Copy assignments, pages, modules, edits to multiple courses at the same time (without cross listing)?

[KerryScheiner]

How do you quickly copy assignments, pages, modules, edits to multiple courses at the same time (without cross listing)?  I teach 6 course with similar objectives and lesson plans.  I would like to quickly assign or post information without having to toggle in and out of each course.  

[mzimmerman]

Hi Kerry,

There is not really a built-in functionality in Canvas to do this, unless you are using a Blueprint course with lots of courses linked to it, but that is normally something that is set up at the department or college level when there is a standardized version of a course that will be taught by many different instructors.

However, there are a few companies that make tools that can add this functionality to Canvas.  One that comes to mind is QWICKLY (https://www.goqwickly.com ), which my school used with Blackboard before moving to Canvas, but I'm sure there are others.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @KerryScheiner ...

Do you have access to Canvas Commons?  If so, you could design your content within a "sandbox" course, for example.  Then, you could share that content to Canvas Commons (an entire course or specific content such as a course Page, an assignment, etc.).  Then, you should be able to import that specific piece of content into multiple courses all at the same time...as long as you have access to all of those courses.

• How do I share a course to Commons?
• How do I share a resource to Commons?
• How do I import and view a Commons resource in Canvas?

Do you think this might work for your needs?  Keep us posted...thanks!

[StephanieAltman]

I have the same problem as the OP. I have seven separate courses who share some assignments, but not all. I have two courses that are the exact same course, meeting at the same time, but the PowerSchool codes are different, so it creates two courses in Canvas. For the second case, copying to sandbox, then commons, then the other course is actually more work.

I haven't tried this solution yet, because I haven't received my courses for the fall yet. However, even if it works, this solution is still incredibly tedious. Can Canvas please add an option on an assignment to assign to multiple courses? Adding files to multiple courses at once would also be such a huge time saver. I am pretty sure it can be done, because it is a feature in Schoology.

Thanks for considering!

[Chris_Hofer]

@StephanieAltman ...

This would be a request that you would have to submit through the "Ideas and Themes" space here in the Canvas Community.  I don't work for Instructure, so I don't have lots of input as to what things get prioritized and implemented in Canvas.  Here's a link with some Guides on how the idea process works and how to submit an idea for consideration.

Instructure Community Guide - Instructure Community (canvaslms.com)