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nathanatkinson
in
In this video you will learn about Blueprint Courses.
Last updated: 2023-06-02
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Video overviews reflect current feature functionality in Canvas; they are updated based on workflow changes, not on minor or non-functional interface enhancements. Depending on your institution's Canvas theme, the Canvas interface may display differently than shown in this video, but the functionality is the same.
Blueprint Courses Overview Video Script
In this video you will learn about Blueprint Courses. A blueprint course is a course that houses content you want to share to any number of associated courses. Blueprint courses are typically maintained by admins or course designers. Content added to a blueprint course is synced to all associated courses, and content can be locked or unlocked for editing in the associated courses. Before you enable Blueprint Course settings and sync content to associated courses, you should add all course content to the blueprint course. Note that associated courses must be in the same sub-account as the blueprint course.
To create a new blueprint course, create a new course, and, from the course Settings, enable the course as a Blueprint Course. Once you’ve created your course, added content, and enabled the Blueprint Course setting, you can configure content editing options for locked content in associated courses. By default, associated course instructors can edit any course content added from the blueprint course. You can lock editing options for instructors using the lock content options.
The General Locked Objects option allows you to disable editing for content, points possible, due dates, and availability dates for any locked course content item. For example, if you enable the General Content lock, an associated course instructor will not be able to edit content for any locked course content item. To enable a general object lock, select the General Locked Objects option. Then click the checkbox for the object types you wish to lock.
The Locked Objects by Type option allows you to disable specific editing options for assignments, discussions, pages, files, and quizzes. For each course content item, you can enable editing locks for content, points possible, due dates, and availability dates. For example, if you choose to lock Points for Assignments, instructors will not be able to modify points for any locked assignments. To enable a content lock by object type, locate and click the content type where you want to lock editing options. Then, click to enable a content object by type lock. Locked attributes cannot be modified by instructors in associated courses.
After enabling your course content editing locks, you can lock specific course items. When you lock a course content item, the item cannot be deleted in an associated course. Additionally, associated course instructors will not be able to edit course content items with object locks. To lock course content items, navigate to a content area in the course. To lock a content item, click the unlocked icon. To unlock a content item, click the locked icon. When you lock an item, only attributes selected in Blueprint Course settings will be locked in associated courses.
After you lock course content items, you can associate courses with the Blueprint course. All content in the Blueprint course will sync to associated courses. Associated course instructors can edit or remove any synced content except for locked content. They cannot remove locked content or edit locked attributes. To associate a course, click the Blueprint Courses icon then click the Associations link. Search for a course by course title, name, or SIS ID. You can also filter displayed courses by term or sub-account. Search results appear in the Courses list. Click the checkbox next to the course or courses you want to associate. You can view a list of courses already associated with the Blueprint Course in the Associated section. When you’ve selected all courses you want to associate, click the Done button.
To sync course content from the blueprint course to associated courses, click the Blueprint Courses icon. If you want to sync course settings, select the Include Course Settings checkbox. If you want to send a blueprint course sync notification to associated course instructors, click the Send Notification checkbox. To preview pending sync changes, click the Unsynced Changes link. To sync changes to associated courses, click the Sync button. When you sync changes, you will overwrite any content previously synced to the course. Syncing does not affect any content instructors have added to the course. For more information about syncing exceptions, please refer to the Blueprint Courses documentation in the Canvas Community.
Associated course Instructors can view synced and locked content. They cannot modify locked objects in locked content. When instructors edit locked course content, Canvas displays a locked attributes message. When searching for courses at the account or sub-account level, admins can choose to only view Blueprint Courses by clicking the Show only blueprint courses checkbox. The courses list will display blueprint courses but will not show associated courses.
You've now completed this overview video on Blueprint Courses. For additional information on this or any other topic about Canvas, please visit guides.canvaslms.com. You can also ask questions and engage with other Canvas users by visiting community.canvaslms.com.
HeatherAhern
in
This behavior has been resolved and deployed to the production environment as of 7/16/25.
Description
Cannot edit blueprint locked discussion
Expected Behavior
Should be able to edit blueprint locked discussion
Workaround
No workaround exists at this time.
Steps to Reproduce
- Create a checkpointed discussion in a blueprint course and lock the discussion. (Lock the content, points, due dates and availability dates in the blueprint discussion)
- Do a sync.
- Go to the blueprint associated course’s newly created discussion’s edit page.
- Don’t change anything and try to save it.
- Notice you get a “Error updating discussion topic” error.
- In the graphql response you can see: message: "cannot change column(s): delayed_post_at, lock_at, unlock_at - locked by Master Course"
Additional Info
EGG-396
Known issues indicate notable behaviors that have been escalated to the Canvas engineering team. Known issues are not a guarantee for an immediate resolution. This document is for informational purposes only and does not replace the Support process. If you are encountering the behavior outlined in this document, please ensure you have submitted a Support case (per your institution's escalation process) so Canvas Support can adequately gauge the overall customer impact and prioritize appropriately.
ctitmus
in
If your content index pages include Blueprint icons, your course is associated with a blueprint course. