Whether you're new to Canvas or a seasoned user, the following checklist will guide you through the essential steps to ensure your courses are well-organized, accessible, and ready for students. From importing content and setting up the syllabus to configuring assignments and publishing your course, we aim to equip you with the best practices and tips to streamline your course preparation process. Let’s get started on creating a successful and engaging learning experience for your students!
- Build & Copy Content: Ensure that your Canvas courses contain engaging and relevant course materials. To save time, copy content from either a master or a prior semester course, as outlined in our Import Content knowledge article.
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- Revise Your Syllabus: Easily customize and quickly update your syllabus with the latest syllabus template using the Simple Syllabus link in the course menu. Check out our Simple Syllabus knowledge article for more details.
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- Adjust Due Dates: Adjust all assignment and exam due dates according to the current semester calendar. Check out our Update Due Dates knowledge article to review how to adjust due dates.
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- Assess Course Accessibility: Click the Ally Course Accessibility Report link in the course menu to identify any accessibility issues in course materials and make necessary adjustments to improve accessibility. For a brief overview, watch the Ally clip from our eLearning Playbook.
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- Validate Links: Launch the Link Validator, located in the right column of your course’s Settings page, to ensure that all embedded links function properly.
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- Establish your Communication Policy: Be prepared to inform students of your preferred use of the Canvas Inbox vs Outlook and how soon to expect a reply. Outline your typical response time for replies to messages, announcements, discussions, and submission comments.
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- Review Canvas Notification Settings: Review your notification settings from the Account tab’s Notifications option to ensure they align with your communication preferences and your students' needs.
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- Configure Zoom & Panopto: Hybrid and remote instructors should access the Zoom and Panopto Videos pages from the course menu to respectively schedule lectures during advertised meeting times and create a home for your future Zoom recordings. Review our Schedule Zoom knowledge article for guidance.
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- Create a Mock Respondus Quiz: For those using Respondus Lockdown Browser or Monitor, it's recommended that you create and publish a 3-5 question, ungraded quiz with unlimited attempts. This gives students a chance to resolve technical issues and get acquainted with the tool before taking a graded Respondus quiz.
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- Publish Courses: All Canvas courses must be published for student access no later than 4 calendar days before the course’s advertised start date. Even if you’re still preparing your course, it’s best to publish it and post an announcement to manage student expectations.
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