how to move assignments into modules in canvas

University Center for Teaching and Learning

How to set up modules for your course in canvas.

• Quick Start
• Instructor Help
• Student Help

How To Create and Put Content into Modules

Using modules in Canvas provides a fast, easy way to organize your course using predictable course design so that your students always know where to find what they need. While Blackboard had a folder structure, Canvas uses modules as a way to organize content. If you imported your course content from Blackboard you may now find that it has been presented now as modules. To see more detailed help guides about Modules, click the Instructor Help link above.

To build your course content using modules:

• If the file you want to add to your module has already been uploaded to your course, it will display in the window. If you have not yet uploaded the file you want to add to your course, choose [New File] .

Many  more types of content can be added to modules. For more in-depth information and step-by-step tutorials on using modules, use the Instructor Help tab at the top of the page.

Modules Help for Instructors

Creating and managing modules.

• How do I use the Modules Index Page?
• How do I add a module?
• How do I move or reorder a module?
• How do I publish or unpublish a module as an instructor?
• How do I edit a module?
• How do I delete a module?
• How do I duplicate a module?
• How do I lock a module?
• How do I use modules to view the progress of students in a course?
• How do I add prerequisites to a module?
• How do I add requirements to a module?

Adding Content and Other Items to Modules

• How do I add course content as module items?
• How do I add a text header as a module item?
• How do I add an external URL as a module item?
• How do I add an external tool as a module item?
• How do I edit module items?
• How do I duplicate a module item?
• How do I remove module items?
• How do I move or reorder a module item?
• How do I view course content offline as an HTML file as an instructor?

Using Modules with Mastery Paths

• How do I add conditional content to a MasteryPath source item?
• How do I allow a page to be a MasteryPath module item?
• How do I use MasteryPaths in course modules?
• How do I assign a conditional assignment for students to complete in MasteryPaths?
• How do I view the MasteryPaths range breakdown results for an assignment?

Modules Help for Students

• How do I view Modules as a student?
• How do I mark a module item as done for a module requirement?
• How do I choose an assignment path in a module?
• How do I view course content offline as an HTML file as a student?
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Getting Started with the Semester

Using Modules for course organization

The Modules tool in Canvas is there to help you organize your course content, assignments, and online activities all together in one place . If you have content, such as files, videos, or web resources that you need to share with students and you also have assignments that students are turning in through Canvas, we encourage you to consider using the Modules tool to organize these items by week, class meeting, or other logical groupings.

Modules provide an orderly way for students to move through what you want them to do each week in one place. Bringing items together that would normally be distributed in Files, Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions, or Pages tools is extremely helpful for students. They can easily find all the pieces that they need to complete the work for that week and the other tools can be hidden from student view, providing an easier navigation experience. For more on hiding or enabling items on the navigation menu, see streamlining your site navigation in this book.

The graphic to the right shows a series of modules with representative items in them. Each module begins with a Module Overview Page that lays out what is happening in that module and is followed by the assignments and activities for that module. There is more information on module overview pages later on this page.  The Modules tool automatically creates “Next” and “Back” buttons  at the bottom of each module item so students can easily navigate through the items in the order you would like them to

The following video walks you through the process of making and using modules in Canvas.

Please note that, even if you publish all the items in a module, the students will still not see the module until you publish the module itself. Modules and module items are only visible to students if the green “published” checkmark is showing to the right of the module and module item name.

Best practices for using Canvas Modules

Here are some recommendations for making your modules even more user-friendly for your students.

• If at all possible, make each module last the  same amount of time , starting and ending on the same days of the week.  Most instructors do one-week modules but you can do separate modules for individual class meetings or modules longer than one week.
• Put either the topic you are covering  or the start date or inclusive dates for the module or both in the module title . It helps both you and your students keep track of where you are in the course without having to look at a calendar and count weeks from the beginning of the semester each time. (Yes, you will need to manually update those dates each semester but most people find it’s worth the additional effort.)
• Start each module with a module overview page including what the students are to read, watch, and explore as well as a brief description of the assignment(s) for that module. (See more below.)
• If you have additional content pages within a module,  indent  the subpages under the overview page so students can see the hierarchy of the pages. Think about it as if you are providing an outline of the module.
• Open your modules at least a week before the module start date. Allowing students to see the module overview page in advance helps them to better plan. (See more below.)
• If you have files that you want to share with your students (documents, spreadsheets, etc.), add a link to them in the module overview page or the related assignment instead of adding them as a separate module item. This keeps the length of the module from getting overwhelming and allows you to provide additional information about the file and what you would like students to do with or get from it.

