How do you create due dates for readings like assignments have due dates in Canvas

[JJ999]

Someone asked  in the new features area to be able to create due data for readings like assignments have due dates.

There is a work around to do this by making a reading an ungraded assignment. This will add the reading with a due date to the calendar and add it to the list of due assignments.

Answer: Make a Canvas reading file, like a pdf, an ungraded assignment.  (Below is how to do a hard copy reading.)

1. Create a new assignment.  Call it the name of the reading.

2. Insert the link to the reading, i.e., the pdf link, in the assignment description area.

3. Make assignment 0 points

4. Make Display Grade as Not Graded.

5. Set Due Date.

6. Save and Publish 

Now you can insert the assignment into Modules or into Pages.

The reading assignment will now be listed in the calendar as due by the due date.

The one downside is that to get to the reading students need to use two clicks: one to get inside the assignment and another click to get to the reading.

To add a due date to a hard copy reading that is not a link: if the reading is not a link but a hard copy, just put the description of the reading assignment, title, page numbers, etc., into the assignment description.

[ColtonSwapp]

Hello @JJ999 

Thanks for posting about this in the Global Canvas Community! 

You could do this with an assignment. The steps you listed for that process are totally correct if you want to go that route! I wanted to add that there is another option I have seen many instructors use recently to accomplish this same outcome. 

• This can also be done through the use of Pages in your Canvas course. ICYMI, you can now assign pages to students with a new feature that was recently pushed out. HERE is the Canvas guide that goes over how that works.
• If you are using modules in your Canvas course, you could setup a module requirement that forces the student to View the Page / Mark as done before proceeding to the next module item in your course. You would just create your page, share it into your modules, setup the requirements you would like to have the students complete. 

Another thing I wanted to add: You can actually cut down on the amount of clicks the students have to physically make to see your PDF's and files you share into pages on Canvas. There is actually a way to force the files you link in your pages to automatically preview by default. Essentially, this will force your file to expand it's preview automatically for the students when they visit the page or assignment you create.

• HERE is the Canvas guide on how to edit those link options.  
• HERE is the Canvas documentation on what file types can be previewed with the built in DocViewer. 

Hopefully this helps! 

-Colton.