Import a Canvas Course into a new course shell

Owned by Rob Caldwell, created
Last updated: Jan 10, 2024 by Kristin Harrison
3 min read

This article will help teachers import previous courses into new course shells. This is especially useful at the beginning of new terms or if you have been working with a course sandbox.

Instructions for Importing a Canvas Course

  1. Go to your new empty course shell in Canvas

  2. On the course home page choose Add Existing Content

    Canvas course home page that snows a button for adding existing content

     

  3. Use the content type pull-down menu to choose Copy a Canvas Course

  4. Search for the course you wish to copy (if it is a course you have taught often, be certain to pay attention to the year and term to ensure you choose the correct version).

  5. If you are importing a course sandbox that has not been taught previously, select to import All Content and press the Import button.



    If you are importing a course you have taught previously, continue with the following steps:

Copying a course you have taught previously

The following instructions are often not needed when importing a course sandbox. These instructions allow you to omit past announcements, calendar events, and due dates from a previous term that could potentially confuse students. Use these instructions when importing a previously taught course from a previous term.

  1. Choose to "Select Specific Content"

  2. Choose "Adjust events and due dates"

  3. Choose to "Shift Dates"

  4. Use the beginning and end dates of the new term and the previous course's term.

  5. (Optional) you can use the "substitute" feature if you wish to substitute one day of the week for another, such as moving all Monday assignments to Tuesdays.

  6. Click the "Import" button

Select Content to Copy

  1. Choose to select content

     

  2. Check every option, EXCEPT for:

  • Announcements

  • Calendar Events

  • It's possible you may have a few announcements you do want to import. If so, click on the arrow icon next to announcements to select individual announcements to import. Be sure to set new post dates for any imported announcements.

  • If you import calendar events, you will often end up with last term’s Zoom Meeting links appearing in the course calendar alongside the new links.