The key is consistency . The more consistent you are in where you put things, how you organize things, how you name things, and your timeline for when things happen, the easier it is for the students to navigate the site. The easier it is for students to navigate the site, the easier it is for them to focus on learning and not technical or organizational issues, and the fewer questions you get  from frustrated and confused students.

The module overview page

Using a module overview page is a very helpful way of getting information to students.   The Canvas Pages tool lets you create simple pages where you can put text, images, links, and videos together instead of having separate module items for each. It can include an introduction to the module, videos you want them to watch prior to class, and annotated links to readings and other resources. You can also include a brief overview of the assignments for that module or in-class activities. To learn how to add things to a page, please see the adding links, images, and video using the rich content editor tools page in this book. You can also find a template for a module overview page in the IU Canvas Template, which you can add to your course by applying the full course template .

It helps to name your module overview pages in a way that it is easy for you to tell which module it goes with. We recommend some version of numbering such as Module 1 Overview, Module 2 Overview, etc., or Week 1 Information, Week 2 Information, etc. How you word it is less important than wording it consistently across all modules. Keep in mind that you can not have more than one page named the same thing and if you try, Canvas will add numbers to the end of the page titles to differentiate.

Open your modules at least a week before the module start date

If you aren’t able to make all of your modules and module overview pages available from the beginning of the course, please make sure your modules are open at least a week prior to the module start date. This is very important for students juggling a variety of responsibilities and challenges. Generally speaking, open the modules as soon as they are ready for the students . The point is for students to be able to see the module overview pages in advance to be able to plan ahead.

You can use “available from” dates on discussions, assignments, and quizzes if you want students to wait until that module to submit. However, if you put an “available from” date on an assignment or discussion, students will not be able to see the assignment instructions . In that case, make sure you have a description of the assignment on the module overview page.

Modules How-tos

Modules overview video.

View the script for this video

TIP:  Instead of adding files by uploading them directly to a Module, add them in the Files Tool, and then insert a link to the file in your module overview page or in assignment instructions to make it easier to provide context.

Pages Overview Video

TIP: When creating content pages, the built-in formatting including headings, bulleted lists, and numbered lists make the page accessible to screen readers.

Using the Rich Content Editor Video

The rich text editor is available almost everywhere in Canvas where you would enter text. You can use the rich text editor to format text, insert images or videos, and link to other sites.

Additional Tutorials

• How do I add a module?
• How do I add assignment types, pages, and files as module items?
• How do I move or reorder a module item?
• How do I add requirements to a module?
• How do I create a new page in a course?
• How do I add course content as module items?
• What is the Rich Content Editor?

You can also browse the full list of modules-related Canvas guides  (scroll down to the Modules section).

A Canvas Semester Checklist Copyright © by Trustees of Indiana University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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E-Campus Faculty and Staff

How-to: organize canvas with modules.

Using Canvas Modules

In Canvas, you can create several different types of lecture materials, learning activities, and assessments by using tools like Canvas Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions, as well as uploading files or using external links. Typically, you’ll want to sort all these different activities into what Canvas refers to as "Modules."

“Modules” is the Canvas tool that enables you to organize and control the flow of your course material. For each Module, you can add (and create) files, Discussions, Assignments, Quizzes, and other course content. Modules, as well as the content within each module, can be easily organized using drag and drop functionality.

There are multiple ways that you could organize your course content using Modules. For example, you could have one module per:

• “Day” or class meeting
• Unit of focus

Choose whichever method works best for your course, workflow, and preferred organization!

The Module Page - This screenshot shows the Module page within the Remote Delivery Canvas Course Template. The title you give each Module can mirror how you've chosen to organize your course content (by day, week, unit, etc.).

Options For Building A Course With Modules

There are a few different ways to build your Canvas course using Modules. Read through the 3 options below and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Importing Course Content for a Course Already Created

If you’ve already set up a course with Modules and are re-teaching it this semester, or if you have multiple sections of the same course, you can use the Canvas Import feature to import course content from another course without having to redo your work. Follow this step-by-step guide to import course content in Canvas .

