Canvas: Customize Course Settings

Once you enter a course, you will see additional course navigation links on the left side. Here, you will find a link titled "Settings" which relates specifically to that course. This link is only available to instructors.

The 'Settings' include four categories: 

• Settings - Course Details - Here, you can do things like edit the course name, language, time zone, dates, add a course card image, enable a grading scheme, and add announcements to your home page.
• Sections - you can add a section to your course and manage student section enrollments

• Settings - Navigation - Here, you can choose what links you want students to be able to access in the course
• Apps - this is managed at the VCCS level, so you will not make any changes or adjustments in this section
• Feature Options - you will not make any changes or adjustments in this section
• Integrations - you will not make any changes or adjustments in this section

Watch this short video for an overview on Course Settings.

Course Details

In the Course Details tab, you can view key information about your course, including its name, quota, and the license attached to the content. You can also check the course status, and if the course cannot be unpublished, a hover text will inform you.

You'll need to update some of the information in the Course Details tab, but be cautious-certain settings, even if editable, should not be changed. Here is what you need to do, can do if you choose, and should not do.

Course Image

When images are added to a course, they appear behind a color overlay on the course card. The overlay color is a user-defined setting that can vary for each individual on their Dashboard. Although users have the option to remove the color overlay entirely, it’s best to choose an image that displays well with a range of colors.

Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I add an image to a course card in the Dashboard? 

Course Dates

Your course will not have start and end dates pre-set, so you'll need to enter these dates according to the specific term. For example, Fall 2024 15-week courses will begin on 8/22/2024 and end on 12/4/2024, while Fall 2024 7-week Session 1 courses will start on 8/22/2024 and conclude on 10/9/2024.

After setting the course start and end dates, you can decide whether to restrict students from viewing the course before the start date or after the end date. To apply these restrictions, simply select the check boxes below the end date field.

Grading Scheme

A grading scheme is a set of criteria used to measure different levels of achievement in a course. By default the grading scheme is set to "GCC - Ten Point". DO NOT CHANGE THIS!

Offline Course

Select the check box by "Offline Course" to enable offline access to allow students to download course content

Enabling offline access is important because it ensures that students can continue learning and stay on track with their coursework, even if they experience Internet connectivity issues or have limited access to reliable Internet. This flexibility supports diverse student needs and helps maintain continuity in their learning experience.

Additional Settings