Course Content

CSU’s policy is that instructors make all content in Canvas universally designed for learning (UDL) and copyright appropriate from the beginning. Please make these a standard part of your set up process.

CSU’s Accessibility website
Canvas Accessibility standards
CSU Library’s Copyright Basics

A Home Page provides a welcoming environment and instructions to learners on how to get started. The Home Page should include the course number and title. If the course is cross-listed, clearly identify each section as this reassures students that they are in the correct course.

By default, the course home page is set to a template page. To change the home page to another page in your course, set your page as the Front Page.

Navigation links are the buttons on the left side of a Canvas course. Customize the navigation links so only the links that you intend to use in the course are enabled, and visible, in the course.

Generally, the syllabus describes the course for the students and tells them what to expect. It lays out the ethical agreements for the course and creates the course culture. The instructor is bound to these agreements as well as the student.

TILT’s Syllabus Resources

• Syllabus Resources and Policies
• Creating an effective Syllabus
• Syllabus Template

Save the syllabus as an accessible pdf and upload the syllabus pdf into the Syllabus Tool in Canvas.

Teachers can import (copy) content from a previous Canvas course into a current course and then update the content/dates for the new semester.

• Set course home page
• Adjust due dates on all materials and assignments with the Cidi Labs Multi-Tool
  • To use the Multi-Tool, it must be added to the Canvas course navigation
  • Adjust all course due dates in one location
• Re-link any special tools and external apps such as Echo360 and McGraw-Hill
• Re-create groups

Files

Course files include any content uploaded to your course.

It is recommended to create accessible PDFs before uploading files into a Canvas course.

• Create folders in Files navigation
• Upload files into Canvas
• For scanned Files, work with Library E-Reserves to create a searchable file.

Note: The Files navigation is hidden from students by default. It is recommended to use Modules to share files with students.

Modules

Modules are the easiest way for instructors to help students navigate your course. Organize content into modules by week or topic. Include links to files, assignments, quizzes, websites, videos, pages, and more.

• Canvas Module Guides
• Add course content into a module
• Add eReserves to a Canvas Course in modules

Pages

Pages are content areas where you can add and consolidate text and materials. Think of a Word document or Google Doc with the ability to add text, videos, images, hyperlinks, LTI Apps, and links to all other content in your course. You can even link to other pages.

Create Pages – Use Headings to organize material, and Descriptive Links for hyperlinks. Make a page the course Home page
Add a page into a module

CidiLabs DesignPLUS Tools can be used to customize the content of content pages, assignments, the course syllabus, discussion descriptions, and quiz descriptions. For support, please reach out to the CSU Online Instructional Design Team.

Canvas is not optimized to deliver video content and has a data size cap, so video files must be uploaded to other resources.

There are many ways to communicate with students; teach them how you expect them to communicate for your course, and be consistent.

• Announcements viewed in Canvas
• Conversations (Inbox) – mail within Canvas (can set to forward to your email)

Set your email & notification preferences, and point students to set theirs, too.

View a Canvas course the same way a student views the course with Student View. Use student view to check for broken links, unpublished items, module progression, etc. You can also submit assignments and take quizzes as a student.

Students won’t see a Canvas course until the start date has occurred and the course has been published.

Please contact the TILT Instructional Desing and Development team if you would like assistance on course redesigns and enhancements.