Canvas has three different organizational structures for content that overlap but have different functions.\u00a0 Modules serve as a curated path for a<\/span>\u00a0specific unit of learning.\u00a0 A module will walk a student sequentially through the stages of learning created by the instructo<\/span>r.\u00a0 An example might be:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Canvas is designed so that\u00a0<\/span>Modules<\/span><\/b>\u00a0are the primary point of access for students and so that their path forward in the course is clear and navigable.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>est\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>ractice is to<\/span>\u00a0think about modules in terms of staging one\u2019s home for important guests who have limited time.\u00a0 What do you want them to experience?\u00a0 Where would you like them to sit?\u00a0 What is the best direction of flow?\u00a0 Which restr<\/span>oom is the best for guests? Etc.\u00a0 Modules allow you to create this experience in a linear fashion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pages\u00a0<\/span><\/b>are digital objects in Canvas that contain most of the content, direction, and<\/span>\u00a0instruction.\u00a0 Every course should have a home page that serves as a \u201clanding page\u201d for students and that allows for them to get their bearings and navigate from module to module as needed.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>est Practice for quality course\u00a0<\/span>design\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>OSCQR Standard 1.2<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>QM 1.2<\/span><\/a>)\u00a0<\/span>is that yo<\/span>ur<\/span>\u00a0Course Home Page<\/span>\u00a0and module introduction pages<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>be the<\/span>\u00a0most carefully crafted part of your Canvas course.\u00a0 It will help your students understand what you want them to accomplish, what sort of\u00a0<\/span>navigational freedom they have, and what specific paths you would like for them to take.<\/span>\u00a0 Canvas recommends that the Pages navigation be hidden from the student and that all pages in the course be tied to specific modules or other pages.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can think of Pages, metaphorically, as the scenes you wish your guests to see at specific times<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>When the path of their visit takes them to the kitchen, you<\/span>\u00a0would like them to notice the hand-made cutting board, the carefully placed drinkware, the\u00a0<\/span>stained glass in the window that highlights the view of a mountain in the distance which might start an amiable conversation,\u00a0<\/span>etc.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Y<\/span>ou\u00a0<\/span>probably do<\/span>\u00a0not\u00a0<\/span>want f<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0them to open a folder that has all\u00a0<\/span>possible\u00a0<\/span>views<\/span>\u00a0listed in alphabetical order.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Canvas recommends that the Pages navigation be hidden from the student and that all pages in the course be tied to specific modules or other pages<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>est practice<\/span>s for qualit<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0course design<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>OSCQR<\/span>\u00a0Standard\u00a0<\/span>13<\/span>.6<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>advise\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>navigati<\/span>ng<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>through<\/span>\u00a0your course\u00a0<\/span>be organized<\/span>\u00a0simply for students<\/span>. The\u00a0<\/span>navigational\u00a0<\/span>experience for students\u00a0<\/span>will be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>different\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>tudent<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and instructor<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Instructors are designing a learning experience as experts. Students should be learning.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Files<\/strong> are an even deeper part of the underlying infrastructure of the course and, even more so than\u00a0<\/span>Pages, the recommendation is to hide the left hand navigation tool from students unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise. In our metaphor, files are things like the stained-glass in the kitchen\u00a0<\/span>windo<\/span>w.\u00a0 It should be seen only in that window (Page) and only in the part of the learning journey in which it is important, the kitchen (Module).\u00a0 You can think of the Files navigation for faculty as a quick way to see everything\u00a0<\/span>that you have associated with the course (a sort of home inventory), but for the most part, as in our lives at home, sharing a long, browsable list of everything you have is rarely helpful for moving forward a specific learning agenda.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In summary, think about using the t<\/span>ools\u00a0<\/span>effectively and according to best practices<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta title=”How does this align to Canvas training materials?” button_text=”Explore” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#592C88″ body_text_color=”#592C88″ background_color=”rgba(99,99,99,0.1)” min_height=”388.9px” custom_margin=”||-35px|||” custom_padding=”||30px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#592C88″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Canvas](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2020\/09\/Canvas-no-text-feature-image.png?resize=67%2C42&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Priming the Canvas: Module<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>1<\/span><\/span>.3<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u201cGetting Started with Canvas\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0&\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Module\u00a0<\/span><\/span>5.1 \u201dGathering<\/span><\/span>, Making, and Structuring Content\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nAdditional Resources:<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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