Overview

As a new academic term begins, here are the top 10 essential steps to get your Canvas course ready. These actions reflect the most common tasks faculty complete to ensure a smooth and engaging start for students.

 
Top 10 Checklist

• Access Your Canvas Courses
   Log in to Canvas and select your course from the Dashboard or Courses menu.
• Publish Your Course
   Click “Publish” on your course home page so students can access the site.
• Upload and Publish Your Syllabus
   Add your syllabus as a file or create a Syllabus Page to outline learning objectives and course requirements.
• Customize Your Course Navigation
   Use Settings > Navigation to show, hide, or reorder tools in your course menu to guide student focus.
• Upload Files and Links to Modules
   Use Modules or Pages to organize readings, videos, and links for easy student access.
• Set Up Your Gradebook
   Create Assignments with appropriate point values and categories, and confirm the grading scheme under Settings > Course Details.
• Copy Content from a Previous Course
   Use the “Import Existing Content” option to bring in materials from past terms.
• Combine Course Sections (Cross-List)
   If teaching multiple sections of the same course, use Cross-Listing to manage content and grades in one site. Be sure to maintain FERPA compliance.
• Check for Missing Courses
   If you don’t see a course in Canvas, confirm your assignment in WaveNet Faculty Center. If it’s missing there, contact your program or division office.

Other Common Tasks

• Add a TA or GA
  Use People > + Add to enroll teaching assistants, graduate assistants, or co-instructors.
• Declutter Your Dashboard
  Hide old courses by clicking the star icon next to current classes in Courses > All Courses.
• Structure Your Content with Modules
  Use Modules to scaffold your lessons, add requirements, and guide student progression.
• Track Participation with Attendance
  Use the Roll Call Attendance tool or other participation methods to monitor student engagement.

 
Training & Support Resources

Canvas End-of-Term Faculty Guide

Canvas Course Site Creation Schedule

Canvas Enrollment Update Timeline

Class Distribution Email Lists

TechLearn Video Center: Canvas, Turnitin, Zoom & more

Zoom Support for Faculty

Google Workspace Faculty Resources

Pepperdine Libraries: Teaching Resources