Modules
Modules allow instructors to organize content to help control the flow of the course.
Modules are used to organize course content by weeks, units, or a different organizational structure. Modules essentially create a one-directional linear flow of what students should do in a course.
Each module can contain files, discussions, assignments, quizzes, and other learning materials. Module items can be added to the course from existing content or new content shells within the modules. Course content can be added to multiple modules or iterated several times throughout an individual module. Modules can be easily organized using the drag and drop feature. Elements within the modules can also be reorganized by dragging and dropping.
Note: Keyboard shortcuts can be used to navigate the Modules page. To view a window with a list of keyboard navigation shortcuts, press the Shift+Question Mark keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
Instructors can add all course materials in modules, even if they are assigned to specific students, sections, or groups.
Use Modules to:
- Create prerequisite activities that students must complete before moving on in the course
- Track student progress through a sequence of learning activities
- Organize course content by unit, day, week, topic or Outcome
Module Layout
Modules control the entire flow of your course and its content. As an instructor, you can add modules, add items to a module, and manage module settings. You can also reorder all modules and module items.
In Course Navigation, click the Modules link.
View Module Index Page
The Modules Index Page is designed with global settings at the top of the page [1] followed by individual modules [2]. Course content items are nested within each module [3].
Note: The Modules Index Page supports keyboard shortcuts. To view a window with a list of keyboard navigation shortcuts, press the Shift+Question Mark keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
View Module Global Settings
Global settings include collapsing or expanding all modules, viewing a student’s progress in a module and adding new modules.
Notes:
- The Collapse All button displays if one or more modules are expanded. The Expand All button displays if all modules are collapsed.
- If you choose to collapse or expand one or more modules, the Modules Index Page retains the state of each module.
View Modules
In Modules, you can view all the modules in your course. Modules are organized by order of progression.
Modules house the content items within each module. By default, modules are expanded and show all items in the module [1]. To collapse the module, click the collapse arrow [2].
Note: If you choose to collapse or expand one or more modules, the Modules Index Page retains the state of each module.
View Module Header
Each module header contains the name of the module [1].
The header may also contain module prerequisites [2] and module requirements [3].
Manage Module Settings
The icons on the right side of the module name control the entire module. You can publish or unpublish an entire module [1] and add a new content item to the module [2].
In the Options drop-down menu [3], you can edit a module [4], which allows you to rename the module, lock modules, set prerequisites, and set modules requirements.
You can also move the module [5], move module items [6], delete the module [7], send module to another instructor [8], copy module to another course [9], share to the Commons [10]., and place it in your Commons favorites [11].
Reorder Modules
You can reorder a module by hovering over the drag handle next to the name of the module and dragging the module to the desired location.
View Module Icons
Modules can be filled with different types of content. Each module item also includes an icon with its type:
- Page [1]: a page of content to read
- Discussion [2]: a course discussion
- Quiz [3]: a course quiz
- Assignment [4]: a course assignment
- Link or External Tool [5]: an external link or tool to view outside of the course
- File [6]: a file to download or view
View Individual Module Item
Each module contains module content items that may display the item name [1], the due date [2], the number of points [3], the module requirement [4], and the module item's draft state status [5]. A module may also include non-graded items [6], such as pages and non-graded discussions. If a To-Do date was added to a non-graded item, the date will display next to the module item [7].
Manage Individual Module Item
For each individual module content item, you can use the options drop-down menu [1] to indent the item up to 5 levels (or remove an indent) [2], edit the content item [3], move the item [4], or remove the content item from the module [5].
Reorder Module Item
You can also reorder a module item by hovering over the drag handle next to the name of the item and dragging the item to the desired location.
View Blueprint Course
If your course includes Blueprint icons, your course is associated with a blueprint course. Blueprint Courses are courses managed as a template and may contain locked objects managed by a Canvas admin, course designer, or other instructor. Like with draft state icons, Modules displays the object status as also shown in the object's respective index page.
The Course Details tab in Course Settings will tell you if your course is a blueprint course. Most commonly, your course will not be a blueprint course and you can only manage unlocked content in your course. If your course is a blueprint course, you can lock and sync course content to associated courses.
View Student View
To view the modules index page as a student, click the Student View button.
Note: If the course navigation link for the page is disabled and hidden from students, the Student View button does not display.
