[ARCHIVED] Can I create an actual course on the free version of Canvas?

[plsmitha]

I'm taking classes through Coursera to complete the Virtual Teacher specialization. For a capstone project, I'd like to create an actual course. Can the free version of Canvas can be used to do this? If so, will the course remain on the platform indefinitely?

Thank you in advance.

[kona]

 @plsmitha , yes, you can absolutely use the free version of Canvas to create (and even teach!) a real course! And yes, anything that you create will remain there indefinitely. I was just nosing around the stuff I have in there and I've got courses I created back in 2012!

[jamely]

What is nice about having access to the course for a long time, is that you can export it and import it into any other Canvas instance if you decide to teach that course at a Canvas-using institution! That is what I ended up doing at the beginning of this semester, where I was assisting in designing an online course where administrative red tape made it so that I didn't have access to the universities Canvas instance until 1 week before the semester started :smileyshocked:. Porting the FFT course in made for a much less stressful situation 😜

This pdf Canvas Account Comparisons shows the differences between accounts, which might be interesting to take a look at.

[plsmitha]

Janell, I appreciate the information.

The PDF comparison is helpful.

I'm glad you got your course up and running. I'll look into how to port.

[plsmitha]

Kona, thank you for responding. This is great to know!

[plsmitha]

The answers I received were extremely helpful.

[plsmitha]

Are there limits on how many students that can be enrolled in a class using free Canvas?

I have ideas for some classes:

1) African American literature (for high school)

2) Conversational ESL for adults

3) Beginning ESL for adults

4) Intermediate ESL for adults

5) Advanced ESL for adults

The literature class would be a traditional type of asynchronous class. There would be time limits on completing the work, and the course would be assigned section numbers.

The adult ESL classes won't be set up the same as the literature class, but I haven't figured it out yet.

[NoahBoswell]

Yes, any courses you create on FFT (Free For Teacher). You're able to add student accounts, as well as designers, observers, TAs, etc.

Any content that is saved on your canvas course will save, this includes any created modules, groups, added users, commons downloads, account / course settings, etc.

Hope this helps, respond with any questions!