Template: Introduction & How-to Customize | Do Not Publish-3

Template Overview 

Use this space to describe the class layout - from an instructor's perspective. Consider including the following:

  • How would you like them to use this template?
  • Are they free to remove and add items as they see fit?
  • Is there anything that should not be edited by teachers? 
  • If they have questions, who should they contact? 

Customize & Copy Sample Materials

This template provides you with the following sample components:

  • Announcement
  • Syllabus Page
  • Canvas Overview and Resources Module (from Student Perspective)
  • Welcome to Class Module (aka a "Getting Started" introductory Module)
  • Lesson Module
    • Overview and To Do List Content Page
    • Presentation Content Page
    • Group Discussion
    • Individual Assignment
    • Quiz
    • Wrap-up and Looking Ahead Content Page

Each page provides you (the instructor) with guidelines/suggestions as to how to use the sample. This text is often in bold and italics. When applicable, samples are also provided. Please be sure to unpublish and/or revise this material prior to providing student access. 

Duplicating Materials 

Modules can be duplicated within the course. The duplication option is located in the Settings menu for every supported module item. When a module is copied, the word Copy is added to the end of the module name.

Learn More: Canvas Guides: How do I duplicate a module? Links to an external site.

You can also duplicate individual module items. Below, please find some resources related to copying your template components: 

The sample content modules within this template utilize text headers. To learn how to add and customize text headers, please review the following:

A Note About Module Prerequisites and Requirements

For younger learners (Grades K-5) teachers often find it useful to guide students through the Modules page in a purposeful manner.

Both module prerequisites and requirements can help provide guidance as to when and how students should access each piece of material within your course. This can also help "declutter" their learning space. 

Did You Know?

Within Modules, you can view the progress of your students and see how they are progressing through the course. Learn More: Canvas Guides - How do I use modules to view the progress of students in a course? Links to an external site.

Module Prerequisites

When you set up prerequisite modules, students must complete a module before moving to the next module. This can help to ensure that students are not "jumping around" through various modules. 

Module Requirements

When you add requirements to a module, students must complete the defined requirements within the module before it will be marked complete. You can require students to complete all requirements in the module, or have them choose one item to fulfill a specific requirement. Examples of requirements include "View the item" or "Mark as done".

Set Your Course Navigation

As an instructor, you can control which links appear in Course Navigation. Canvas includes a set of Course Navigation links that are shown by default and cannot be renamed. Depending on your course configuration, other links may be available and may be customizable.

Why this is important: Streamlining your course navigation and hiding unused links will prevent students from struggling to locate/access your course materials. 

How to set your Course Navigation: To learn how to customize your course Navigation, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I manage Course Navigation links? Links to an external site.

Review Your Course Settings

The Settings navigation link is where you can easily update and see the different users and sections, and you can also modify the navigation of your course. Depending on your permissions, you can edit differing levels of the course settings.

For a general overview of your Course Settings, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I use course settings? Links to an external site.

Link Validator  

Before you publish your course, we recommend that you validate the links within your course using the built-in Link Validator tool. The Link Validator tool searches through course content and returns invalid or unresponsive external links in both published and unpublished content.

For details about this tool, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I validate links in a course? Links to an external site.

How to access Link Validator: You can access the Link Validator tool by selecting the Settings button and then choosing Validate Links in Content.

Customize Your Course Card

When students access Canvas, they are presented with a view of their Student Dashboard. The Dashboard allows students quick access to their courses. You can add an image to go along with your course name/access link. Students will associate this image with your course. To learn more, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I add an image to a course card in the Dashboard? Links to an external site.