{"id":3304,"date":"2025-09-25T09:45:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T08:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/?p=3304"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T12:07:08","slug":"managing-course-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/managing-course-content\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Course Content"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This guide explains how to manage content effectively within Canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Canvas, content is organised using Modules<\/em>. In course unit spaces, modules usually represent the weekly study material, and content within a module is typically organised in the order it should be worked through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide shows you how to create, edit, move and delete Modules<\/em>. In addition, it covers how to populate Modules<\/em> with content such as pages, URLs and files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

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

    \n
  1. Creating a Module<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Deleting a Module<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Adding Pages to a Module<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Adding files to a Module<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Adding external URLs to a Module<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Editing and rearranging Modules<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Editing and rearranging Module Items<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Module Settings and Releasing Content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Creating a Module<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Navigate to the Modules <\/strong>tab from the left-hand menu of the Canvas space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Locate and click on the \u2018+ Module<\/strong>\u2019 button at the top of the module list.
      \"\"<\/figure><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Enter a name in the Module Name<\/strong> field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. To restrict student access to the Module until a specific date, tick the Lock Until<\/strong> box and choose when you’d like it to open. You can adjust this date at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. If you’d like students to complete content from other modules before accessing this one, click + Prerequisite<\/strong> and choose the relevant module(s). You can update this setting at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. When you have selected all your preferred settings, select the Add Module<\/strong> button at the bottom of the page.
      \"\"<\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n

      Deleting a Module<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Click the <\/strong>three vertical dots <\/strong>on the module bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Click Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Click OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        If you wish to restore content you have deleted, see this guide: Restoring deleted content in Canvas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n

        Adding Pages to a Module<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

        When working with Pages, you can either create them via the Pages<\/em> tab and then add them to a Module, or build them directly within the Module where you want them to appear. This guide will show you how to create a page directly in the module or add an existing page to a module. For more detailed guidance on using pages in Canvas, see this guide: Using Pages in Canvas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Navigate to the module where you want to add the page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Click the +<\/strong> button on the Module bar.
          \"\"<\/figure><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. In the drop-down menu at the top, choose Page<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. To add an existing page, select its name<\/em> from the list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. To create a new page, choose [ Create Page ]<\/strong> and enter a title in the Page Name<\/em> field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. Click Add Item<\/strong> at the bottom to finish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n

          Adding external URLs to a Module<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

          This guide walks you through adding URLs to a module as standalone items. To embed a URL into a page, see this guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Navigate to the module where you want to add the external link.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Click the + <\/strong>button on the module bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. From the Add<\/em> drop-down menu, select External URL<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Paste the link into the URL<\/strong> field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Enter a title in the Page Name<\/strong> field – this is how the link will appear in the module.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Click Add item <\/strong>at the bottom to finish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n

            Adding files to a Module<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

            This guide shows you how to add files to a module as standalone items. To embed a file into a page, see this guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Navigate to the module where you want to add the file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Click the + <\/strong>button on the module bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Select File <\/strong>from the Add <\/strong>drop-down menu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. If you have uploaded the file to the Files <\/strong>tab of the course, select the file from the list in the box and click Add item<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. If you have not yet uploaded the file to the Files <\/strong>tab of the course, select [ Create File(s) ]<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. Click the Choose files <\/strong>button and find the file on your computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            7. Choose the folder you would like the file to be uploaded to using the Folder <\/strong>drop-down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            8. Select Don\u2019t indent <\/strong>from the Indentation <\/strong>drop-down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            9. Click Add item<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
              \n

              Editing and rearranging Modules<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

              This section covers how to update module titles<\/em>, adjusting visibility<\/em> settings<\/em>, or reordering modules<\/em> to maintain consistency across your course and ensure content is clearly labelled and organised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Editing Module Settings<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. Navigate to the module<\/em> you want to edit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Click the three vertical dots on the module bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Click Edit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. From here, you can:\n