If this site does not provide you with the information you need or you’d really prefer to sit down and work through the course site setup with a real person, feel free to contact Geisel Instructional Technology to setup a personalized session.
There are a number of ways to control content availability within a module. When editing the module settings the options presented are:
Control Option
Description
Option 1: Lock module until a given date
Locks all items within the module until a given date.
Option 2: This module is complete when
Sets requirements on individual items within the module
Option 3: Before students can view this module
Sets module availability based on the completion of other modules
Option 4: Students must move through requirements in this module in sequential order
Requires students to view content or complete tasks in order within a module.
The options above can, and in some cases must, be used in combination with each other. Examples of how the controls can be combined are as follows:
Example 1: Involves One Module Requiring students to move sequentially through the module only works if the “This module is complete when” option is selected and requirements are set on the items within the module.
Example 2: Involves Two Modules Setting the “Before students can view this module” option requires that previous modules have the “This module is complete when” option selected and requirements on items within the module be set.
The following instructions will outline how each of the module availability options is set and the ramifications of those settings.
Option 1: Lock Module Until a Given Date
This is a very simple control option. When a module is locked all of the content linked within the module is unavailable the students. It is only when the module is unlocked that the pages, links, quizzes, assignments, etc become available either all at once or in sequence depending on additional module settings.
To lock a module until a given date:
Click Modules in the course menu.
Select the cog icon to the right of the module you wish to edit.
From the resulting menu, select Edit.
In the Edit Module Settings window, select the checkbox lock module until a given date.
Select an Unlock At date.
Note: Modules do not have an option to release by Section.
Click [Update Module] to finalize the module settings.
Option 2: This Module is Complete When
This option allows instructors to place requirements for completion on the content within the module.
The requirement options on content within a module include users must:
View the item (can be applied to all items)
Contribute to the page (can be applied to Pages and Discussions)
Submit the assignment (can be applied to Assignments and Quizzes)
Score at least (can be applied to Assignments and Quizzes)
Requirements can be placed on all or some of the content; however, if the option to require students to move sequentially through the module is selected requirements must be placed on all of the items within the module.
To set the module completion option:
Click Modules in the course menu.
Select the cog icon next to the module you wish to edit.
From the resulting menu, select Edit.
In the Edit Module Settings window, click Add requirement under the This module is complete when prompt.
Select a content item from the For menu.
Select an option from the User Must menu. Note: The available options will vary depending on the content item type.
Repeat 4 – 6 until all of the requirements have been added.
If appropriate, select the checkbox for students must move through requirements in this module in sequential order.
Click [Update Module] to finalize the module settings.
Discussion by Section Workaround:
To control the availability of Discussions to different sections, set a score at least or submit the assignment requirement on a quiz or assignment item that has different due dates set by section.
Option 3: Before Students Can View This Module
This option can override Option 1:Lock module until a given date option as it is driven by the completion of earlier modules not by date.
Example: If a module is set to be available on November 18, but a student has not yet completed the requirements for the previous module by November 18, that student will be unable to proceed to the new module until they have completed the previous module.
To set the Before Students Can View This Module option:
Click Modules in the course menu.
Select the cog icon next to the module students must first complete.
From the resulting menu, select Edit.
Complete the This Module is Complete when steps for the required module.
Once the completion settings on the previous module are set, repeat 2 – 3 for the module you wish to set the prerequisite.
In the Edit Module Settings window, click Add Prerequisite under the Before students can view this module prompt.
From the They must complete menu, select a module that must be completed.
Repeat 6-7 as necessary.
If the module should be locked until a given date, click that checkbox.
If completion of this module will be required for future module release, complete the This Module is Complete when section.
If this module should be completed sequentially, click that checkbox.
When creating Discussions, it is possible to set the date and time availability of a forum. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be possible to make discussions available to different sections at different dates/times either from within the Discussions area or in Sections.
For workarounds, see the Module is Complete When section within the instructions outlining Modules: Controlling Content Availability via Modules noted below this section.
To Set Discussion Availability:
Click Discussions in the course menu.
Click on the Discussion you wish to edit. Note: If you have not yet created a Discussion, click [+ Discussion] then jump to step 4 below.
Click [Edit] located at the top right.
At the bottom of the page, set the Available From date.
When creating Quizzes, it is possible to make the quizzes available at various dates and times to different sections. It is important to note that the sections must be created prior to applying them to the Quiz.
To Set Quiz Availability:
Click Quizzes in the course menu.
From the Quizzes list, select the quiz you want to edit. Note: If you have not yet created the Quiz, select Create a New Quiz at the far right of the page.
On the quiz page, click [Edit].
Select the Settings tab and scroll to the Assign option at the bottom of the page.
Click in the Assign field to reveal a dropdown menu of options to select and select the section or individual to whom the quiz should be released.
Note: If setting availability for all students in the course, select Everyone.
