Copy a Canvas Course

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting |

Importing existing content into a new Canvas course allows instructors to efficiently reuse and adapt course materials. This guide outlines the process for using the "Import Existing Content" function in Canvas, highlighting its benefits for selective content importation, due date adjustments, and maintaining a clean course file area. 

Note: The red import button shown in the video was recently changed to a blue button labeled Add to Import Queue.  We will update the video later in the semester.

Prerequisites

• A course in Canvas to import content into.
• A course in Canvas with content you want to copy.
• Teacher or Designer access in both courses.

Step-by-Step Instructions

You can copy a previous course in Canvas by using the Import Existing Content tool from the course settings. Here's how to import content from a previous Canvas course into this semester's course:

1. From your Global Navigation menu, select Courses, then locate your course for the upcoming term.
   • Your course is labeled with the term under its title. See "Anatomy of a Canvas Course ID."
   • If you're having trouble viewing all your courses, see "Organize Your Courses on Your Canvas Dashboard."
2. Under Option 1: Copy from Previous Term or Sandbox, select Copy Content. 
   

If you do not see the option above, select Import Existing Content from your Canvas course home page then proceed to step 3. 

3. On the Import Content page, choose Copy a Canvas Course from the drop-down menu.
4. In the Search for a Course box, type the name of the course with the content you want to copy and select it from the list.
5. Under Content, choose Select specific content.
   This allows you to omit unused files, leading to a cleaner Files area and improved accessibility scores.
6. From Options, select Adjust Events and Due Dates.

   Note: As a general guideline, TLP recommends setting a Beginning and Ending date that reflect the upcoming term. Even if you just ballpark the dates for now, you can go back and adjust them later on the calendar or using Canvas's Assignment Date Editing Tool. Alternatively, you can choose ‘remove dates’ if you want to start entering dates from scratch.

7. Select Add to Import Queue to proceed to the content selection phase
   
    
8. From the Current Jobs area, choose Select Content and pick the items you want to import.

   Note: As a general guideline, TLP recommends selecting everything EXCEPT Announcements, Pages and Files. Leaving these behind helps keep the junk behind and results in more accurate Ally scores, enhances Smart Search accuracy, and reduces your overall course file size. You can still copy items one-by-one if needed later. 

9. Select Import. 
10. Check your content after import. If it is not there, wait and refresh your browser. Do not repeat the course copy process multiple times. 

Troubleshooting

• Need to change the home page? See How do I edit or change my course home page. 
• Content Organization: Should your course content not appear as expected, review the selection process to ensure all desired content was included. Adjustments to the course structure may be required post-import. Importing the same content from the same origin course multiple times won't result in the duplication of content.

Still need help? Reach out to Canvas support or the Technology & Learning Program for further assistance.