Canvas FAQs for Staff
Calendar
Canvas Guide: How do I view the Calendar iCal feed to subscribe to an external calendar as an instructor? Course Management
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
Yes. However it is important to note that some of the activity/resource types in Moodle do not exist in Canvas, and this will impact on how some of the Moodle course materials appear in Canvas.
The table below shows some of the activities/resources in Moodle which do not exist in Canvas and explains how they will be imported (based on Moodle version 3.0).
Advice: It is advised that you make an audit of your Moodle course before importing, and make a note of the features listed in the table below.
Moodle activities/resources not featured in Canvas |
What happens when imported to Canvas? |
| Book | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages |
| Database | Will not import |
| Glossary | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the terms and definitions will not display. |
| Label | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the layout and details of the text in the page may need to be reformatted or reorganised. |
| Lesson | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages, but the connections between pages will be lost. |
| Question banks | Canvas will not import Moodle question banks on their own, but question banks can be imported if you choose to also export the Moodle quiz they’re associated with. |
|
Quiz Question types: |
Most question types within Moodle will be imported into Canvas with no problems. However, those question types mentioned in the cell to the left will not import. |
| Wiki | Will not import |
Back up your Moodle Course
The next step is to back up your Moodle course. To do this, go to your Moodle course, click the Turn Editing On button and click the Backup menu item within the Course Administration menu. (If you don’t see this, you will need to ask for help from the administrator of your Moodle site.)
Follow the instructions on how to create and save the back up (Note: Make sure you do not include the enrolled users in your back-up file).
Then you can log in to Canvas and import the contents of your Moodle course into your Canvas course.
Canvas Guide: How do I import content from Moodle into Canvas? (Canvas Community Guide)
Course Settings
In Canvas, there are two areas for names:
- Display Name: Displays in areas where you are collaborating. (e.g.) Discussions, Messages and Comments.
- Full Name: Appears in some areas in Canvas. (e.g.) Gradebook, Chat, EPortfolio and integrated applications such as Office365 or TurnItIn UK.
How to change your Display Name: Submit a ticket via the Help button in Canvas.
How to change your Full Name: If your Full Name has legally changed and needs to be updated in Canvas, you will need to change it in Qsis first and this can be requested by contacting Student Registry. Once this is complete, it will automatically update in Canvas in 24-48 hours.
Module Names in Qsis: Information in Canvas, (including module name/course title) flows through from Qsis. There is a 30 character limit in Qsis for a course title (short name), anything above this will not be included.
Course Titles in Canvas: To change your Canvas course title and reduce the number of characters, please contact QSIS Support Team and amend to 30 characters or less (including spaces & punctuation).
Once complete in Qsis, the new course title will automatically flow through to Canvas in 24-48 hours.
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
Yes.
Canvas Calendar Export: It is possible to export the Canvas Calendar into other online calendars. However, Canvas will not automatically update your other calendar if you make changes within Canvas.
External Calendars Import: It is not possible to import other external online calendars into the Canvas Calendar.
Canvas Guide: How do I view the Calendar iCal feed to subscribe to an external calendar as an instructor?
Yes. However it is important to note that some of the activity/resource types in Moodle do not exist in Canvas, and this will impact on how some of the Moodle course materials appear in Canvas.
The table below shows some of the activities/resources in Moodle which do not exist in Canvas and explains how they will be imported (based on Moodle version 3.0).
Advice: It is advised that you make an audit of your Moodle course before importing, and make a note of the features listed in the table below.
Moodle activities/resources not featured in Canvas |
What happens when imported to Canvas? |
| Book | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages |
| Database | Will not import |
| Glossary | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the terms and definitions will not display. |
| Label | Will import as a Canvas Page, but the layout and details of the text in the page may need to be reformatted or reorganised. |
| Lesson | Will import as a series of Canvas Pages, but the connections between pages will be lost. |
| Question banks | Canvas will not import Moodle question banks on their own, but question banks can be imported if you choose to also export the Moodle quiz they’re associated with. |
|
Quiz Question types: |
Most question types within Moodle will be imported into Canvas with no problems. However, those question types mentioned in the cell to the left will not import. |
| Wiki | Will not import |
Back up your Moodle Course
The next step is to back up your Moodle course. To do this, go to your Moodle course, click the Turn Editing On button and click the Backup menu item within the Course Administration menu. (If you don’t see this, you will need to ask for help from the administrator of your Moodle site.)
Follow the instructions on how to create and save the back up (Note: Make sure you do not include the enrolled users in your back-up file).
Then you can log in to Canvas and import the contents of your Moodle course into your Canvas course.
Canvas Guide: How do I import content from Moodle into Canvas? (Canvas Community Guide)
General
Module Names in Qsis: Information in Canvas, (including module name/course title) flows through from Qsis. There is a 30 character limit in Qsis for a course title (short name), anything above this will not be included.
Course Titles in Canvas: To change your Canvas course title and reduce the number of characters, please contact QSIS Support Team and amend to 30 characters or less (including spaces & punctuation).
Once complete in Qsis, the new course title will automatically flow through to Canvas in 24-48 hours.
Modules
Yes.
Date and time release functions: These are available for ‘Canvas Modules’ (i.e. units of study, for example: weeks, topics, themes) and other features such as assignments, quizzes, discussions and announcements.
The guide below explains how to edit a module’s settings to lock all content and release it on a particular date/time.
Canvas Guide: How do I lock a module?
Profile
In Canvas, there are two areas for names:
- Display Name: Displays in areas where you are collaborating. (e.g.) Discussions, Messages and Comments.
- Full Name: Appears in some areas in Canvas. (e.g.) Gradebook, Chat, EPortfolio and integrated applications such as Office365 or TurnItIn UK.
How to change your Display Name: Submit a ticket via the Help button in Canvas.
How to change your Full Name: If your Full Name has legally changed and needs to be updated in Canvas, you will need to change it in Qsis first and this can be requested by contacting Student Registry. Once this is complete, it will automatically update in Canvas in 24-48 hours.