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Syllabus Design Model

by adminCanvas Course Design

The Syllabus in Canvas, when used in combination with the Calendar, makes it possible to deliver content through the creation of events with linked content and date-based assessments.

Pros:

  • Events are automatically created for assessments associated with a due date.
  • In the Calendar simply drag and drop an event to change the due date.

Cons:

  • Calendar events must be created manually for the delivery of files and pages.
  • Content is available as soon as the event is posted unless the item has been locked/made unavailable at the file, page, or assessment level.

About the Syllabus

Calendar Overview

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Module Design Model

by adminCanvas Course Design

In the Modules area of the course, instructors can add files, pages, assignments, quizzes, and links to external tools that present in a linear, compartmentalized format.

Pros: 

  • Modules can include links to files, pages, assessments and communication tools.
  • The availability of the module to students is controlled at the module level.
  • If a module is unavailable, the content within the module are unavailable until the same date/time.
  • If the module is available, release of specific content within the module must be controlled at the tool/file level.
  • Assessments and other tools can be added within a module.

Cons:

  • Adding files individually within each module results in long, scrolling list.
  • Modules cannot be nested.
    Note: Creating pages containing the content for each session and adding that within the module can help reduce scrolling and allow a hierarchical structure.

The text below illustrates a few ways to present content within a Modules.

1. Topics for Quiz 1

  • Text Headings are used to organize content by session within the Module.
  • Assessments are added individually within the module.
  • Content is added as individual files.

2. Content for Quiz 1 Session 2

  • The module is locked and the associated resources are unavailable until October 25 at 12am.
  • Assessments are added individually within the module.
  • A Page titled Topics for Quiz 1 Session 2 has been added instead of individual files.

3. Topics for Quiz 2

  • The module is locked and the associated resources are unavailable until October 28 at 12am.
  • Content and Assessments are available through a linked Page.

Modules Overview

Module Tutorials

These tutorials cover Module management. For information about adding content to modules, proceed to Step 3: Add Content.

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Page Design Model

by adminCanvas Course Design

In the Pages section of the course, it is possible to create a page for each area of content covered in the course. These pages can contain text, embedded media, and links to files and other course tools.

Pros:

  • Pages are a flexible and visually appealing way to present content (text, files, and media) to students.
  • The Text Editor makes it easy to add and format content within the pages.
  • Students can preview and download files directly from within the page.
  • Pages can link out to the assessment and communication tools within Canvas.

Cons:

  • Pages are organized alphabetically.
    Note: To present pages sequentially add a number to the beginning of the page name. (Example: 0 – Syllabus/Course Info; 1 – Topics for Quiz 1; etc)
  • Page release can be controlled only by manually hiding or showing them.
    Note: Files linked to within a page can be released by setting lock/unlock dates within the Files area at either the folder or the file level.

Pages Overview

Pages Tutorials

These tutorials cover Page management. For information about building Pages to deliver content to students within the course, proceed to Step 3: Add Content.

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Files Design Model

by adminCanvas Course Design

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.

Pros:

  • Files can be organized by folders.
  • Files can include .pdf, .doc, .ppt, etc as well as uploaded media and images.
  • Students can download files en bulk from Files.
  • Setting lock/unlock dates at either the folder or the file level can control file availability.

Cons:

  • Assessment and communication tools cannot be linked to from within Files, thus other Canvas tools/menu items would need to be available in the course menu
  • In general, using folders within Files is
    • a good practice for content organization
    • not a good, stand-alone, design model

The example in the image below is based on the Year 1 and 2 organization schema of Topics for Quiz.

Files Overview

Files Tutorials

These tutorials cover Files management. For information about delivering files to students within the course, proceed to Step 3: Add Content.

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Creating a Homepage

by adminContent types

The Home Page is the first page your students see upon entering your Canvas course site. There are several options for designing a Canvas Home Page:

  • Course Activity Stream – Displays the most recent announcements, messages, assignments, and discussion posts in your course.
  • Pages Front Page – Has the same content capabilities as a standard Page. Also referred to as the Front Page.
  • Course Modules – Sets your Modules area as the Home Page.
  • Assignment List – Show all of the assignments in a course, with upcoming and recent assignments at the top.
  • Syllabus with Assignment List – Lets you add content like a course description, links, images, etc. in a rich content editor and also displays all of the assignments in your course. It’s a combination of “Pages Front Page” and “Assignment List” options.

