{"id":1592,"date":"2025-02-13T12:04:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T12:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/?p=1592"},"modified":"2025-10-28T11:40:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T11:40:28","slug":"canvas-course-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/canvas-course-template\/","title":{"rendered":"Canvas Course Template"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Introduction<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The Course Homepage<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Course Unit Information Module<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Course Navigation Menu<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    To ensure a consistent and high-quality student experience across Canvas courses, the university has developed a Canvas Course Standards<\/strong> Guide<\/strong><\/a>, co-created by teaching staff, digital learning specialists, and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The guide was created in conjunction with the Canvas core template<\/strong>. This template helps to provide a consistent structure across courses, and importantly, it can be adapted to suit the requirements of individual courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This guide will walk you through the core features of the template and how to customise them for your course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    The Course Homepage<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The initial entry point to the course – specifically, the course homepage<\/strong> – follows a consistent structure, enabling students to easily navigate their learning environment, find essential information, and engage with course content without unnecessary confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    1 – Course Name Placeholder<\/summary>\n

    This placeholder will be populated with the course’s full name, as determined from the course settings page. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    2 – Links to Core Content<\/summary>\n

    When clicked, these buttons redirect to the following pages:

    – Course Information<\/strong> \u2013 Opens the Orientation and Expectations<\/strong> page within the Course Unit Information Module<\/strong>.
    – Assessment & Feedback<\/strong> \u2013 Leads to the Assessment and Feedback<\/strong> page within the Course Unit Information Module<\/strong>.
    – Modules<\/strong> \u2013 Directs to the Modules<\/strong> area.

    To edit the content of these items, navigate to their corresponding locations within the course.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    3 – Course Team Placeholders<\/summary>\n

    Here, you should include images of the teaching staff, their names, contact information, and any other relevant details (e.g. a short biography). To edit, click the page edit button [4] and use the rich content editor to edit the images and text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To replace an image, click the image placeholder to highlight it (a blue line will appear around the image). Next choose, insert>image<\/strong>. You can then choose to upload image<\/strong> or course images<\/strong> (to search for an existing image in your course unit).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    4 – Edit Button<\/summary>\n

    Click this button to edit the content of the homepage, including the course name and course team placeholders.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    5 – Recent Announcements<\/summary>\n

    The most recent announcements made in the course will be displayed here. By default, this is set the 2 most recent announcements (this can be edited from the course settings area).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    6 – Course Navigation Menu<\/summary>\n

    A series of links that help you and your students access different course areas. Links that are hidden from students (and therefore inaccessible) are indicated by the Visibility<\/strong> icon.

    Note:<\/strong> The menu items Assignments and Quizzes will only become visible to students once content is published in these areas.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    7 – Visibility Icon<\/summary>\n

    Presence of this icon indicates that the link is not<\/span><\/strong> visible to students.

    Note:<\/strong> The menu items Assignments and Quizzes will only become visible to students once content is published in these areas.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Course Unit Information Module<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The course template includes a standard Course Unit Information<\/strong> module, which must be populated with relevant content in accordance with the Course Unit Standards Guide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Expand the drop-down headings below to access detailed information about each section of the module, along with the corresponding expectations outlined in the guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Orientation and Expectations<\/summary>\n

    This is a contents page that does not require editing. (NB: The Course information icon on the course homepage links to this page).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Introduction<\/summary>\n

    This page should contain a short introduction to the course unit, along with a list of the teaching staff and details of how to arrange meetings with those teaching on the unit.

    Relevant Essential Criteria<\/strong>

    (1) An introduction to the unit

    (2) The name of the module convenor and other educators, including post-graduate teaching assistants, with their roles

    (3) Details of how to arrange meetings with those teaching on the unit (for example, links to office hours or bookable meetings);

    Consider Including<\/strong> (Desirable criteria):

    (1) A video or audio introduction to the course unit and the main educators

    (2) A short introduction to those teaching on the unit. This could include photos or biographical details and might be a video.

