Students benefit when your course site is clear and consistent. When creating your Canvas course site make sure:
- titles for course resources are clear and descriptive
- assignments have a completion date
- learning units contain ALL resources pertaining to that unit
- ALL graded assignments are included in the gradebook
Design and organize your course site
Canvas offers multiple options to organize content. The module layout is the most accessible way to arrange course materials on your course site.
- Design an accessible and usable course site
- Utilize library resources and the Library Course Materials page
- Improve accessibility of course content by practicing the 7 Core Skills of accessibility
- Decide how to organize and sequence your content.
Find and share course materials
There are a number of options for selecting textbooks and other course materials at the University. Consider communicating with the Libraries and Bookstores to find free or affordable options for your students.
- Utilize library resources and the Library Course Materials page in Canvas.
- Work with your subject librarian to create a custom library course guide for your class.
- Find Open Educational Resources to use in your course.
- Order your course materials with the UMN Bookstore.
- Discover Canvas Learning Tools to integrate into the learning environment and learn more about requesting a Canvas Learning Tool to integrate.
Plan for and practice accessible and inclusive teaching
- See the guidelines for accessibility and inclusive teaching
- Learn the key concepts, grounding principles, and everyday practices about Teaching for Access and Inclusion
Upload and post course content
Canvas is very flexible and accommodates a range of file formats. You can upload Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, videos and images, Google docs, etc.
See how to:
Record a video for students to watch online
Videos can be used to record lectures and can be embedded in pages, announcements, assignments, quizzes, and discussions. Instructional videos do not need to have high production values to be effective. You can use the camera on your phone (or tablet) or the webcam and microphone built into your laptop. We recommend using Kaltura: a University-supported tool that is integrated within Canvas.
See how to: