Basic Course Creation
Never created a Canvas site? You are in the right place! Here are the first steps to getting up and running (Students can visit First Steps for Students).
- Basic Course Creation
- Managing Your Course
- If Your Class Can't Meet in Person
- End of Quarter Tips for Teachers
1. Login and click your course
After logging into Canvas, instructors will see their courses in the Dashboard. 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 a 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, 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.

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Syllabus tool in Canvas automatically publishes it to syllabus.stanford.edu even if your Canvas course is currently unpublished.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

6. Choose a Home
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Because your course is unpublished by default, students won't see these and no course notifications will be sent.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.
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.