Enabled Side Menu Items Not Showing for Students

[JoannaPenfield]

I have enabled certain menu options under the navigation tab, but they continue to be hidden on the student view. I have enabled these items (specifically Modules and Announcements) and clicked on Saved. Other menu items I have enabled or disabled are in the correct place and showing or not showing according to my selections. What am I doing wrong?

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @JoannaPenfield ...

If you have "Modules" and "Announcements" enabled in your course navigation, you need to have at least one module "published" on the "Modules" page (and also at least one item within that module "published").  The same also applies to your "Announcements" page.  You need to have at least one announcement published in your course in order for the crossed-out eye icon to go away.

• How do I publish or unpublish a module as an instructor?
• How do I add an announcement in a course?

I hope this will be helpful to you.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi @JoannaPenfield ...

If you have "Modules" and "Announcements" enabled in your course navigation, you need to have at least one module "published" on the "Modules" page (and also at least one item within that module "published").  The same also applies to your "Announcements" page.  You need to have at least one announcement published in your course in order for the crossed-out eye icon to go away.

• How do I publish or unpublish a module as an instructor?
• How do I add an announcement in a course?

I hope this will be helpful to you.

[JoannaPenfield]

How silly of me! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Thank you so much!

[SusanNiemeyer]

These crossed-out eyeballs for Announcements and Modules confuse a lot of instructors. I wish Instructure didn't do this. Someone "overthought" this a while back. 

[NoahBoswell]

@SusanNiemeyer , I can understand how it can be confusing for other instructors, however if you hover over the cross-eyed label it will provide you with a small description about why it's disabled. It will likely either say No Content; Not Visible to Students or Disabled; Not visible to students. In my experience that has solved a lot of the confusion. It's all really how either you or your school has Canvas set-up.

By default, all course navigation links are enabled (unlocked), unless your school sets it up otherwise. However, if all links are enabled and you're still seeing those crossed out eyeballs, it means there's no content yet, and Canvas doesn't bother sharing that link with students until there is something meaningful there for them.

Hope that can provide a little additional information for anyone needing it.

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

Hey @JoannaPenfield !

In addition to what @Chris_Hofer said, which is completely correct, if your school pays for canvas, it is also possible that they make some buttons teacher-view only on the course navigation, and that can be for different purposes. I hope that provides you with a little more additional information.