How do I build a Simple Canvas Course?
NOTE: Go to http://bit.ly/simplecanvascourse to view the Freshman Writing Seminar. Click on the yellow link on the
home page to see this lesson and download sample materials.
This lesson is designed to accompany the Build a Simple Canvas Course video. Watch the video, browse through the
Freshman Writing Seminar, and then download sample materials. To build a Simple Canvas Course, you need five
things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Syllabus text
Discussion prompt
Assignment prompt
OPTIONAL: Quiz (QTI .zip file)
Course files (.zip file)
1. Visit the Canvas Dashboard
Log in to Canvas. Click on the Start a New Course button in the Dashboard. If you do not have access to this button,
contact your Canvas administrator and request that they enable it for you or request that they provide you with a
course shell.
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2. Create a course shell
Enter "Simple Canvas Course" and a shorter reference code, such as "SCC 101" in Step 1 of the Course Setup Wizard
[1]. Skip to Step 3 to add example students [2], Click "Save & Skip the Rest" to save the course shell [3]. Once you
save the course, you will be taken to the Course Home Page.
3. Set course home page to Syllabus view
When you first enter the course shell, you will see a banner at the top of the page reminding you that the course is
still unpublished [1]. Click on the "Change Home Page Layout" link and select the final option in the dropdown menu
to enable the Syllabus view [2]. Click Update Layout [3]. Click on the small x at the bottom of the window to hide the
Course Setup Checklist [4].
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4. Edit Syllabus description
Click on the Edit Syllabus Description button in the Sidebar. Copy text from your syllabus and paste it in the editor
window. Then click Update Syllabus.
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5. Customize Course Navigation
Click on Settings in the Course Navigation. Click on the Navigation tab to customize the Course Navigation. Remove
the following links from the Course Navigation by dragging them to the bottom of the screen [1]:
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Syllabus
Collaborations
Conferences
Modules
Quizzes
Outcomes
Pages
Chat
Reorder the remaining links as follows [2]:
Home
Announcements
Discussions
Assignments
Grades
Files
People
Click Save.
6. Add three assignment shells to the Calendar
Add three assignment shells by clicking on a date, selecting the Assignments tab, and entering the assignment titles.
The titles should be Quiz [1], Paper [2], and Discussion [3].
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7. Create three assignment groups on the Assignments page
Click on Assignments in the Course Navigation to visit the Assignments page. Click the Add Assignment Group link in
the Sidebar to create two new assignment groups in addition to the default group [1].
Name the groups, respectively, "Papers", "Quizzes", and "Discussions". Drag the assignments into their respective
assignment groups [2].
Check the box at the top of the Assignments page to "Weight the final grade based on assignment groups" [3].
Then enter in percentages in the Sidebar: Papers should be worth 50%, Quizzes should be worth 25%, and
Assignments worth 25% [4].
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8. Edit assignment details for the paper
Click on the Paper assignment from the Assignments page. Click Edit Assignment in the Sidebar. Copy text from your
Assignment prompt and paste it in the editor window [1] Enter 100 in the Points field [2]. The due date field should
be populated. Select "Online Submission" from the Submission dropdown menu [3]. Select "Allow File Uploads" from
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the checklist [4]. Click Update Assignment [5].
9. Edit assignment details for the discussion
Click on the Discussion assignment from the Assignments page. Click Edit Assignment in the Sidebar. Copy text from
your Discussion prompt and paste it in the editor window [1]. Select "Discussion" as the assignment type [2]. Enter
100 in the Points field [3]. The due date field should be populated. Click Update Assignment [4].
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10. OPTIONAL: Import quiz (QTI .zip file)
Click on Settings in the Course Navigation. Click Import Content into this Course. Click on the "Import Quizzes" link.
Browse to QTI .zip file. Click Import Quiz, After import, click on Quizzes in the Course Navigation. Select the imported
quiz. Click Edit This Quiz in the Sidebar. Then click Publish Quiz in the Sidebar.
Return to the Assignments page to delete the original assignment shell for the quiz and drag and drop the imported
quiz into the correct assignment group.
Optional: Add a due date to the quiz by clicking on the icon pencil next to the imported quiz and editing the due
date field.
11. Upload course files
Click on Files in the Course Navigation. Click on the Import Zip File icon in the far right side of the Files browser
window. Browse to course files in .zip format. Click Upload File.
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Optional: Browse through uploaded files. Organize files into folders and practice locking files.
12. Create new announcement with Flickr image
Click on Announcements in the Course Navigation. Add a title to the Announcment [1]. Click on the tree icon to
search for "party balloons" in Flickr Creative Commons [2]. Click on an image to embed it in the content window. Add
text at the bottom of the content window [3]. Click Update Announcement [4].
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13. Publish course
Click on Home in the Course Navigation [1]. Click on the publish link in the banner at the top of the page [2]. Then
click on Publish Course in the Course Setup Checklist [3]. All of the example students will recieve an invitation to join
the course.
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14. Preview course with the Student View
Click on Settings in the Course Navigation [1]. Click on Student View in the Sidebar [2]. Now browse your Simple
Canvas Course through the eyes of a student.
You should browse through:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
the Home/Syllabus page,
the Announcements page,
the Discussions page,
the Assignments page,
the Grades page,
Files, and
People.
Congratulations on successfully building a Simple Canvas Course!
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