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You might also find Transparency in Teaching and Learning useful when building assignments. Check out the Transparent Assignment Template by Mary-Ann Winkelmes.
Files
→ The ‘Files’ “Files” tool consists of a hierarchical file location to store all manner of computer files that you would want access to in Canvas. A folder structure like that of both Mac and PC (and /Windows/Google Drive for that matter) can be built here, and populated with various files uploaded from your office (or any) computer, using the tools built into Files.
As with any item listed in Course Navigation (the items in the column in white, just to the right of the blue column) ‘files’ must be listed in the Navigation portion of Course Settings.
Files files and folders that you upload.
→ The Files tool can be used directly by displaying the folder for students, or it can be more of a ‘loading dock’ staging area for items that you would you’ll use elsewhere in Canvas. For example, you could have a file folder full of PDF’s that are linked from either Modules, or Pages.
Once in Files, you will see a ‘map’ of the folders you’ve built on the left, and on the right, the files that are in the selected folder.
Tools for getting files where you want them to be are found on the upper right: There are 3 items:
- +Folder - to build a new folder in the selected location.
- Upload - to upload files from your computer to Canvas.
- The vertical ellipsis (I call it the kebab) that, once expanded, shows options for files.
In the main window (right side of the screen) is a list of the contents of the folder selected on the left.
Note that each file has a kebab (collapsed set of options, like rename, delete, and download) and also a column of either eyeballs with a slash (hidden) or green check mark (published).There is also an ‘accessibility’ column, that rates a given PDF for its ease of access by students. More on this later, but not visible to students in the Files tool.
Note that each file/folder on the right side of the screen has three key options to the right of the “size” column.
- Accessibility - Blackboard Ally (see above) at work on many files-- a “speedometer” icon will appear, indicating the accessibility “rating” of the file. Clicking on it will give you more information and options.
- Publishing status -
- where you set how and when a student sees the file - Vertical ellipses - (only visible when you mouse over the file) where you can affect file location and more.
Modules
Modules let you group together items of various types: Assignments, Quizzes, Files, links to external resources, etc., for easy access by students. Most instructors group them week-by-week, or topic by topic.
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