Author Archives: Brian Abeling

About Brian Abeling

Director of Technology, serving West Des Moines Community Schools

When will parents have access to Canvas?

On Sept 19th, parents of students grades 7 thru 12 will receive an email from the school district with directions for how they can create their own parent account in Canvas.

Will this email contain our user id and password?  No.  Instead, it will contain directions for creating an account that is tied to your child’s account.

What is Canvas?
Canvas is a learning management system where we store digital resources for our classes.  

What can I expect to see in Canvas?

  • If your child is in PBLN (Project Based Learning Network) classrooms in grades 7 thru 12, Canvas provides a list of their assignments and projects.  The PBLN gradebooks in Canvas communicate learning in relation to project- and problem-based learning outcomes and course standards. The actual letter grade earned to represent this learning will be communicated in Infinite Campus at various points throughout each grading period.
  • If your child is NOT in PBLN, Canvas provides a location where teachers store digital resources and some assignments – but their gradebook is stored in Infinite Campus, not Canvas.

Need help with the Infinite Campus Mobile App?

Unfortunately, our tech team at WDMCS doesn’t have any options within Campus where we can resolve your mobile app issues (such attendance not displaying or notifications not working on your phone), however,  we have learned that there are two tips that can help.
1) Delete the app off your phone, restart the phone.  Download the newest version of the app and then re-enter your campus id/password.  Whenever we’ve contacted Campus Support on phone app issues – this is always their first request, to make sure the newest version of the app is being used.
2) After that, if there are still issues, then they ask you to contact them directly at mobileportal@infinitecampus.com and they will need some information about your phone in order to assist you.