Author: Karen Turpin
Canvas start of the semester instructor checklist
Create or Import your Content
Multiple ways to begin to build your class
Copy from another class in Canvas. Your access to classes you have previously taught in Canvas continues indefinitely.
Copy in an entire course or portions of one from Canvas Commons.
Create your content from scratch in Canvas
Review Assignments, Quizzes, and Discussions
- Verify activities and content in the course are published.
- Verify dates. Due dates are added to the calendar and the syllabus and serve as reminders to students. “Available from” and “Until” dates will unlock and lock the activity.
- Verify instructions are accurate and well formatted.
- Verify assignment submission types.
- Verify number of quiz attempts is correct.
- Verify assignment groups are set up correctly. See: How to use Assignment Index Page.
- Verify assignments are weighted correctly, if using a weighted grading system. See: How to Weight Assignment Groups.
- Verify discussions are ordered logically on Discussions list page.
- Verify Quiz “Options” are correct. See: Canvas Quiz Options.
Review Course Details
- Verify total points possible in the gradebook is correct. To verify Download the Gradebook or within Canvas Student View navigate to Grades.
- Review Syllabus for accuracy and compliance with the MiraCosta Syllabus Checklist
- Verify that links are valid and operational. See: How to Validate Links.
- Customize course navigation links. Keep only the links that are necessary. For example, in most cases the following should be hidden: Files, Pages, Outcomes, Conferences, and Collaborations. If using Modules you can hide even more links to simplify navigation for students. See: How to Reorder and Hide Course Navigation Links.
- Verify Modules are logically ordered and published, if using them.
- Verify Module “Lock until” dates are correct, if using them. See: How to Lock a Module.
- Verify Module requirements and prerequisites are set correctly, if using them. See: How to add Requirements to a Module and How to set Prerequisites for a Module.
- Verify the course home page is set up correctly. See: Home Page Layout Options and How to Change the Course Home Page.
- Use “Preview” option in each quiz to check for errors.
- Use “Student View” to review the entire course. See: How do I view a course as a test student and Canvas Student View vs MCC’s Sample Student Account.
- Verify that your course complies with accessibility standards. See: PopeTech and Canvas Accessibility.
Final Preparations
- Publish your course when you are ready for students to have access to it. This typically is on the morning of or before the official course start date. See: How do I publish a course? NOTE: Some faculty like to publish their courses well in advance of the start date, but only publish a handful of elements of the course (such as the syllabus). This allows enrolled students to “preview” the class.
- For online and hybrid classes, encourage students to attend a Student Online Academic Readiness (SOAR) workshop. You may also wish to share the Canvas Student Orientation to help any students who are new to Canvas to have a resource for learning the basics.
- Especially for online and hybrid classes, send an email to your students through your SURF Roster telling them how to access your course in Canvas.
Cautions
- Canvas email (Inbox/Conversation) messages will not be sent out if the course is unpublished. Send class messages from your SURF Roster instead, prior to publishing the course.
- Pay attention to the time stamp on anything you have placed a date on. 12:00 means the very first minute of the selected day. For end dates, it is often best to choose 11:59 PM to ensure you are setting it up on the correct date.
Canvas Release (2023-06-17): New Feature: Bulk Publish and Unpublish Module Items
New Feature: Bulk Publish and Unpublish Module Items
- Featured Video: 2023-06-17 Modules Bulk Publish and Unpublish Module Items
- Related Blog: Coming Soon: Bulk Publish and Unpublish Modules!
Summary
In Modules, instructors can bulk publish all modules or individual modules. Instructors have the option to publish all modules and items, publish all modules only, or unpublish all modules and items. Additionally, the publish icon on individual modules is updated to include a Module status menu. This menu includes the options to publish module and all items, publish module only or unpublish module and all items for individual modules.
Note: The ability to select multiple specific items to publish is not available.
Change Benefit
This change provides instructors additional options and improves efficiency when publishing Modules.
Feature Workflow
Modules Publish All Button
In the Modules page, click the Publish All button [1] and select an option [2].
Individual Module Publish Options Menu
To view the module status menu of individual Modules, click the Module Status Menu [1]. Then, in the drop down menu, select the desired option [2].
Additional Details
Bulk publish is only available when File Copyright is enabled and set or disabled in a course. Bulk unpublish is not available for any Files. Additionally, an unpublished module overrides the state of individual module items. If an item is published within an unpublished module, students cannot view the item on the Modules page but can still view the published items in other areas of Canvas. However, they will not be able to interact with the item until the module is published.
Canvas Release (2023-06-17): Feature Update: RCE in New Quizzes & New Quiz Updates
Update 1: Rich Content Editor in New Quizzes
Featured Video: Release Screencast: 2023-05-20 New Quizzes Rich Content Editor in New Quizzes
Summary
The Rich Content Editor (RCE) is available in New Quizzes on Production Canvas
Change Benefit
This update provides instructors the ability to utilize the accessibility checker on questions and instructions, add media recordings within New Quizzes, and change the view between the HTML editor and classic view for advanced users. Users can also access a math editor. Additionally, this update provides students with the ability to record audio and video within the RCE of a New Quiz.
Feature Workflow
New Quizzes Build Page with Rich Content Editor
When building a New Quiz, instructors can use the Rich Content Editor.
Student View New Quizzes Rich Content Editor
When taking a New Quiz, students can use the Rich Content Editor.
Additional Details
This update completes phase one and phase two of the Rich Content Editor integration in New Quizzes. For more information on the Rich Content Editor integration, see the Re-enablement of the Rich Content Editor (RCE) in New Quizzes blog.
Update 2: Rich Content Editor Supports Third-Party Apps in New Quizzes
Featured Video: 2023-06-17 New Quizzes Rich Content Editor Supports Third-Party Apps
Summary
In New Quizzes, the Rich Content Editor supports adding content using third-party apps.
Change Benefit
This update allows users to easily include third-party tools to provide content in New Quizzes.
Feature Workflow
Rich Content Editor App Menu
To insert content using a third-party tool, click the App link [1] and select the desired tool [2].
Rich Content Editor Insert App View
When a third-party tool has been selected, users can select content to insert in the Rich Content Editor.
Update 3: Zero-Point New Quiz in Gradebook Checkbox
Featured Video: 2023-06-17 New Quizzes Practice Zero Point New Quiz
Summary
Instructors can choose to not display a column in the gradebook or student page when creating a zero-point practice New Quiz.
Change Benefit
This change allows instructors to remove unwanted content in the gradebook and prevent confusion for students related to zero-point practice quizzes.
Feature Workflow
New Quiz Do Not Display in Gradebook or the Student’s Grade Page Checkbox
When creating a New Quiz worth zero points, select the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox.
Additional Details
When the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox is selected, the Do not count this assignment towards the final grade checkbox becomes unavailable. If the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox is not selected, a column displays in the Gradebook and student grade page as the default.
Canvas Faculty Updates
This page details the new and updated features in Canvas for Instructors by release date.