Modules in Canvas

Modules are used in Canvas to organize your course content and create a learning path for students. To access Modules, click the Modules link in the Course Navigation Menu. 

The video tutorial below (4:09 min) shows you how to find and create Modules.

You can organise your content in Canvas Modules by weeks, units, outcomes or any other structure which works for your subject. Content items can be organised in a one-directional linear flow. This provides you with opportunities to scaffold student learning as it is easy to chunk your content and activities.  For example, you can add activities to a module which students must complete before moving on to another module.  

Here are three examples of how you can structure your content in Modules. 

Flipped classroom: 12 weeks

Community-based inquiry (block mode)

Inquiry-based learning for science education

The Modules Index Page is where you will manage and edit the structure of your Modules. Click on the Modules link in the Canvas Course Menu for your subject to access it. At the top right of the Modules Index Page (see [1] in the screenshot below), you can choose to add a new module, or if you have set up specific requirements, view the progress of your students through the modules.   Individual modules, once added, can be found below in the main section of the page (see [2] in the screenshot below).  Content items (which you add to each module) are nested within each module (see [3] in the screenshot below).

• Use the Modules Index Page
• Add a module

Manage your module with the icons to the right of its name. These icons give you the ability to:

• Publish or unpublish a module (see [1] in the screenshot below)
• Add a new content item to the module (see [2] in the screenshot below)
• From the Options drop down menu (see [3] in the screenshot below], you can
  • Edit the module’s name, lock the module, set prerequisites and other requirements (see [4] in the screenshot below)
  • Move content items (see [5] in the screenshot below)
  • Move the module (see [6] in the screenshot below)
  • Delete the module (see [7] in the screenshot below)
  • Duplicate the module (see [8] in the screenshot below)

• Edit a module
• Move or reorder a module
• Delete a module
• Duplicate a module

Modules can consist of any type of Canvas items, such as:

• Pages (the most common type of content you will use)
• Discussions
• Assignments
• Quizzes
• Links to external tools, such as Zoom.

You can add items from existing content or create a placeholder item (or content shells) within the modules.  Each content item you create can be added to multiple modules or iterated several times throughout a module. Be aware that a published content item (marked with a green tick) in a module will not be visible to students unless the module it is in, is also published.  Students may be able to view the published content item in another area of your subject site. However, they will not be able to interact with the item until the module is published.

• Add assignment types and pages as module items
• Add a text header as a module item
• Add an external tool as a module item
• Add an external URL as a module item
• Duplicate a module item
• Edit module items
• Remove module items
• Move or reorder a module item
• Distinguish draft State in Modules