6. Click on the calendar icon to select a Due Date for that section.
Click on the calendar icon to select a Due Date for that section.
Click on the calendar icon to select an Available From date/time.
If applicable, select the Until date. Note: Selecting an Until date will lock the quiz and prevent students from taking it after that date/time.
Click [+Add] to add another section due date.
Repeat 5 – 9 to add additional sections and individuals as needed.
Click [Save] to apply the settings.
Quizzes can also be moderated to allow individual students extra attempts or extra time. See the Moderate Quizzes tutorial for additional information.
When creating Assignments, it is possible to make the assignments available at various dates and times to different sections and individual students. It is important to note that the sections must be created prior to applying them to the Assignment.
To set assignment availability:
Click Assignments in the course menu.
Select the Assignment you wish to edit from the Assignments list, Note: If you have not yet created the Assignment, select Add Assignment at the far right of the page.
Within the expanded Assignment , click [Edit].
Within the Assignment, scroll down the page to the Assign area.
At the bottom of the page, click in the Assign To field and select a section or student as appropriate.
Note: If setting availability for all students in the course, select Everyone.
6. Click on the calendar icon to select a Due Date for that section.
Click on the calendar icon to select an Available From date/time.
If applicable, select the Until date. Note: By selecting an Until date, the assignment will automatically become locked once that date/time is reached so students will not be able to submit the assignment after that date.
Click [+Add] to add another due date.
Repeat 5 – 9 for all sections.
Click [Save] to apply the settings.
Quizzes can also be moderated to give users additional attempts if necessary. See the moderate quizzes tutorial.
In the Pages section of the course, it is possible to hide individual pages from students. Unfortunately, this is a manual process and cannot be set to release on a specific date and time.
In the All Pages list, pages that are hidden/unpublished are greyed out. Note the side by side comparison below of the Instructor view vs. Student View of the Pages.
To Hide/Unpublish Page:
Click Pages in the course menu.
Click [View All Pages].
From the All Pages list, find the Page to be hidden/unpublished. Note: Newly created pages are automatically unpublished.
Click the cloud icon to the right of the page as illustrated in the graphic at the top of this page.
A grey cloud indicates the page is hidden/unpublished.
A green cloud with a check mark is published and visible to the students.
In the Files section of the course, it is possible to create a folder for each area of content covered in the course to which files can be added. The availability of that content to the students can be set at either the file or folder level.
The images below illustrate content locked at both the folder and file levels until a set availability date.
To set lock/unlock dates within Files:
Click Files in the course menu.
Click on the folder or file in the left hand Files menu.
Click the lock icon that will appear at the top of the display window.
In the resulting window, select the appropriate lock/unlock options.
Option 1: Publish (default setting)
Option 2: Unpublish (not recommended) Note: Not recommended unless you will remember to publish it.
Option 3: Restrict Access (contains two options) Only available to students with link. Not visible in student files.
Schedule student availability (recommended) Note: This option then presents the instructor with the ability to set available from and available to dates.
Analytics evaluate individual components of a course and student performance. Course Statistics is less robust than Analytics and provides instructors with a view of which content within a course students are viewing.
Course Analytics has four main sections:
Activity – This view allows the instructor to see when students view a page or participate in the course.
Assignments – This view allows the instructor to view if students submit the assignment on-time, late, or not at all.
Grades – This view presents instructors with a quick view of the distribution of grades in the course.
Student Analytics – This view shows page view, participation, assignments, and current score for every student in the course.
To learn more about Analytics and Course Statistics, feel free to view the Course Analytics Video and the Analytics and Statistics Tutorials on this page.
Outcomes allow instructors to track student mastery of topics and concepts within a course. Using Outcomes would allow Instructors to align course assignments, quizzes, and other assessments with the Course Objectives stated within the Geisel Curriculum.
Note: It has not yet been determined if the Geisel School of Medicine will take advantage of this feature.
If you would like to learn more about how Outcomes work in Canvas, feel free to watch the videos and review the tutorials on this page.
Outcomes Overview Video
Skip to 1:48 for instructions on how to setup Outcomes. Note: This video does apply to Instructors even though it is aimed at Admins.
Outcomes Workflow Video
Note: Outcomes can be created at the Admin level or the Instructor level. Thus, this video still applies to Instructors even though it is aimed at Admins.
A Rubric is an assessment tool used to communicate performance expectations to students. Rubrics are typically comprised of performance criteria and defined levels of performance organized in rows and columns respectively. Rubrics can also aid in more consistent grading by multiple graders.
To learn more about Canvas Rubrics, feel free to watch the Rubric Video and view the Rubric Tutorials on this page.
Rubric Video
Note: While the Rubric Video is aimed at Administrators, the content within it applies to Instructors as well. To access Rubrics as an Instructor, go to Outcomes then select Manage Rubrics.
