Designing Your Canvas Course
1. Add and Manage Files and Content
Files are where you upload course files, syllabi, readings, or other documents. Faculty can lock folders so students cannot access files. Files can be placed in Modules, Assignments, or Pages. Files and folders are listed, by Canvas, in alphabetical order and cannot be rearranged.


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How do I add a file to my course?
- Upload your syllabus and other files in PDF and Word formats.
How do I move and organize my files?
- Files are organized in alphabetical order. While you can still move files into folders, you cannot rearrange the alphabetized structure of the files and folders.
What types of media files can be uploaded into Canvas?
- Canvas will accept most media files as uploads. However, not all media files can be played within Canvas.
What document types does Canvas convert using the document preview?
- With document preview you can scroll through the document, zoom in and out, and view the document in full screen.
Online Annotation Tools and Supported File Formats in Crocodoc
- Markup and commenting tools are available via Crocodoc (within SpeedGrader).
- To best utilize these tools: when creating an assignment in Canvas, limit student assignment submission uploads to the following file formats - .doc/.docx, .ppt/.pptx, and/or .pdf.
- The Annotation Tools are not yet available for use with text entries or .txt and .rtf files.
See also Instructure's video: Files - Add Content
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2. Create Pages
Pages can contain text, video, and links to your files. You can even make links to other pages. Pages are usually used to provide content and educational resources that don’t necessarily belong in an assignment. Pages can also be used for creating a class wiki.


3. Use Modules to Organize Content
Modules may be used to organize content and help control the flow of your offering.


The left sidebar is referred to as the Course Navigation menu. It consists of several tabs which may be made visible to or hidden from students. (Tab names cannot be edited at this time. However, additional tabs may be created by adding an external app and/or using the Redirect Tool.)


5. Create a Home Page
Create a welcoming landing page for your students.


6. Last Steps: Test and Publish
A course is made accessible to students by publishing it. Use Student View before publishing to see the course as students will see it.


See also the Canvas Orientation for Faculty
Use this online self-paced Canvas course as a step-by-step guide for developing your site.
Interested in Individual or Faculty Team Training?
- Please contact Bridget Irish in Academic Computing to make an appointment.