Don't Let Canvas Give You a Fright!

Halloween is the perfect time to chase away a few Canvas course scares! Before your students encounter any tricks, take a few minutes to check for these common course surprises.

The Ghost Assignment

Is an assignment missing from the student view? Double-check that it is published and assigned to the correct students or sections.

The Frightening Due Date

Check assignment due dates, availability dates, and time settings to make sure students have the correct deadlines.

The Broken Link

Click through your course links and files to make sure students can access the resources they need without hitting a dead end.

Your Halloween Homework: Spend five minutes in Student View checking your course before the next class. A little prevention can keep those Canvas scares away!

Canvas Tip: Troubleshooting Blank Quizzes

Are students opening a Canvas quiz and not seeing any questions? This may happen when quizzes that use linked Question Banks are copied incorrectly between courses.

When copying quizzes that use linked Question Banks or question groups, avoid using the “Copy To” feature. Instead, use the Import Course Content tool to ensure the quiz and its associated Question Banks are copied correctly.

How to Copy a Quiz with Linked Question Banks

1. Open your course and go to Settings.
2. Select Import Course Content.
3. For Content Type, select Copy a Canvas Course and choose the source course.
4. Select Specific Content and click Add to Import Queue.
5. Click Select Content next to “Waiting for Selection.”
6. Expand Quizzes and Question Banks, then select the quiz and its corresponding Question Banks. Do not select Course Settings or External Tools.
7. Click Select Content and wait for the import status to show Completed.
8. Open the quiz, click Edit, and verify that the Question Banks are listed under the Questions tab.
9. Save your changes and use View as Student to confirm that the questions appear correctly before publishing.

Quick Reminder: Always import the quiz and its associated Question Banks together. Question Banks linked to randomly selected question groups may not be included when exporting quizzes as QTI files.

For additional guidance, review Instructure’s article, How do I copy a quiz to another course? and the Canvas Course Copy instructions.

❓ Canvas FAQ Corner

Quick answers to common Canvas questions from faculty like you!

📌 Q1: Can I preview my course from a student's perspective?

A: Yes! Use Canvas Student View to see how your course appears to students. Open your course, and click "View as Student." This option can be used to view the Homepage, Modules, Assignments, Announcements, Discussions, Quizzes, Pages, Syllabus, and Outcomes from a student's perspective. You can navigate course materials, view assignments, and test certain activities to identify potential issues before students encounter them.

📌 Q2: Why isn't my Canvas announcement showing up at the top of my course?

A: Canvas displays announcements according to their posting dates and the course's announcement settings. If an announcement isn't appearing as expected, check whether it was published, verify its posting date, and review your course settings to confirm how announcements are displayed.

📌 Q3: Can I add a personal to-do item to my Canvas calendar without creating an assignment?

A: Yes! You can create a personal calendar event in Canvas for reminders, grading deadlines, or other tasks. Open Calendar, select the + button, and choose the event option. Personal events can help you organize your schedule without adding activities or deadlines to your students' coursework.

📌 Q4: What happens if I change the due date on an assignment after students have submitted their work?

A: Changing an assignment's due date generally updates the deadline for the course, but it does not automatically erase existing submissions or grades. If students have already submitted work, review the assignment settings and submission details after making changes to ensure everything reflects your intended deadline.

📌 Q5: Can I communicate with students who are assigned to a specific group in Canvas?

A: Yes! Canvas allows instructors to communicate with students within a specific group, making it easier to manage group projects and keep conversations organized.

To send a message to group members:

1. Open your Canvas course and select People from the course navigation menu.
2. Select the Groups tab to view the groups in your course.
3. Select the group name to open its group workspace.
4. Open the group's People page to view its members.
5. Use the available group communication tools, such as group discussions, to share instructions, ask questions, or provide updates.