8 Things to Do in Canvas Before You Publish Your Course

Pre-Publish Checklist

For a smoother start to the term, check these items in your class before you publish to students:

Import Content from a Previous Class 

• Selective Import: Import only the content you need. Do not import announcements or events from previous courses. Learn more about how to select specific content when you import in this Canvas tutorial. 
• Date Adjustment: Remove dates when importing content. 

Update Due Dates 

• Ensure that events, due dates, and availability dates align with your current term's schedule. 
• If you have typed due dates in multiple places, verify consistency throughout the course. 

Update and Post the Syllabus 

• Ensure your syllabus is up to date with the correct course policies, schedule, and grading breakdown. 
• Double-check that any dates listed match those in assignments and modules. 

Finalize Assignments 

• Assignment Groups: Ensure all assignments are organized into the correct groups, especially if grades are weighted. 
• Delete empty assignment groups to reduce confusion. 

Validate Course Content 

• Check Links: Use the Validate Links in Content tool to ensure that all hyperlinks and external resources are functional. 
• Accessibility: Address accessibility concerns by: 
  • Using Digital Accessibility: Start Simple 
  • Using the Panorama accessibility checker to identify and address issues 
  • Embedding videos, using meaningful hyperlink names, and ensuring PDFs are accessible. 
  • Avoiding decorative fonts or colors that reduce readability. 
  • Using Canvas’s Accessibility Tool to check and fix accessibility of Canvas items. 

Announcements and Events 

• Announcements: If imported accidentally, delete outdated announcements. New announcements must be created and published to trigger notifications. 
• Events: Review the Course Summary at the bottom of the syllabus page. Delete old events to prevent clutter. 

Course Navigation and Settings 

• Navigation Menu: Ensure only necessary tools and tabs are visible to students. Hide unused features for a streamlined experience. 
• Settings: Confirm the course start and end dates in Course Details. Make sure dates align with the first date students would participate in the course and allow sufficient access for grading at the end of the term. 

Publish Modules and Course Content 

• Ensure all necessary modules and their content are published. Unpublished items will not be visible to students. 
• Student View: Review your course in Student View to ensure students see what you want them to see. 

In-Depth Course Readiness Checklist

Want a more comprehensive checklist? Check out the Course Readiness Checklist. 

Need Help? 

• Canvas Help is available 24/7. Find their contact information in the Help icon in Canvas. 
• Click on the Click to Request Service button at the right to contact someone at St. Thomas for assistance.