Apply a template to all existing classes in a semester?

[KentKersey1]

Can you apply a template to all existing classes in a semester?

[CelestialDawnA · Accepted solution]

You can make a class be the template that is used when courses are generated (it is subaccount specific rather than semester). Here's a guide about that.

I'm not aware of a way to bulk apply a template to classes that are already generated, though... Maybe a blueprint would work if you could get it applied to the relevant classes, but even then I think instructors would have to select to sync in the changes. I haven't personally messed with Blueprints much, so I don't have great suggestions on it.

Is it the whole course layout/content that needs an update, or is there just some specific content to add to those existing courses? You maybe could try the Canvas Commons and see about teachers importing what they need from there, depending on how big the changes are.

I hope something from here helps or at least helps you find what you need!

[CelestialDawnA · Accepted solution]

You can make a class be the template that is used when courses are generated (it is subaccount specific rather than semester). Here's a guide about that.

I'm not aware of a way to bulk apply a template to classes that are already generated, though... Maybe a blueprint would work if you could get it applied to the relevant classes, but even then I think instructors would have to select to sync in the changes. I haven't personally messed with Blueprints much, so I don't have great suggestions on it.

Is it the whole course layout/content that needs an update, or is there just some specific content to add to those existing courses? You maybe could try the Canvas Commons and see about teachers importing what they need from there, depending on how big the changes are.

I hope something from here helps or at least helps you find what you need!

[BrianLester · Accepted solution]

Templating is about the structure of course shells before teachers add content. 

Use of Blueprints is a possibility - and syncing is controlled by whoever has permissions for the blueprint not by the teacher(s) of courses associated with the Blueprint. Blueprints also allow certain restrictions on what course teachers can change. It probably makes most sense to set up blueprints in advance of teacher access to courses.

One consideration with both blueprints and templates is repeated use when teachers are importing from courses already based on blueprints or templates - this can lead to cumulative duplication of items.

Canvas Commons as @CelestialDawnA suggests is a useful and simple approach but does require action by teachers

Another approach would be to use the Canvas API. With the API you can change settings, add pages, standardize the course navigation menus etc. This can be done at any stage in the course lifecycle. If your new to using the API and/or coding try asking an AI to create code and test this thoroughly in a Beta or Test instance on sample courses. Have someone who knows the language (python, javascript etc) well check the code. Changes made via API are not generally locked down.

[KentKersey1]

Thanks Brian. 

I'm trying to learn about API's. Do you know of any tutorials I could watch?

[chriscas]

Hi @KentKersey1,

In terms of learning the API, I think there are really two parts to that...

One is figuring out the relevant parts of Canvas API itself.  This is what myself would call the "easy part" which you can often Google to get help finding.

The second part is finding and utilizing a tool or programming language to use to interact with the API.  A lot of people mention Postman as an easy-ish option, but there are plenty of other ways to go (the relatively easy Python programming language being one).  I use Python myself because I am a computer science person and my brain seems to work better with that than other options.

Unfortunately, I don't know any simple tutorials to point you to that combine all of this stuff together, but someone else may see this and know some good resources to point you to.

-Chris