Topics Map > Instructional Resources > Canvas

Canvas (Instructors) - Importing a Resource from Canvas Commons

This document details the steps instructors should follow to import a resource from Canvas Commons into their Canvas course(s).

Canvas Commons is a repository of shared Canvas course content from which instructors can import resources into their own courses. A resource on Commons can be an individual content item (pages, assignments, quizzes, etc.), a whole module, or even an entire course. This document details the steps UW-Green Bay instructors should follow to import a resource from Canvas Commons into their Canvas course.

  1. Sign into Canvas

  2. Navigate to the course in which you wish to import the resource.

  3. Click Commons in the Global Navigation menu alongside the left edge of the page
    • If prompted, authorize Commons to access your account

    screenshot of the Commons button in the Canvas global navigation menu

  4. In the search bar at the top of the Commons page, enter the name of the resource you want to import or related search terms. If you are looking for resources provided by CATL or another UWGB office, include "UWGB" in your search.

  5. Among the search results, select the title of the resource you wish to import

    screenshot of the Canvas Commons search page and results with the search bar and title of a resource highlighted

  6. On the right side of Commons resource page, select the Import/Download button

    screenshot of the Canvas Commons import/download button

  7. In the Import/Download panel that opens, check the box next to each course in which you want to import the resource
    • You can enter a search term into the "Search for a course" field to filter your list of courses and make course selection easier
    • If you are having trouble distinguishing between courses with similar or identical names, try first renaming the course(s) through the course’s Settings page

  8. Click the Import into Course button found at the bottom of the list of courses to start the import process

    screenshot of the Commons import course selection panel

  9. Once the import process finishes (it may take a few minutes), you can find the imported resource or module(s) in your Canvas course. Any imported Assignment(s) will be added to an assignment group titled, “Imported Assignments.”

    screenshot of a Kognito assignment imported into Canvas

  10. You can freely edit these resources to better them into your course. Here are considerations for incorporating resources into your course:
    1. Edit content to:
      • Add a due date or to-do date
      • Rewrite elements to adapt resources to the context of your course
      • If needed, change the point value of graded assignments
      • Move Assignments into a different Assignment Group
    2. Add content to a course module
    3. When ready, publish the resource(s) and/or module(s)

Keywords:
commons module assignment course import into copy download courses assignments sample template student resources
Doc ID:
130327
Owned by:
Scott B. in UW Green Bay
Created:
2023-08-14
Updated:
2023-08-14
Sites:
UW Green Bay