Modules

There are a variety of ways to provide your information to students via Canvas. One option is to construct modules, which allows you to direct students through curriculum rather than having them go to various places for readings, assignments, and other information for a given week or topic.

Important Note: Modules in Canvas is similar to Learning Flow in LumiNUS.  Modules allow instructors to organize content to help control the flow of the course. They are used to organize course content by weeks, units, or a different organizational structure. Modules essentially create a one-directional linear flow of what students should do in a course.

The following information will be covered in this guide:

• Adding a module
• Adding content to a module
• Controlling module access 

Adding a Module

Step 1: From the "Course Navigation," click “Modules."

Step 2: Click “+Modules” in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Provide a "Module Name."

Step 4: Select a "Lock Until" date and "Prerequisites" if applicable.

Step 5: Once your settings are complete, click “Add Module” to finish. You will now see an empty module that is ready for content to be added to.

Adding Content to a Module

Step 6: Find the module and click the "+" button to the right of the module title to add content.

Step 7:  From the drop-down menu, choose the item type you want to add. After selecting an item type, a selection of available items will show for you to choose from. You will also have the option of creating a new item in any of the types if you so desire.

Step 8: Click "Add Item" after you've chosen an item to include in the module.

 

Step 9: Remember to make both the module and the objects public so that students can see them.

Controlling Module Access

Students can go through the modules in any order by default. This implies users can skip to previously published modules as well as individual elements inside a module. There are, however, a few options for controlling student access to and flow through a module:

• Set lock dates to limit when a module will open so students don't get too much information too soon. You can set a "lock till" date when you create or change a module. Students will be able to see published content in the module but not access it until the lock date has passed.
• Set Prerequisites to specify which modules must be finished before proceeding to the next. You might choose to complete a previous existing module as a prerequisite for the selected module. This means that students will not be able to access the chosen module until they have finished the prerequisite module.
• Set Requirements for what items must be fulfilled within a module. This gives you two choices:
  • "Students must fulfill all of these prerequisites," which means that they must view and complete every item in the module.
  • "Students must proceed through requirements in sequential sequence" is another choice under this heading. If this box is checked, students will be required to complete the module items in the order that they are presented. They wouldn't be able to move around the module at all.
  • "Student must finish one of these prerequisites," prompting a drop-down menu of options. Choose the item you want the learner to finish and what you mean by "complete." To add more items, click "+ Add requirement" and repeat the process.

Please read the articles below for further information on each of these module settings: