2.1 - Naming & Organizing Modules

Modules are the core components of Canvas courses. In an empty course, you can click on the graphic button (pictured on the left) on the Home or Module page or you can click on the blue add Module button at the top of the page (pictured below).

If you have changed the home page, or if you are using a course template that has changed the home page, click on "Modules" on the Canvas Course Menu and then find the blue Add Module button on the top right of the page. (Pictured on right.)

 

Modules all have the same three icons on their top right border. From left to right, these icons: Publish/Unpublish Modules, open the Add Item to Module menu, and open the Module Options menu.

Publishing modules makes them visible to students; publishing a module also publishes all items within the module. To publish (or unpublish) a module or item, simply click the no-symbol icon. Modules and items that have been published will have a green icon, while the icon on unpublished modules and items will remain grayed out.

Clicking the plus icon will open the "Add Item to Module" menu. Using this menu, you can add the shells for pages or assignments without filling in any of the details. This is useful for setting up a course outline before you begin populating the course with content. (We will cover the finer details of Assignments in the next module.)

The final icon, three vertical dots, opens the Module Options menu, which lists a number of settings allowing you to further customize course modules.

  • Edit opens the Module menu seen when you first add a module to a course.
  • The two Move options allow you to reorganize course components. (Alternatively, you can grab the two sets of vertical dots on the left side of a module and drag and drop it wherever you want!)
  • Delete will destroy the module. (This will not delete the items within a Module.)
  • Duplicate creates an exact copy of the Module.

(One easy way to create a course is to create a module template for your course, open the Module Options menu, and Duplicate the module as needed.)