From basic settings to content organization, this course design checklist outlines the top tasks to make sure your Canvas course is ready for students. Completing all will elevate the quality of your Canvas course and ensure your students can navigate your course materials with ease.

For an editable version of this checklist, make your own copy (File > Make a copy) of this Google Doc.

Personal Settings

Update your profile, including name, pronouns (if comfortable), photo, and preferred contact methods. Students in all your courses can read your profile. (You only need to do this once!)

Review the default notification settings and adjust them to your own notification preferences if needed.

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Course Settings

Choose a Home Page. OAI recommends using the “Pages Front Page” option, which allows you to build a Home Page that best fits the needs of your course.

Customize your Course Navigation Menu so necessary tool links are available to students and unused tools are hidden.

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Content

Add a syllabus that outlines your course expectations and is accessible and culturally inclusive.

Give meaningful titles to modules and items within modules. OAI recommends modules be organized by week or unit and contain all Canvas pages, files, assignments, quizzes, and other resources needed each week.

Check that all your Canvas pages are accessible using the built-in accessibility checker.

If you created video content, make sure your videos are captioned.

Be sure your content is published in Canvas and all links are valid.

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Activities

Verify any discussions are set up correctly with dates, clear instructions, examples, and other settings as needed.

Verify any assignments are set up correctly with dates, clear instructions, examples, and other settings as needed.

Verify any quizzes are set up correctly with dates, clear instructions, examples, and other settings as needed.

Verify the Gradebook is arranged according to your grading policy and aligned with your syllabus.

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Before Launching the Course

Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective.

Note: Don’t forget to log into your course through the mobile app, to check the mobile experience. If possible, have someone else review your course to make sure your organization and content are clear and easy to follow.

Check the Calendar tool to verify assignment due dates and other events scheduled for your course.

Don’t forget to publish the course! Once the course is published, it’s a good idea to send a welcome email to your class to let them know the course is available and how to get started.

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Instructional Design Services

OAI offers course design consultations and course building support. If you need help working through this checklist or just need ideas to enhance your course, you can schedule a consultation with one of OAI’s instructional designers to help you get started. To schedule an appointment, submit a meeting request.