    (3) A course unit FAQ

    (4) A \u2018low stakes\u2019 engagement activity that enables students to practice using any digital tools they will need to use in the unit

    (5) An activity that starts to build a learning community

    (6) An activity to \u2018warm-up\u2019 or \u2018self-assess\u2019 prior knowledge or consider student interests or motivations.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    How to Engage with this Course Unit in Canvas<\/summary>\n

    This page should make it clear to students how the course unit content has been designed, what is expected of them and what they can expect in return from teaching staff.

    Relevant Essential Criteria<\/strong>:

    (1) An explanation of the structure of the Course Unit in Canvas. This should include details of when material will be available to students and how those teaching will engage with the Unit in Canvas (such as expected response times to student questions and forum engagement)

    (2) A statement of the expectations of student engagement (such as clarity about what is required\/core and what is supplemental)

    (3) An explanation of how students can ask questions<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Giving Feedback on this Course Unit<\/summary>\n

    This page should explain how students can give feedback on the course unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Relevant Essential Criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (1) An explanation of how students can give feedback about the course unit, including how the mid-semester feedback will be run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (2) A summary of previous student feedback and what has changed as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (3) A copy of the in-semester feedback received and the educator\u2019s response.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Key Course Unit Information<\/summary>\n

    This is a contents page that does not require editing.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Course Unit Aims and Support<\/summary>\n

    This page should cover the course unit aims and reading list, as well as information around the support that\u2019s available.

    Relevant Essential Criteria<\/strong>

    (1) A link to or copy of the Intended Learning Outcomes of the unit

    (2) A link to or copy of the unit reading list

    (3) A reference to the Student Support and Study Skills information \u2013 accessible via the links on the left-hand course unit navigation menu.

    Consider Including<\/strong> (Desirable criteria):

    (1) Guidance on how to best engage with the reading list (for example, prioritisation or reflective questions)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    Assessment & Feedback<\/summary>\n

    This page should provide a comprehensive summary of the assessment and feedback information for the unit. (NB: The Assessment & Feedback icon on the course homepage links to this page).

    Relevant Essential Criteria<\/strong>

    (1) Details of summative assessments, including weightings

    (2) Details of marking criteria

    (3) Deadlines for submitting summative assessments

    (4) The date by when marked assessments will be returned and what will be available (e.g. provisional marks and\/or feedback)

    (5) Details of any formative assessment and how feedback will be provided

    (6) Information about how and where to submit assessments. This should be available from the beginning of the unit (this can be a holding message with date of when it will go live)

    (7) A forum for asking questions in which answers are visible to all students and educators on a unit.

    Consider Including<\/strong> (Desirable criteria):

    (1) A video screencast narrating the assessment information.

    (2) Assessment exemplars, or an example of a similar assessment<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Course Navigation Menu<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The Course Navigation Menu has been pre-configured as part of the template. To streamline content and improve the student experience, certain items are hidden from students by default, preventing access to tools and information that may be unnecessary or irrelevant. By default, only the following course links will be available to students; Home, Modules, Announcements, Assignments*, Quizzes*, Grades, Reading List, Discussions, Digital and Study Skills<\/strong> and Student Support<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    *These menu items will become visible to students once assignments and quizzes are published in your course unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Remember, course content and links should primarily be delivered through the Modules<\/strong> page. This ensures a clear, structured learning path, making it easier for students to navigate and access materials in a logical sequence. Avoid relying on the course navigation menu for content delivery, as this can lead to confusion and inconsistency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Contents Introduction To ensure a consistent and high-quality student experience across Canvas courses, the university has developed a Canvas Course Standards Guide, co-created by teaching staff, digital learning specialists, and students. The guide was created in conjunction with the Canvas core template. This template helps to provide a consistent structure across courses, and importantly, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1592"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5149,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1592\/revisions\/5149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}