How to Reuse Course Content from Previous Canvas Course Sites

 

 

Reusing Content in Canvas 

It is easy for instructors to duplicate, import, and reuse content and media between Canvas courses and course sections. 
 

There are two methods to duplicate content between courses. The first is best for duplicating an entire course at once, and the second method is best for duplicating individual materials such as pages or assignments.

 

How to Duplicate an Entire Canvas Course 

 

1. Go to the course shell that you are intending to copy into. Course Navigation, click “Settings” .  

 

 

 

2. In the right-hand sidebar, click "Import Course Content." 

 

 

 

3. In the Content Type drop-down menu, select the Copy a Canvas Course option.  

 

 

  

4. In the Search for a course drop-down menu, select the course you would like to copy content from. Courses are ordered alphabetically by most recent term. (You can also choose to include completed courses by selecting the completed courses checkbox). 

 

 

 

 

 NOTE: To search for a course by name, enter the name in the Course Name field. Click the name of the course when it appears.  

 IMPORTANT NOTE: If your section names have the same short name (no section number), you will need to use a different workaround to duplicate one course into another. It is best to use the internal Canvas course code number (the digits for that course from the url - like 4613, 12123, etc.) Use that number within the search box and you will get the specific course.

5. We recommend you select the radio button "Select Specific Content" when importing from a past course. This will help you avoid creating duplicate copies of modules, pages, and files. If you select the "All Content" radio button, it will import all content from the original site, resulting in duplicate files, pages, and Course Blueprints. 

NOTE ON QUIZZES: If your previous course contains Classic Quizzes, you should convert them to New Quizzes during the import process. To do this, check the "Convert content to New Quizzes" box on the import settings page before clicking import. This will automatically convert any Classic Quizzes from your original course into New Quizzes in your new course shell.
Classic Quizzes are being retired by Canvas (Instructure), so we strongly recommend checking this box for all course imports. Note that some question types and quiz settings may require minor adjustments after the conversion is complete. For more information on reviewing your converted quizzes and the differences between Classic and New Quizzes, visit the following article:  New Quizzes: Learn Features and Differences with Classic Quizzes  

 

  

6. If you wish to adjust the dates of your course content to your new semester, click the "Adjust events and due dates" check box. You can choose to "Shift Dates" to align with the new term, or you can select the “Remove Dates” to remove all dates listed.   

 

7. Click the "+ Add to Import Queue" button.   

  

NOTE: The Current Jobs area displays the status of your import. Running reports displays a menu bar with the time remaining to complete the import. The import will also display other status indicators as part of the import process. View the content by clicking Modules in Course Navigation. 

 8. If you have selected "Select Specific Content" and have added the Course copy to your Import Queue, scroll down to the list of Content Imports and find your Course Copy. You should see its status is "Waiting for Selection" and you have the option to click "Select Content."

9. Click "Select Content," then choose all the content you wish to copy over from the pop-up drop-down "Select Content for Import" menu that is presented. Then, click Select Content again.
 

The second method requires you to navigate the course where the information you want to duplicate is housed. This method may be helpful if you are navigating through the course, or need to look at different pages to determine where the content is housed. 

 
How to Duplicate Content in Canvas (alternative method for individual pages, assignments, etc.) 

 

1. Go to any page (Modules, Pages, Assignments, etc.) where you can access the three dots next to material, such as a page, assignment, module, etc. 

 

2. Click on the three dots selector to the right of the material you wish to copy. 

 

3. Click "Send to". 

 

4. In the pop-up box that appears, type the title of the course you are copying content to. Select it and click "Copy."

IMPORTANT NOTE ON ANNOUNCEMENTS: