Basic Course Creation

Never created a Canvas site? Here are the first steps to getting up and running (Students can visit First Steps for Students).

We recommend using the Chrome browser (See minimum system requirements). Instructor Canvas apps are available for iOS and Android.

1. Basic Course Creation
2. Managing Your Course
3. If Your Class Can't Meet in Person
4. End of Quarter Tips for Teachers

1. Login and click your course

After logging into Canvas, instructors will see their courses in the Dashboard. Unpublished course shells are created automatically in Canvas a few weeks before the start of each quarter and instructors, TAs, and students are added based on their affiliation in Axess. If you are an instructor and don’t see your course in the Canvas dashboard, verify you have been added in Axess, then contact the Canvas team for help. 

2. Import course content

Select Settings-Import Course Content to import selected components of old courses if they exist, including Announcements, Files, and Assignments.

3. Add and manage files

Add files one by one or in bulk then set usage rights and publish them. You can also set access rights and visibility.

Tip: There is a storage quota, so upload videos to approved third-party tools. Also, URLs can't be added as files so you'll need to use Pages or Modules.

4. Add Syllabus

Adding your syllabus to the Syllabus tool in Canvas automatically publishes it to  syllabus.stanford.edu even if your Canvas course is currently unpublished.

5. Create Assignments 

The five types of Assignments are Assignments (readings, reply to a prompt, or upload), Discussion, Quizzes, External tool, or Not Graded.

Tip: Set due dates for Assignments.Without due dates, the Canvas Calendar, Notifications and To-Do lists will not be as useful for students.

6. Choose a Home Page

Set your Course Home Page to the style that matches your course:

• Modules if you are organizing course content with modules
• Course Activity Stream if you post a lot of Announcements
• Syllabus if you are uploading a Syllabus and make robust use of due dates
• Pages – Front Page if you are making a custom webpage for your home

7. Clean up menu

Hide items in the Course Menu that you don’t intend to use (e.g., Chat) by going to the Navigation tab in Settings.

8. Publish content

Publish Files, Modules, Assignments, Quizzes, Pages.

Because your course is unpublished by default, students won't see these and no course notifications will be sent. Students do not have access to your Canvas course until you click Publish Course.

9. Preview course

Use Student View to see how everything will look for students before publishing your course. If everything looks good, you’re now ready to publish your course.

10. Publish course

Go to your Home page and click Publish Course to make your course available to students. 

Tip! Set up as much as you can while your course is unpublished to prevent sending notifications to students as you make changes to your course.

Next: Manage your new course

Still need help?

Visit the Instructors section of this site to learn about additional resources or Contact the Stanford Canvas Team.