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Canvas - Create Sandbox Template Courses in Canvas

This document can show instructors how to create a sandbox course in Canvas. A Canvas sandbox course, previously known as a "master" course, is a place for instructors to create, test, and develop course content outside of an active instructional course. Sandbox courses cannot contain Students, but content from a Sandbox course can be easily imported into an instructional course.
Perform the following steps to create a new Canvas Sandbox course:
  1. Navigate to the UWGB Canvas page: https://www.uwgb.edu/canvas
  2. Select the Canvas Login button and sign in with your UW-Green Bay username and password.
  3. Select the Help button in the Global Navigation menu found along the left edge of the Canvas dashboard.
  4. Select the Create a Sandbox Course link 

    IMPORTANT: The "Create a Sandbox Course" link only appears in the Help menu when it is accessed from your Canvas dashboard in the main instructional instance of Canvas. Make sure that your browser's address bar shows "uwgby.instructure.com" while you are attempting to create a sandbox course. If it does not, you should close Canvas and start with a fresh sign in from the UWGB website or navigate directly to https://uwgby.instructure.com. You will not see the sandbox creation link or may see an error message when using the tool if your address bar shows "uws.instructure.com", "uws-ce.instructure.com", or "uws-td.instructure.com". If you are not yet enrolled as a teacher in an instructional Canvas course, you will not see this link. New instructors can contact dle@uwgb.edu to request that an admin create a Sandbox course on your behalf.  

    screenshot of create a sandbox course option in the Canvas help menu

  5. Fill out the form to create a sandbox course:

    • Enter a Course Name
    • Enter the same thing for Course Code, or a shorter version
    • Choose a Department
    • Select the Create Course button

      screenshot of sandbox course creation tool menu

  6. To immediately access the sandbox course you just created, select the Let's Go! link, or repeat step 5 to create additional Sandbox courses.

    screenshot of sandbox course creation tool with let's go button

  7. Your sandbox template courses will be available on your Canvas Dashboard and/or within the Courses > All Courses list.
You can easily copy content between your instructional and sandbox courses by following the procedure in this Canvas Instructor Guide page: How do I copy content from another Canvas course using the Course Import tool?


Keywordscreate, master, masters, template, sandbox, Canvas, Canva, D2L, course, courses, blank, sandboxes   Doc ID92440
OwnerScott B.GroupUW Green Bay
Created2019-06-14 09:24:50Updated2024-06-07 15:58:47
SitesUW Green Bay
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