Canvas Templates
These customizable Canvas templates provide an accessible, consistent starting point for designing your online course. Choose from a Getting Started Module, Course Home Page, or Course Template based on the level of structure you need. The templates include layouts, navigation, and prompts to guide your course development, but they do not include course-specific instructional content. Faculty must add their own learning materials, activities, assignments, assessments, instructions, and course information.
Getting Started Module
Getting Started Module
The Getting Started Module is a fully developed introductory module that provides all of the requirements for the Mesa+ Rubric, Standard 1. The module includes links to technology resources and other student support services, two options for the introduction discussion, a syllabus quiz, and a welcome and course orientation with faculty information. Add and modify the template to fit the needs of your course.
How to Download and Import a Canvas Template
Choose the template that best fits your needs:
- Getting Started Module: Adds a ready-to-customize orientation module to your course.
- Course Home Page: Adds an accessible home-page design that you can personalize.
- Full Course Template: Adds a complete course structure, including the Getting Started module and instructional module framework. Does not include course instructional content. This option works best in a new or mostly empty course shell.
Tip: Check with your department chair to see if a shared course template with instructional content is available.
- Select the link for the template you want to use.
- Google Drive will display the folders and files contained in the Canvas template. Do not try to open or download the individual items shown in this view.
- Select the Download icon in the upper-left corner of the page to download the complete .imscc file.
- The file will usually be saved in your computer’s Downloads folder unless your browser asks you to select another location.
Important: Do not open, unzip, or rename the .imscc file. The folders and files you see are part of the Canvas course package. Canvas will import the complete package in its downloaded format.
- Open the Canvas course where you want to use the template.
- Select Settings from the course navigation menu.
- Select Import Course Content on the right side of the page.
- From the Content Type menu, select Canvas Course Export Package.
- Select Choose File and locate the downloaded .imscc file on your computer.
- Under Content, select All Content.
- Select Import.
- Canvas will process the file and display Completed when the import is finished. You do not need to remain on this page, but doing so is recommended so you can see whether Canvas reports an import error.
After importing, review the course before publishing it to students.
- Replace all instructional prompts and placeholder text.
- Update instructor information, course policies, due dates, links, etc.
- Add, remove, or reorganize modules and content as needed.
- Add instructional content to the full course template.
- Confirm that required pages and modules are published.
- Use Student View to check the course from a student’s perspective.
If you imported the Course Home Page, you may need to open the page under Pages, select the page’s Options menu, and choose Use as Front Page. Then go to Home, select Choose Home Page, and choose Pages Front Page.