Importing the Miami Regionals Remote Delivery Course Template.

We have created an optional Miami Regionals Remote Delivery Template that can be imported into your Canvas course site for easy remote delivery course setup and implementation. You’ll find step-by-step instructions in this Import the Regionals Remote Delivery Template from Canvas Commons PDF .

NOTE: To access the template, you will first need to log into Canvas. Then, in Canvas, click the "Commons" link in the left navigation. Finally, go to https://lor.instructure.com/resources/64c4f5bac35e4dfd9fdaeb0805806918?shared

Creating your Own Modules from Scratch

If you choose not to use the Remote Delivery template, you can create your own Modules in your course from scratch instead and then add your course content to each Module. Canvas has created step-by-step guides for creating a Module in Canvas and adding course content to Modules to help walk you through these processes. Additionally, the video below also walks through the steps for building Canvas Modules by day, as well as how to:

• Add Modules to the left-hand navigation menu
• Add lecture material and resources
• Link to and embed YouTube videos
• Add graded assessments (i.e. Quizzes, Assignments, Discussion Boards)
• Publish your Module so that it is visible to students

For additional information on setting up your own Modules, visit the Canvas Instructor Guide for Modules .

Organizing Your Modules

The Remote Delivery template (option 2 above) already has modules created within it, but you’ll still want to consider how to best organize content within those Modules for your course.

As mentioned before, one approach to organizing your course with Modules is to create a Module for every “day” your course would normally meet. For example, if your course was scheduled to meet 2 days a week during the semester, you would need roughly 30 Modules, one for each day. Alternatively, you may prefer to organize your Modules by chapter, topic, unit, etc., in which case you would have as many Modules as you do chapters, topics, or units in your course.

If you find that you need to create more Modules or delete Modules from the template, see the Canvas Instructor Guides for Adding a Module and Deleting a Module for step-by-step instructions.

Note: If deleting a Module from the template, be sure to delete the corresponding button on the Home Page of your course.

Here's a quick look at the Modules page in Canvas. As you can see, it allows students to easily see course content grouped into specific sections.

Ideally, each Module could start with a "Module Overview" page that lists the outcomes and lecture material or activities at the top. This clearly communicates to students what is expected of them throughout the Module, and students will know what each “class session,” unit, chapter, etc. will cover.

Creating Canvas Course Content

Once you have your modules created and organized, it’s time to add your course content. There are multiple ways to collect work, assess student performance, and record scores in your Canvas course. Three of the most commonly used options for assessments are Assignments , Quizzes , and Discussion Boards each offer unique, and pedagogically different, opportunities for engaging students with your course content. This How-To: Create Graded Assessments in Canvas guide will explain each type of Canvas graded course activity further, as well as provide the step-by-step instructions for creating them within your Canvas course site.

Sharing Files in Canvas from YouTube, Kaltura, & Google Drive

You may also want to include content that you’ve either made or collected from other sources. It is possible to share files in Canvas from YouTube, Kaltura, and Google Drive or embedding files in the Rich Text Editor in Canvas.

Talking To Your Students About Modules

Students may be unfamiliar with Modules and how they operate within Canvas. They may find it helpful to receive a Canvas Announcement that lets them know that their course is structured using Modules and how they can navigate the course content. Here's an example that you can copy and paste into your own course, or edit as needed:

Hello, everyone! This is just an announcement to explain the overall set-up of our Canvas course. You should start each day in Canvas by clicking on Modules in the left-hand navigation. There, you will access all coursework in the intended order (lecture material options, followed by learning activities and assessments).

There will be one module per class day. They will be labeled first by chapter, followed by the date. For example, the first module title is Chapter 1, Wednesday, May 20.

The modules are organized from top to bottom, and when you’ve completed a module, you can minimize it by clicking on the triangle to the left of the module title.

I’m looking forward to the semester! Please reach out to me if you have any questions!

You may also be interested in:

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If at any point you would like support or guidance while you are teaching a distance learning course, please connect with us!  We are here to help.

