Create a Homepage
The Homepage provides a brief course introduction and instructions for students. 

• Customize Your Course Homepage [video]
• How to Change Your Course Homepage [Instructor Guide]

Import Content from an Existing Canvas Course
Copy course content, assignments, and quizzes from a course taught in a previous term and quickly import them into an existing course using the Course Import Tool.

• The Course Import Tool [Instructor Guide]

Edit Your Syllabus
The Syllabus in Canvas makes it easy to communicate to your students exactly what will be required of them throughout the course in chronological order. You can also set the syllabus as your course homepage.

• Syllabus Overview [video]

Upload Files
"Files" allows instructors to upload and store files and assignments within Canvas. 

• Files Overview [video]
• How to Use Files [Instructor Guide]

Create Pages
Pages are used to add content to a course or group. A page can be set as a course homepage.

• Pages Overview [video]
• What are Pages? [Instructor Guide]
• How to Create a New Page [Instructor Guide]

Create Modules
Add structure to your course with modules. Modules can be organized by day, week, unit, topic, or outcome. 

• Modules Tool [Instructor Guide]
• Create and Manage Modules [video]

Organize Your Course Navigation Menu
The Navigation Menu on the left side of your course helps you and your students access different course areas. Instructors can choose to reorder and hide course navigation links as needed to help guide students.

• How to Use the Navigation Menu [Instructor Guide]

Check Your Course
Make sure your course contains all the recommended, essential elements using this AT checklist:

• Getting Started to Teach in Canvas [PDF]. 

Use the tools below to communicate with your enrolled students after you have published your course:

INBOX:  Send an email through Canvas:

• The Inbox is a messaging tool used to communicate with a course, a group, an individual student, or a group of students. You can use the Inbox to communicate with others in your course.
• Users display in the Inbox once they have an active enrollment in the course, and users cannot join a course unless it is published.
• Once a course has concluded and its term date has passed, you can no longer message students in that course.
• Get step-by-step instructions for using the Inbox to send emails.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Post course announcements and updates on Canvas:

• Announcements allow instructors to communicate with students about course activities and post interesting course-related topics.
• Designed to allow instructors to broadcast information to all course members or to all members of sections within a course.
• Students may be able to reply to announcements, but replies are not considered to be a conversation and will not appear in the Inbox.
• Instructors should post announcements on BrightSpace if they are teaching on Canvas.
• Get step-by-step instructions for using the Announcement tool.

DISCUSSIONS: Stay connected and engage students:

• Post question prompts or topics to start a discussion with your class. Instructors and students can read and reply to comments from others in each thread.
• Create a "General Questions" thread for students to share their concerns about miscellaneous topics.
• Get step-by-step instructions for using the Discussion Tool
• View these tutorials to learn more:
  • Create a Discussion
  • Publish or Unpublish a Discussion

ZOOM: Hold live (synchronous) meetings or record lectures:

• Consider using Zoom to hold virtual office hours and to keep appointments with students.
• Chat with students via Zoom.

Organize student assignment submissions with the Assignment Tool in Canvas:

• Set up assignments on Canvas where students can upload their assignments.
• Track the day and time when assignments are submitted.
• Provide feedback on student assignments
• Get step-by-step instructions for using Assignments.
• Learn more about Assignments from these articles:
  • Using the Assignments Index Page
  • Publish or unpublish an assignment
  • Create an assignment
  • Enter grades for an individual assignment
  • Set a default grade for an assignment
  • Difference between assignment due dates and availability dates
  • Creating an assignment Using Turnitin

Set up Quizzes on Canvas:

• Use the Quizzes tool to create, manage, and grade your assessments
• Watch these videos and articles to get started:
  • New Quizzes Overview
  • Assign a quiz to an individual student
  • Give Students Extra Attempts on Quizzes
• ​Find additional resources on the Canvas Community about New Quizzes

Manage and share grades with students using the Grades in Canvas:

• Share individual student grades and comments.
• Show class averages and feedback.
• Share final grades
• Learn the basics from these quick videos
  • Gradebook Overview
  • SpeedGrader Overview
• ​Find more step-by-step instructional guides about Grades in the Canvas Community

A template has been automatically installed in all Fall and Spring courses (2023-2024).

This template has been designed by experts at the Chancellor's Office to help expedite the course development process for all CSUs. Instructors can easily customize a layout to adapt to their own subject or teaching mode, including face-to-face instruction. This pre-built frameworks adheres to evidence-based, Quality Assurance standards. It is a great example of what many CSUs are doing to build effective, consistent, and engaging courses for students. The template is ready for you to begin adding your content into the placeholders. Here are the modules you can expect to see in your courses:

How to Use This Template Module - Used to help inform instructors how to use the template.

Start Here Module - Used in the first week of school to help you and your students to get to know each other with:

• Syllabus Activity - this activity (quiz) helps your students get to know your syllabus and ensures they read the entire syllabus knowing they will be quizzed on all the questions you create.
• Student Survey - this activity (quiz) helps you get to know your student better by asking all the questions you need to know as an instructor.
• Introduction Discussion - this activity (discussion) helps students get to know one another and connect as they begin this journey together in your course. (not needed if you have a fully in-person course since you most likely do introductions on the first day of class)

Modules 1-16 - Used to help instructors visualize and build consistent modules for their course delivery. Each item is a placeholder ready for instructors to use and modify or delete if it does not align with your teaching. We recommend using at minimum:

• Module (X): Title/Topic Overview
• Module (X) Summary and Next Steps