
Announcements - view	X	X	X
Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete	X	X
Canvas Insights (Beta) - View	X	X
Conversations - send messages to entire class	X	X
Conversations - send messages to individual course members	X	X	X
Course Calendar - add / edit / delete events	X	X
Course Content - add / edit / delete	X	X
Course Files - add / edit / delete	X	X
Course State - manage	X	X
Courses - change visibility
Courses - view usage reports	X	X
Discussions - create	X	X	X
Discussions - moderate	X	X
Discussions - post	X	X	X
Discussions - view	X	X	X
Grades - edit	X	X
Grades - select final grade for moderation	X	X
Grades - view all grades	X	X
Grades - view audit trail	X	X
Groups - add / edit / delete	X	X
Groups - view all student groups	X	X	X
Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete	X	X
Learning Outcomes - import	X	X
Manage Pages - add / edit / delete	X	X
Question banks - view and link	X	X
Rubrics - add / edit / delete	X	X
Users - view list	X	X	X
Users - view login IDs	X	X
Users - view primary email address	X	X

COURSE ASSOCIATE ROLES   

The table below lists the Course Associate roles that are available at Texas A&M that are assigned via Department Scheduler. If the Course Associate role can be added via ORCA, it is noted under the Banner Table column below. These roles are required to complete training prior to obtaining access to the courses they are assigned to in Canvas. Additional information on how to enroll course associate roles and the training requirements are listed below. 
 

LMS Course Role Code	Definition	Banner Table	Description in Banner
Course Designer	Individual that provides specific course design, accessibility requirements, navigation, and creation of digital content (audio & video files) for a course within the Learning Management System (LMS).	Enrolled from SWASECT - AC_CD and/or ORCA.	LMS Course Designer
Grader	Individual that provides grading for all course assignments, assessments, and other projects within the course.	Enrolled from SWASECT - AC_LG and/or ORCA.	LMS Grader
Grade Submitter	Individual with that can submit final academic course grades from the LMS to the SIS.	Enrolled from SWASECT - AC_GR.	Final Grade Submissions
Librarian	Individual in a course that manages library resources.  Role must be assigned by Department Schedulers.	Enrolled from SWASECT.	AC_LB – LMS Librarian
Lead Teaching Assistant	Individual acting as Lead TA responsible for managing groups of TAs across courses and sections.	Enrolled from SWASECT - AC_LT and/or ORCA.	LMS Lead Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant	Individual acting as a teaching assistant working with the teacher within a course and responsible for content, features, tools, and/or grades.	Enrolled from SWASECT - AC_TA and/or ORCA.	LMS Lead Teaching Assistant
***Special Note: Course roles are derived from SSBSECT, SFRSTCR, and SWASECT forms in the SIS or through ORCA. An individual may only be assigned to one course role per course.

Permissions

The table below illustrates the permissions provided by Canvas that determine how a Course Associate role can interact with course content, features, and tools. 

   

COURSE OBSERVER-TYPE ROLES  

The table below lists the Course Observer-Type roles that are available at Texas A&M that are assigned via Department Schedulers. For additional guidance on enrolling Course Observer-Type roles or identifying your Department Scheduler, email scheduling@tamu.edu.  

 

Texas A&M Student Observer Role

The Student Observer role at TAMU allows for the ability to pair a Student Observer with an assigned student in a course in Canvas. The Student Observer role will have read-only access to courses, meaning they cannot change or edit any course content, submit work, or complete quizzes and exams. Student Observers are restricted from viewing data for other students enrolled in the class except in grouped assignments, peer reviews, and third-party tools.

Student Observers are visible to teachers in Canvas. They will appear in the People section of a course in Canvas and list their paired students. If there are no students participating in programs that required Student Observers to be enrolled in your course(s), no Student Observers will be added.

Student Observers will complete the two required trainings in order to receive access to view and monitor student information in the course.

 

LMS User Role Code	Definition	Banner Table	Description in Banner
Student Observer	Individual enrolled to observe assigned students.	Enrolled from ORCA.	Enrolled from ORCA.

 

Permissions

The table below illustrates the permissions provided by Canvas that determine how a Student Observer role can interact with course content, features, and tools. The X in a cell indicates permissions the Student Observer role has in a course. If the cell is blank, then the Student Observer role does not have the respective permission. 
 

Permissions	Student Observer
Announcements  - view	X
Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete
Assignment  Submissions - view	X This includes Group assignment submissions
Assignment  Submissions - submit
Collaborations - create
Course Content - view	X
Course Content - add / edit / delete
Course Files - add / edit / delete
Discussions - view	X
Discussions - create / post / modify
Discussions - reply
Grades - view	X Only grades of the assigned student
Grades - edit / add / edit / delete
Inbox - view	X Only messages sent to Student Observer; no ability to view direct messages sent to assigned student.
Inbox - reply
Modules - view	X
Modules - edit / duplicate
Pages - view	X
Pages - add / edit / delete
People - view
Peer Reviews - view	X
Course Available on User Dashboard	X

 

Enterprise Third-Party Tools

The table below illustrates the enterprise level tools that a Student Observer role will have access to in a course. The X in a cell indicates tools the Student Observer role has access to in a course. If the cell is blank, then the Student Observer role does not have access to the tool. 