Canvas How-To: Modules

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• Canvas Administration
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Contact Information

Mary Stuart Rogers, MSR 380

Introduction

Modules control the "flow" of your course and its content.  Use modules to add weekly organization to your materials and activities.  If you think of them as 'folders', Modules can be used to create any sort of organization to the course.

Adding a Module to a Course

From the Modules page, an instructor can add modules, add items to a module, and manage module settings. Instructors can also reorder all modules and module items.

How do I use the Modules Index Page?

How do I add a module?

Adding Content to a Module

You can add new or existing content items in Canvas to a module by clicking the "+" button in the upper right corner of the module header. You can add an item to multiple modules, or multiple iterations of an item to one module.

How do I add a Panopto video to a module?

How do I add assignment types, pages, and files as module items?

Restricting Modules

When you set up  prerequisites  for a module, students must complete specified tasks in a module before being allowed to view another module. When you add  requirements  to a module, students must complete the defined requirements within the module before the module will be marked complete. You can require students to complete all requirements in the module, or have them choose one item to fulfill a specific requirement. You can also specify that module items need to be accessed in the order they appear in the module.

How do I add prerequisites to a module?

How do I add requirements to a module?

Want to learn more?

View all Canvas Guides for Modules

Updated: October 11, 2022

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Use Assignments with Canvas

Google Assignments and Canvas expanded Google Docs Editors and Google Drive to be compatible with Canvas for file submissions. With Assignments, you can distribute and grade student work, analyze student submissions for plagiarism detection, and use Google Docs and Drive with Canvas. 

Features and benefits of Assignments

When admins enable Google Assignments in Canvas settings, you can use its features and benefits.

• Grade in Google’s grading interface or in SpeedGrader™.
• File attachments to an assignment so each student gets their own copy to edit and submit.
• Detect missed citation checks and possible plagiarism with the originality reports feature.
• Students can submit Drive files to Canvas assignments, which instructors can grade in SpeedGrader™.
• Embed Drive files with the Canvas rich text editor.
• Add Drive files to Canvas Modules.

Assignments also provides improvements from Google Apps LTI:

• Officially supported by Google and covered by the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service.
• Provides an option for admins to require students to use their school-issued Google accounts.
• Uses Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) 1.3 for stronger security.
• Create a new Canvas assignment.

Students can submit Drive files that you can grade with SpeedGrader™.

For teachers

Allow students to submit drive files with canvas assignments.

• After you create a new Canvas assignment, next to "Submission Type", select Online .
• Under "Online Entry Options", select File Uploads.

Important: You must select File Uploads or the submission will fail.

For students

Turn in assignments.

• Ensure you're signed into your school account. 
• Next to "File Upload", click  Google Drive.
• To open a Google Drive window, click Select file.
• Select the Drive file.

• Sign in to Canvas.
• Open the course.

• Sign in to your Google Account.
• Click Allow .
• Select the Google Drive file.
• Click Submit.

Open all   |   Close all

From October 2023, Instructure will no longer support the Google Apps LTI. This means:

• No new installs will be allowed.
• No further development will be made on it.
• No customer support will be available.

Google and Instructure makes sure that Google Assignments LTI 1.3 has the Google Apps LTI functions, and includes:

• Improved security
• Flexibility
• Integrations 

Current Google Apps LTI users won’t lose access but should transition over to Google Assignments LTI 1.3.

To use the latest Assignments features, you can install and migrate to Google Assignments LTI 1.3.

No. Currently, you can’t embed a form or select one as a file type for quizzes. To use Forms for quizzes, create a form and share the link with your students. Learn how to create a Google Form.

• Any submitted work for the Google Apps LTI Cloud assignment that you want to migrate will reset. 
• If you want to keep your previous submissions, make a copy of the Canvas assignment .
• Find the Canvas assignment you want to migrate to Google Assignments LTI 1.3.

• Click Find .
• If you can’t find this option, request your Canvas administrator to turn on Google Assignments LTI 1.3 .
• Link your Google Workspace for Education account.
• Click Continue .
• Attach the Drive worksheet files.
• Choose your grading tool, then make sure the due date and points are updated.
• Click Create .

Related topics

• Set up Assignments in Canvas
• Set up Assignments in Schoology or another LMS
• Set up Assignments in Blackboard
• Set up Assignments in D2L/Brightspace
• Set up Assignments in Moodle
• Set up Assignments in Sakai

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