Introduction

Module 6a: Prepare for a New Semester provided an overview of the critical steps all instructors and course-builders should complete at the start and end of each semester. Now, learn how to manage your personal beginning- and end-of-semester tasks using Modules, Pages, and your Course Calendar. To find step-by-step instructions for any task described in this module, please refer to the Checklist document at the bottom of this page.

On This Page:

Add an unpublished module to track tasks
Use your personal Canvas calendar for reminders
Step-by-step instructions for all semester wrap-up and semester prep tasks

Add an unpublished module to track tasks

To help keep track of your recurring to-do's and tasks without needing to leave your Canvas course, consider adding an unpublished module with unpublished pages to the Modules section of your course. You can use this unpublished module to house helpful resources and course revision ideas in an easily-accessed location.

Ways to apply this strategy:

Place the unpublished module at the top or bottom of your Modules list.
Add each task or to-do as an unpublished page in the module (see image below). On each of these pages, add links to related resources (like the Canvas Learning Path), step-by-step instructions, and any other related information you may need help remembering.
Include a revisions and updates page to track any changes you would like to make to your course as you notice issues or come up with new ideas/approaches throughout the term. Before your next semester of teaching, you can revisit your revisions & updates page and use it as a guide to revise your Master Course, ensuring that you don't lose track of any of your ideas in the chaos that often occurs around the start and end of a semester.

Use your personal Canvas Calendar for reminders

If you prefer your tasks to be associated with specific dates, try tracking your to-do's by adding them as Events with due dates on your personal Canvas Calendar. Since these events will be added to your personal calendar (not your course calendar) no one else will be able to view the events you create.

Tips:

You can navigate to the Calendar from anywhere in Canvas using the Global Navigation Menu.
Your personal calendar is titled with your name. Be sure to select your personal calendar (NOT one of your Course Calendars) before adding reminders and other tasks for yourself.
You can access the tasks and reminders you create any time via your Dashboard To-Do List and Canvas Calendar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The following checklist includes links to step-by-step instructions for all of the semester wrap up tasks, semester prep tasks, and organizational strategies described in this module:

Canvas_Transition_Your_Course_Checklist-1.docx