Module 4: Managing Content on Canvas

In Canvas, modules are used to organize course content by weeks. Your instructor may ask you to add some course materials to Canvas, including a course syllabus, readings, and links. You may also need to set lock dates or unpublish items. We will go over the common ways to go about it below.

Add a Module

With modules, you are essentially creating a one-directional linear flow of what you would like your students to do. Course content will exist within a module, so you must add a module prior to adding any course content.

  1. To add a module, select the  + Module button on your homepage.
  2. Then give it a name (i.e., "Week 1").

Add a File

  1. To add a file (pptx, pdf, docx), select the + button on your module. This will allow you to add an item (each piece of content you add is called an item).
  2. Next to Add, select File. Choose Create File(s) and Choose File. Select Add Item, and your file will appear in the module.

Add a Page

Pages can include text, video, and links to files and other course content that you build within Canvas.

  1. To add a Page, select the + button on your module to add an item.
  2. Next to Add, select Page. Choose Create Page and provide a Page Name. Select Add Item, and your page will appear in the module.
  3. From your module, select the page, and then edit to add content to your page.

Setting Availability Dates for Weekly Modules

Note: Instructors can control the dates that the modules can be accessed by Locking a module.

  • Locking a Module: If you set unlock dates, then a module will automatically become available, however students will still be able to see and even click on items within that module (clicking on an item will display a notification that the materials are locked). See below for more info.
  • Unpublishing a Module: if you want a module and all of its items to be hidden from students, then you will need to Unpublish it. You cannot set dates to automatically re-publish. See below for more info.

To Lock and Unlock a Module:

  1. Click on the three dots to the far right of the module title and click Edit.
  2. Under the Settings tab, check Lock Until and enter the date that you want the module to become available.
  3. Click Save.

To Publish and Unpublish a Module:

  1. Click on the circle with line through it to the far right of the module
  2. Select Publish module and all items to reveal the module to students or Unpublish module and all items to hide it from students

 

Publishing and unpublishing modules is great for hiding course materials, however it is a manual process for instructors. If you unpublish a module, be sure to publish it. Use the View as Student feature to test out item availability if in doubt.