Template: Introduction & How-to Customize
Template Overview
- This template should be used as an outline to structure your Canvas course.
- Follow the DSD Style Guide for Canvas Home Page. Teachers can add and remove items from your pages, but should follow the template guide as closely as possible. Always have the Home Page set for students to view when they open the course. On the Home Page you should include buttons and pictures to guide your students to Modules, Pages, Assignments, Quizzes & Discussions. Include important information about you and your course.
- You should always use Modules to direct your course flow and organization for students.
- Hide items in the Navigation list that you do not want students to access directly, such as Assignments, Pages, Discussions, Quizzes & Files. Students should only access those items from the Home Page, To-do list or Calendar. (Note: if an item has a due date it will show in the To-do list and in the Calendar).
- You can edit graphics, button names and banners on your home page.
- If you have any questions on this template please contact your Canvas Administrator.
Customize & Copy Sample Materials
This template provides you with the following sample components:
- Newsletter style Announcement
- Canvas Overview and Resources Module (from Instructor Perspective)
- Our Class Content Page
- Subjects Content Page
- Related Arts Content Page
- Parent Info Content Page
- Additional Sample Materials, Including:
- Substitute Teacher Plans Content Page
- Ask A Question Discussion Board
- Class Help Content Page
- Class Overview Content Page
- Class Schedule Content Page
- Class Resources Content Page
- Reading Log Assignment
- Discussion
- Quiz
- Assignment
Each page provides you (the instructor) with guidelines/suggestions as to how to use the sample. This text is often in bold and italics. When applicable, samples are also provided. Please be sure to unpublish and/or revise this material prior to providing student access.
Set Your Course Navigation
As an instructor, you can control which links appear in Course Navigation. Canvas includes a set of Course Navigation links that are shown by default and cannot be renamed. Depending on your course configuration, other links may be available and may be customizable.
Why this is important: Streamlining your course navigation and hiding unused links will prevent students from struggling to locate/access your course materials.
How to set your Course Navigation: To learn how to customize your course Navigation, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I manage Course Navigation links? Links to an external site.
Review Your Course Settings
The Settings navigation link is where you can easily update and see the different users and sections, and you can also modify the navigation of your course. Depending on your permissions, you can edit differing levels of the course settings.
For a general overview of your Course Settings, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I use course settings? Links to an external site.
Link Validator
Before you publish your course, we recommend that you validate the links within your course using the built-in Link Validator tool. The Link Validator tool searches through course content and returns invalid or unresponsive external links in both published and unpublished content.
For details about this tool, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I validate links in a course? Links to an external site.
How to access Link Validator: You can access the Link Validator tool by selecting the Settings button and then choosing Validate Links in Content.
Customize Your Course Card
When students access Canvas, they are presented with a view of their Student Dashboard. The Dashboard allows students quick access to their courses. You can add an image to go along with your course name/access link. Students will associate this image with your course. To learn more, please review the following Canvas Guide: How do I add an image to a course card in the Dashboard? Links to an external site.