Beginning-of-Course Checklist
This Beginning-of-Course Checklist is a starting point for ensuring your course is ready to go for student access at the start of a new course term.
Click here to view and download a printable PDF version of this checklist.
Essential
Set Up Account Notifications
To ensure you receive email notifications for important course activities and Canvas Inbox messages, set up your Notification Preferences in your Account.
Learn how to set up your Notification Preferences.
Customize Course Detail Settings
It is important to be aware of the many different options residing under Course Details in Course Settings. Selecting More Options will open up a menu of extra features to turn on and off, such as allowing students to post their own discussion threads.
Learn more about your Course Detail Settings.
Clean Up Migrated Content (If Applicable)
If migrating content from Blackboard or another course, you should review individual items, check course settings, organize content, and remove unneeded content before publishing your course. Review the Files, Modules, Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions index pages.
*Note: Removing items from a module does not delete the items from your course. If you need to delete an item go to the index page (for example, if you have an assignment in a module, to delete it completely from your course, you need to go to the Assignments link in your Course Navigation and delete the assignment there).
If you require assistance from one of our technologists, please use the Educational Software Consulting Get Help Guide.
Simplify Course Navigation
For the best course experience, ensure that you have hidden unnecessary course navigation links and made necessary links available to students.
Learn how to set up your Course Navigation Links here.
Choose Home Page
The Home Page is the first impression of a course. Select the Home Page option that best fits the needs of your course.
Learn how to set up your Home Page here.
Publish Course and Content
Check visibility of individual items and Modules as a whole, and don’t forget to publish your course.
Learn how to publish your course here!
Review Course in Student View
Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective.
* Note: Some third party tools may not have student view functionality
Best Practices
Select Favorite Courses
Customize which course cards are displayed on the Dashboard by “Favoriting” courses based on preference, current term, quarter, semester, etc.
Learn how to “Favorite” your courses so they show up on your Dashboard here.
Set Up Grades
Verify the Gradebook is arranged according to your grading policy and syllabus.
Learn how to arrange your Gradebook here.
Set Up Assignment Groups (If Applicable)
If you use weighted grading categories for your final grade calculations, you will want to add Assignment Groups to the Assignments Index Page and assign weights to each Group.
Learn how to add Assignment Groups and assign weighted grades to each Group here.
Verify Calendar
Check the Calendar tool to verify Assignment due dates and Events scheduled for your course.
* Note: The Calendar displays graded/published Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions and Events with due dates
Learn more about the Calendar tool here.
Set a Profile Picture
Set a profile picture that represents yourself in your Canvas Account. Students will be able to see the image displayed in the Inbox, Announcements, Discussions, and People tab.