Recommended course settings
Course navigation menu
The course navigation menu can be customized to your specific course needs. However, the following is a list of the recommended items that should appear in the course navigation menu.
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- Announcements
- Syllabus
- Modules (if you are using modules to provide content or materials)
- Grades
- Panopto Recordings
- Zoom Pro (this is essential if you are hosting any synchronous Zoom meetings. Make sure Zoom Pro is in the navigation menu versus just Zoom)
- Assignments
- Quizzes
- Discussions
Most other items will not be necessary to have in your navigation menu. You may also choose to have Files be visible in your navigation menu to share files with students. However, exercise caution if you use this approach particularly if you upload any sensitive or private documents (such as answer keys or exam documents) since students will have visibility to those unless you intentionally change those file settings. It is preferred that Files be hidden and that you share files and documents with students via links in the modules rather than by having all Files visible to students.
View the “How Do I Manage Course Navigation Links (Links to an external site.)” Canvas guide to understand how to adjust your course navigation menu.
General course settings
If you click on course settings, you will notice that you have four tabs appear at the top of the screen which include: Course Details, Sections, Apps, and Feature Options. Most of the settings you can leave as default unless you have a desire to change them. However, under the Course Details tap you should scroll to the bottom of the page, click “more options” and then check the settings to make sure they represent what you want students to be able to do or see in your course. Our recommendation is that you use the following settings:
Gradebook settings
If you click on “Grades” in the course navigation menu, you will be brought to the Canvas gradebook. In the upper right corner you will see a gear icon. Clicking that icon will open the gradebook settings. If you intend to use the Canvas gradebook for assignment grading, we recommend that you click the tab that is labeled “Grade Posting Policy” and then select “Manually Post Grades” and click “update”. This will ensure that grades are muted until you manually post them meaning that students will not see their score or receive grade notifications until you are finished grading and intentionally release scores and comments.
Course template
The Instructional Design team has created a Canvas template that has these recommended settings already in place. If you would like this template imported into your empty course shell as a basis for you to begin designing and building your upcoming course, please contact remote@mitchellhamline.edu to request this.