To return to the Home Page from anywhere in a Canvas course site, just click on the Home button on the course navigation.

To learn more about customizing the Course Home page, feel free to view the Course Layout Customization Video and the Homepage Tutorial found on this page.

Homepage Tutorials

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Creating a Syllabus

by adminCanvas Course Design / Content types

The Syllabus page allows instructors to edit the syllabus description. Within the syllabus description, instructors can use the Rich Content Editor to post:

  • a course banner
  • the course description
  • a brief introduction
  • class guidelines
  • weekly reminders
  • other important information. 

Instructors can copy and paste content from Word documents directly into the Rich Content Editor or create original content inside of the Rich Content Editor. The Rich Content Editor also allows instructors to embed videos and input HTML.

The Content Selector that appears in the Sidebar when editing the Syllabus description will also allow instructors to link to files or other locations within the course from the Syllabus description.

Syllabus Tutorials

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Using the Calendar to Distribute Content

by adminCanvas Course Design / Content types

Canvas Calendar Events can be used to distribute lecture notes or remind students of session details. While creating Events can be a laborious process, doing so benefits the students because:

  • Creating events with due dates provides reminders to students on their Dashboard and in their own Calendar.
  • Students will receive automatic notifications via their preferred communication channels, such as text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, or personal email addresses.

Calendar Tutorials

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Creating Modules

by adminCanvas Course Design / Content types

Modules have already been discussed in Step 2: Module Design Model. To review, Modules can be used to:

  • Organize course content by unit, day, week, topic or Outcome
  • Create prerequisite activities that students must complete before moving on in the course
  • Track student progress through a sequence of learning activities

The Geisel Instructional Technology Staff highly recommends that instructors add or create all course content in Canvas (via Pages, Files, Assignments, Quizzes, etc) before organizing everything into modules. 

The other option is to map out your course within Modules using “placeholders” to create an outline of what each module should cover. The potential issue with this approach is that it is easy to forget to update the “placeholders” with the final content.

Module Tutorials

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Building Content in Pages

by adminCanvas Course Design / Content types

Why Use Pages?

You can link to a page from anywhere in Canvas that has a rich content editor. 

Here are some suggestions for using Pages:

  • Create a page for each class meeting or week. Within that page, include links to readings, assignments, and external content.
  • Embed audio and video files. These could be videos from YouTube or TED. You can also link to Relay recordings of you lecturing or demonstrating something.
  • Create a page with instructions and resources for an Assignment.

Add a Page to Module

To add a page to a module:

  1. Select + icon to the right of the module.
  2. From the Module Options, select Add Content.
  3. From the Add Item window, select Content Page from the Add Dropdown list.
  4. Select the Page you wish to add from the Files List.
    Note: If the page has not yet been updated, select the [New Page]option.
  5. If you wish to offset the page in the Module listing, select an Indentation option.
  6. Select Add Item when finished.

Remember, one way to make modules shorter is to link to pages that contain narrative and content instead of creating a long list of files by adding them directly to the module.

Add Pages to Other Tools

To add Pages to a page or other tools:

  1. Click on the Links tab that appears in the Sidebar.
  2. Select Pages.
  3. Select the Page you wish to add.
    Note: If you’d like to create a hyperlink from a word within the page, highlight the word before clicking on the File.
  4. The page you selected will automatically be added to the text area.
  5. Click Save Changes when you are finished editing the page.

Pages Tutorials

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Add Course Files

by adminContent types

Each course has its own file repository into which instructors can upload any documents, readings, or media files that will be used in the site. Instructors can link to files in the course-file repository from anywhere in Canvas that has a rich content editor.

Below are some examples of how you’d add Files to a Module and to Pages. The process seen in Pages will apply to adding files to Events, Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions, etc.

Adding file to a module

  1. Select + icon to the right of the module.
  2. From the Module Options, select Add Content.
  3. From the Add Item window, select File from the Add Dropdown list.
  4. Select the File you wish to add from the Files List.
    Note: If the file has not yet been updated, select the [New File] option.
  5. If you wish to offset the file in the Module listing, select an Indentation option.
  6. Select Add Item when finished.

Add Files to a Page

To add files to a page:

  1. Click on the Files tab that appears under Page Tools in the Sidebar.
  2. Select the File you wish to add to the page.
    Note: If you’d like to create a hyperlink from a word within the page, highlight the word before clicking on the File.
  3. The file will automatically be added to the page.
  4. Click Save Changes when you are finished editing the page.

Files Tutorials

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