How to set up a module in Canvas

Find guidance on how to set up modules in Canvas and apply the correct template for your School.

Steps for setting up a Canvas module

Follow these steps to set up modules in Canvas and apply the correct template for your School.

The steps are hyperlinked to allow you to navigate to the relevant section.

• Step 1: Apply/Update your School template
• Step 2: Structure the module
• Step 3: Update the content
• Step 4: Check compliance and accessibility
• Step 5: Publish your module so students can see it

Step 1: Apply/update your School template

This process is School specific, so please expand your School to view your guidance. You will be prompted to sign in to Box, using your Sussex credentials.

If you are setting up a new module, this would be a good chance to speak to your School Learning Technologist first.

• Central Foundation Year

  Central Foundation Year:

  There have been no changes to the Module template this year. Please refer to the following guidance:

  • Guidance for importing selected content.
  • For new modules, importing the template.
• School of Education and Social work

  School of Education and Social work

  • Import content from last years Canvas module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Engineering and Informatics

  School of Engineering and Informatics

  • Import content into a 23/24 Engineering and Informatics module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Global Studies

  School of Global Studies

  • Import content from last years Canvas module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Law, Politics and Sociology

  School of Law, Politics and Sociology

  • Import content from last years Canvas module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Life Sciences

  School of Life Sciences

  • Import content into a 23/24 Life Sciences module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

  School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

  • Import content into a 23/24 Mathematics and Physical Science module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• School of Media, Arts and Humanities

  School of Media, Arts and Humanities

  The School of Media, Arts and Humanities has taken a significant step in ensuring the best possible Canvas experience for students with less module admin for staff. The approach is different to previous years, and will, for some colleagues, require a change in how they set up modules.

  Follow module set up guidance 23/24 Canvas modules in Box.

  Do not use these instructions if you are updating a standalone Canvas site, for example, a course site. Contact tel@sussex.ac.ukfor guidance instead.

• School of Psychology

  School of Psychology

  • Import content into a 23/24 Psychology module.

  • Set up a new Canvas module or start again.
• University of Sussex Business School

  University of Sussex Business School

  There have been little to no changes to the Module template this year, so as long as you are already using an up to date template, we recommend using guidance document 1. If you wish to start afresh, use guidance document 2.

  • 1 - Import existing content, and check using up to date template.

  • 2 - Import template and, if not new, manually insert content.
    
    

  Video guidance

  The following short videos give a brief overview to the above documents and show some of the processes within Canvas. You need to be logged in to view them.

  • Introduction to this guidance page
  • Importing previous content document
  • Importing template document
  • Importing content Canvas walk through
  • Importing template Canvas walk through
  • The USBS Canvas template walk through

Step 2: Structure the module

Structure your module so that students can find the key information and support they need.

Covering key details now allows students to be ready and familiar before learning and assessment begins. Making information easy to find, reduces stress and creates a more positive experience.

To do this:

• set the Home Page using the Canvas Instructor Guide
• customise the navigation menu, to hide any nonessential items
• use an online reading list. (Training is provided by the Library Reading List team, please email: readinglists.lib@sussex.ac.uk or refer to the Library reading list guide)
• make it clear on the Module Information page if specific software is required
• add a dashboard card image which is unique and can help students identify the module.

Step 3: Update the content

Old and inaccurate information can create barriers with students, who may stop looking at your site, miss key information, and ask you more questions individually, which in turn increases your workload. It is essential you keep information up to date.

You must:

• give a meaningful and descriptive header to each week or topic page (for example, Week 1: Principles of online learning) and then update home page links
• provide an outline of the focus for each week or topic
• update dates and times for sessions, or office hours
• ensure your module information page is filled in – including adding links to any relevant files and tutor contact details
• if you want to use Panopto recordings from last year, copy of the recordings to the current module
• use the Canvas accessibility checker to check each page
• check that any contributory e-submissions accidentally copied over from the previous year have been deleted. New Canvas Turnitin and Canvas Online assignments are created automatically from the Sussex database early in the academic year
• use the Canvas link validator to identify broken links
• check whether embedded content or links to external resources still work.

To enhance your module:

• include a shared space for students to post questions – this could be a Canvas discussion or a moderated Canvas chat
• add an introductory video by the module convenor to help establish an initial virtual presence
• consider splitting longer recordings into several shorter videos, or chapters, as long videos can present accessibility challenges for students.

Step 4: Check compliance and accessibility

We need to make our content accessibile for all students. You can do this by:

• using the Canvas accessibility checker to check each page
• checking documents and videos are accessible before uploading them to your module
• complying with copyright rules (including images, scanned pages, videos and audio)
• ensuring essential resources are accessible to all your students or provide an alternative resource. Not all websites are available internationally (for example, YouTube is blocked in some territories).

Find out more about accessibility best practice.

Step 5: Publish the module

When you are ready to make your module site visible to students:

• check the units and items in your module have been published
• click the ‘publish’ button in the top right-hand corner of your Home Page, which will then turn green and show the status as ‘published’
• Note: modules won't be visible to students until 1 September even if the module is published.

Last updated: 12 May 2023.

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