 

Tool	Student Observer
Google Assignments
Gradescope	X Accessed as themselves in a Student role; can submit assignments on their own behalf, not the student's.
Mediasite	X Accessed as themselves in a Student role; can submit assignments on their own behalf, not the student's.
Office 365
Peerceptiv	X Accessed as themselves in a Student role; can submit assignments on their own behalf, not the student's. Ability to view other student submissions as part of the peer review process.
Perusall	X Accessed as themselves in a Student role; can submit assignments on their own behalf Ability to view other student interaction.
Zoom	X Can watch linked Zoom recordings.

 

Student Observer Role Opt In Process

The Student Observer Role Opt In Process can be accessed through ORCA. This process will allow Instructors of Record that are assigned to teach course sections with students that require an individual to be assigned to observe them the ability to update their preferences for the specified term. 

Only the Instructor of Record has the ability to update their preferences for the process. The process is available for a 7-day window following the add/drop deadline of each term. During this window, instructors will have the ability to view students with their assigned observer and update their preferences. After the window is closed, the individuals will be enrolled in the course sections with the Student Observer role. After the window is closed, any changes will need to route through the Office for Academic Innovation Service Desk.
 

 

Opt In Communication Timeline

Below is the timeline of communication you will receive throughout the opt-in process that will vary depending on the preference you select. 
 

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Course and User Observer Role Comparison

The table below illustrates the permissions provided by Canvas that determine how a Student Observer role can interact with course content, features, and tools. It compares the Student Observer role to 4 additional observer-type course roles at Texas A&M. The X in a cell indicates permissions the role has in a course. If the cell is blank, then the role does not have the respective permission.

 

Permissions	Student Observer	Visiting Student	Student Peer Mentor	Faculty Peer Evaluator	Transcriber
Role Type	User Role	Course Role	Course Role	Course Role	Course Role
Announcements - view	X	X	X	X	X
Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete
Assignment Submissions - view	X This includes Group assignment submissions
Assignment Submissions – submit
Collaborations - create
Course Content - view	X	X	X	X	X
Course Content - add / edit / delete
Course Files - add / edit / delete
Discussions - view	X	X	X	X	X
Discussions - create / post / modify
Discussions - reply
Grades - view	X Only grades of the assigned student
Groups - view
Groups - add / edit / delete
Inbox - view	X Only messages sent to Student Observer; no ability to view direct messages sent to assigned student.
Inbox - reply
Modules - view	X	X	X	X	X
Modules - edit / duplicate
Pages - view	X	X	X	X	X
Pages - add / edit / delete
People - view
Peer Reviews - view	X
Course Available on User Dashboard	X	X	X	X	X

  

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How the Student Observer Role Supports Student Athletes' Academic Success

The Office for Academic Innovation has partnered with the Center for Student-Athlete Services to create a process to allow course instructors to opt in to the Observer program each semester. If course instructors choose to opt in, scholastic supervisors will be enrolled as Student Observers assigned to students in a course.
 

Download and Print the Canvas Observer Program for Texas A&M Student Athletes

Communication

• All communication sent to instructors and students is archived and can be found on Campus Messages.
• Students will receive communication about this process directly from the Center for Student-Athletes. Course instructors will receive communication about the Observer program in the following ways:
  1. Email on the day the opt in window opens, typically on the last day of add/drop
  2. Reminder email 48 hours before the deadline closes
  3. Email confirmation with the selected preference

 

Permissions

Student Observers have read-only access to the following student-specific areas of course(s):
 

Permissions	Student Observer
Role Type	User Role
Announcements - view	X
Assignment Submissions - view	X This includes Group assignment submissions
Assignment Submissions – submit
Course Content - view	X
Discussions - view	X
Discussions - create / post / modify
Discussions - reply
Grades - view	X Only grades of the assigned student
Grades - add / edit / delete
Inbox - view	X Only messages sent to Student Observer; no ability to view direct messages sent to assigned student.
Inbox - reply
Modules - view	X
Pages - view	X
People - view
Peer Reviews - view	X
Course Available on User Dashboard	X

  

Texas A&M Account Level Roles

Your School, Colleges', or Branch Campus’ Academic Liaison is a new resource with Texas A&M’s transition to Canvas. Each Dean has identified at least one Academic Liaison per School/College. This group is going through training and networking with each other to ensure they can be of assistance. Your Academic Liaison (or AL for short) can assist you troubleshooting issues with Canvas tools and features, applying online course design and facilitation best practices, and assisting with content import.

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What an Academic Liaison Can Do for You

An Academic Liaison (AL) is typically a staff member in a School, College, or Branch Campus that regularly supports faculty and staff with academic technology and/or instructional design needs.

 

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Texas A&M Mediasite Roles

Mediasite allows Course Instructors the ability to record, upload, share, and view video content in any Canvas course. The combined power of Canvas with Mediasite means all your videos have a central secure home benefiting from Mediasite’s in-video search, engagement tools, and viewership stats. To learn more about Mediasite, visit the tools page here. There are two roles within Mediasite: (1) Teacher and (2) Mediasite Liaison. Permissions are assigned to each type of role in Mediasite.
 

Texas A&M Mediasite Role Definitions and Permissions

 

Role	Definitions	MyMediasite Portal	Presentations - add, edit, delete	Presentations - edit permissions	Mediasite Management Portal*	Shared Folders within College/School -  add, edit
Teacher	Instructor for a course	X	X	X
Mediasite Liaison	Individual within the School/College who regularly supports faculty and staff with academic technology and/or instructional design needs	X	X	X	X	X
*The Mediasite Management Portal cannot be accessed within the LMS.