How do I manage new features for a course?

Canvas is continually creating new features to improve your experience. This lesson gives an overview of how to manage feature options at the course level. On the course level, you may have the option to implement features on a course-by-course basis. Instructors have no control over user-level features. To view the specific course-level feature options available in Canvas, visit the current course features lesson.

In order for a feature to appear for a course, the feature must be unlocked for your institution by a Canvas admin.

Notes:

  • Feature option settings are never copied from production and always retain their default settings. Feature options must be managed individually in the test and beta environments.
  • Some feature options may not be available in Free-for-Teacher accounts. Please view the Canvas Account Comparisons PDF.

Open Course Settings

Open Course Settings

In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.

Open Feature Options Tab

Open Feature Options Tab

Click the Feature Options tab.

View Feature Options

View Feature Options

Available features will appear in the Feature Options tab. New features are enabled by your institutional admin, and the Feature Options tab will not display any features until they are granted access to you.

Each course feature includes a feature description. Click the arrow icon next to the feature to expand the feature box and display the description.

Filter Feature Options

Filter Feature Options

To filter by all features, enabled features or disabled features, click the Filter drop-down menu.

Search Feature Options

Search Feature Options

To search for a feature option, type a keyword in the Search field.

View Feature Tags

Feature tags help identify the state of each feature. A feature with no label means the feature is stable and ready for use in your production environment [1].

Features may also include a Feature Preview tag [2], which means the feature is in active development. You can opt-in to the feature and join the Community user group to help improve the feature through direct feedback. Access to the user group is noted in the description of the feature option.

View Feature States

Each feature displays a feature state as set by your admin.

Enabled features display an Enabled icon [1].

Disabled features display a Disabled icon [2].

Notes:

  • Features states that have been locked by an admin will not display in the course Feature Options list.
  • Course features are activated on a course-by-course basis.

Manage Feature States

To enable or disable an unlocked feature, click the feature's State icon [1].

To enable the feature, click the Enabled option [2].

To disable the feature, click the Disabled option [3].

Notes: 

  • Features states that have been locked by an admin will not display in the course Feature Options list.
  • Depending on feature functionality, when you enable a feature to On, Canvas may display a warning message asking to confirm your option, as some course features may have unintended consequences if turned Off.