Managing Content in Canvas Content Pages, Files and Modules Pages... 3 What are Pages?... 3 Creating a New Page... 3 Files... 3 What are Files?... 3 Adding Files... 4 Option 1: Drag and Dropping Files into Canvas... 4 Option 2: Uploading Individual Files (conventional upload)... 4 Option 3: Uploading a.zip file... 5 Folder or File Renaming... 5 Zipping Files... 5 Moving files... 5 Locking files... 6 Modules... 7 What are Modules?... 7 Creating a new module... 7 Adding content to a module... 8 Linking to Third-party Content (such as a Campus Pack Wiki, Blog or a Wimba Classroom) in Modules... 9 1
Canvas provides the following features to manage content in a Canvas course space. Pages o Pages are content you create inside Canvas, similar to the Item concept in Blackboard. o Essentially a wiki-like web page and can be restricted to teacher-only editing or teacher and student editing. o Can include links to other course content in the course. o Can be used to design the course home page and include links, images or multimedia content you like on the pages. Files o A repository of files (documents, PowerPoint, images, media, etc) you have uploaded from your own computer. Modules o Modules are used to create course structure for a sequential presentation of course content to your students. o Can contain links to Pages and (or) Files, URLs to web pages, links to other course tools (Discussion, Quizzes or Assignments) or links to thirdparty content such as Campus Pack Wikis, or Blogs, or Wimba content. 2
Pages What are Pages? The Pages menu link lists all pages you have created inside Canvas and is a place for you to generate a new content page inside Canvas. Pages are wiki-like web pages and can be edited by students if desired. Pages can include text, links to other course content, and multimedia content. Audio files, YouTube and other web videos automatically embed on a page. Because pages are created directly inside Canvas, you can edit them directly inside Canvas. You can use the same page in multiple places, such as in multiple Assignments or Modules. By editing it once, you ve updated it everywhere a page is referred. Creating a New Page 1. Click on Pages link. Select Create a New Page from the right panel. 2. Give the page a title, and then click Create. 3. The visual text editor opens. You can type the content directly to the page, links to web pages, record or upload media content, or add links to other content in the course. Files What are Files? The Files area is a repository where you can upload files you ve created on your own computer into Canvas. By default, students can view files in the Files area in your course. However, you can choose to lock a file to prevent it from being viewed by students or make the Files menu link unavailable to students. Files located in the Files area can be linked to any place in the course space, such as from an item in a Module, an Assignment, or Discussion, etc On the top right in the Files, you will see the features below: 1. Add Files will let you upload individual files from your computer. 2. Add Folder creates a new folder in Files to organize files. 3. Download files as zip will create a.zip archive of all files in Files area. 4. Import a.zip file lets you upload a.zip file containing multiple files and folders. Canvas unzips those files for you automatically.] 3
Adding Files Canvas makes it simple to add files to your course. You can upload files by: Drag and Drop Uploading individual files Uploading and unpacking/unzipping a.zip file Option 1: Drag and Dropping Files into Canvas With drag and drop you can quickly add one or multiple files to a Canvas space. 1. On your computer, locate and select the file or files you want to upload to Canvas. 2. Then, drag the files into the desired location in Files. (Note: This drag and drop function is supported by Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari.) 3. The files will then copy into your folder in Canvas and are visible in the Files area for your students. Note: By default uploaded files and folders are available to students. However, you have the option of locking them so they will not be visible either permanently or in a designated timeframe. Option 2: Uploading Individual Files (conventional upload) Click the Add Files link, to browse your computer s drives/directories and then upload a file. 4
Option 3: Uploading a.zip file This feature allows you to upload multiple files at once. To upload and unzip a.zip file with multiple files and (or) folders, simple click the import.zip file icon (with green up arrow). Once you browse and upload the zipped file from your computer, the file will automatically unzip/unpack and the individual files will be available in Files area. Folder or File Renaming If you need to modify a folder or file, select the file on the far left, then click the pencil icon on the right. Zipping Files Canvas allows you to zip multiple files to create a.zip archive of all files in Files area for easy downloading to your computer. Moving files Your files can be easily managed using a basic click-and-drag method. Click the double arrow icon to move files up or down in the Files area. 5
Locking files By default uploaded files are available to students. However, TAs and instructors have the option of locking them so they will not be visible either permanently or in a designated timeframe. a. To lock a file so that students cannot view it, click the lock icon. b. Then, select the desired options: 1) you can designate a timeframe or 2) you can manually unlock the file. c. Designate and timeframe if you select the first checkbox. 6
Modules What are Modules? Modules allow you to create the structure of the course. You can use modules to organize your course by weeks, units, or chapters, etc. With modules, you are essentially creating a one-directional linear flow of what you would like your students to do. Each module can contain links to Pages, Files, web URLs, links to discussions, assignments, quizzes, and links to other third-party content, such as Campus Pack Wikis or Blogs, or Wimba tools. You can easily add items to your module that you have already created in the course. You can also create new items on the fly within the module. For example, a Module Week 1 can contain a Word file (.doc), a PowerPoint file (.ppt) and Assignment (created with the Assignment tool), and a Quiz (created with the Quiz tool). Creating a new module First, click on Modules link in the course menu, and then click Add a New Module button on right. Name your module and choose your settings: 1. Lock module - this allows a module to remain 'hidden' until desired date. 2. Prerequisites setting release criteria based on assignments that must be completed before the module is available. 3. Sequential Order- force sequential order of module completion Click Add Module to add a module. 7
Adding content to a module 1. Click Add item to module, to add specific files or links to other items. 2. From the Add dropdown menu, select the type of item you want to add to the module. The following types of content can be added: links to Assignments, Quizzes, Files, (Content) Pages, Discussion Topics, URLs, and Text Headers. Note the Text Header option (last item in the dropdown menu). You can use this to set up sub-headings under a Module. According to the category you selected from the Add menu, all the files or other activities you have uploaded or created before (e.g., quizzes, assignments, discussions, etc), will be available for you to select. You can add several items at once by using the Shift or the Control/Command keys. Note: you can control indentation using the dropdown list below the list of files. 8
Link to Third-party Content (such as a Campus Pack Wiki, Blog or a Wimba Classroom) in Modules 1. In the module where you want to add the link to a third-party tool, click the Add item to module link to bring up the content dialog. 2. Select External Tool in the Add dropdown. 3. Once "External Tool" is selected, you will be able to see a list of all available external tools. 4. Click the tool from the list to add it to the module. 5. After the tool is added, it will appear as part of the module's content. 9