Quick start guide to Canvas course development | Staff guide

In Canvas you can build the structure of a course very quickly. The modules area within your course allows you to create individual modules to organise materials by week, theme, topic and such. Once you have created your theme, you can then choose what type of resource you would like to add:

Using modules

1. Inside your Canvas course, go to the Modules area
2. Select the ‘+ Module’ button
3. Provide a module name (for example Week 1)
4. Select Add Module
5. By default all newly created modules are set to ‘Unpublished’ until you select the 'publish' icon.

Uploading a new file

1. Select the ‘+’ button in a particular module
2. From the Add drop-down menu choose File
3. Choose [Add file]
4. Select the Choose File button to locate your file
5. Select Add Item

Adding a topic or week overview page

Insert your content, pictures and other rich media within topic overviews and summary pages using Content Pages

1. Select the ‘+’ button next to a module
2. From the Add drop-down menu choose Page
3. Choose [New page]
4. Insert a Page Name
5. Select Add Item
6. At a later time you can select the new item, and select the Edit button to add content

Sharing a web link

1. Select the ‘+’ button next to a module
2. From the Add drop-down menu choose External URL
3. Enter a URL (for example copy the address of a needed website)
4. Provide a Page name which displays as a title
5. Tick the checkbox next to ‘Load in a new tab’ (we highly recommend this option)
6. Select Add Item

Discussion boards, assignment and quizzes

With these you can make a ‘placeholder’ within your content structure, and then add extra details at a later time.

1. Select the ‘+’ button next to the module you just created
2. From the Add drop-down menu choose either Discussion, Assignment or Quiz
3. Select the first item in the list (New Topic, Assignment or Quiz)
4. Provide a title for the new resource
5. Select Add Item
6. At a later time you can select the new item, and select the Edit button to provide the detail. See further guides and training on these individual tools.

Adding text headers

Use these to divide up materials within a module.

1. Select the ‘+’ button next to the module you just created
2. From the Add drop-down menu choose Text header
3. Provide a Header
4. Select Add Item

Rearrange the order of content

1. You can re-arrange the order of content within modules by holding and dragging the item’s drag handle upwards or
   downwards.

Testing the course within student view

1. Use Student View to see how the course will look to students. Use it during development and also prior to releasing your course
2. Select your course home page
3. Select the Student View button
4. Canvas then gives you a Student View of the course, denoted by the purple frame at the bottom of the page. To leave student video select the Leave student view button.

Publishing module items and the overall course

1. When you have finished developing your course, choose what items you want students to be able to see initially when the course starts, then select Publish/Unpublish for each item.
2. When you are happy that the course is ready to be released to students go to the Home area, and select Publish.

Help and support

If you have any queries about adding content or publishing your course, Canvas experts are ready to help. You can speak to an expert using one of the contact methods listed in the help section of your Canvas main menu. Alternatively contact the Teaching and Learning Academy via LJMU Assist.