Organizing Content using Modules

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting | Next Steps |

Modules in Canvas serve as the organizational backbone of your course, allowing you to structure content in a way that's easily navigable for students. By creating modules, you can group related content together, such as lectures, assignments, and discussions, making it straightforward for students to find what they need. This article will guide you through creating modules in Canvas, offering tips for effective organization and linking to various types of content.

Prerequisites

• Instructor access to a Canvas course
• Familiarity with the Canvas LMS interface

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create a Module

1. To begin, navigate to your course in Canvas.
2. Select Modules from the course navigation menu.
3. Choose + Module to create a new module.
4. Enter a name for your module. Consider using thematic, unit-based, or chronological naming conventions without dates to ease future course content copying.

2. Adding Content to Modules

1. With your module created, you can start adding content. Select + next to the module name to add items.
2. You can add various types of content, including assignments, quizzes, files, discussions, and external links. Select the type of item you want to add and follow the prompts to include it in your module.

3. Organizing Your Modules

• Chronological or Thematic Organization: Arrange modules in a way that best supports your course structure—either by week, unit, theme, or project.
• Incorporate All Course Elements: Ensure every course element (discussions, assignments, pages, etc.) is included in a module for easy access.
• Use Module Settings for Engagement: Take advantage of settings like prerequisites and publishing options to guide student progress through the course content.

Troubleshooting

• Modules Not Visible to Students: Ensure the module is published by checking the green checkmark next to the module name. Unpublished modules are invisible to students. Even if all items in the module are published, students won't be able to access the content if the module itself is not published.
  
• Issues Adding Content: If you encounter problems adding specific content types to a module, verify that the item exists in your course and is not unpublished or restricted.

Next Steps

• Use module prerequisites to control student access to modules
• Schedule the module to become available on a specific date
• Incorporate targeted learning activities to students based on achievement with Mastery Paths

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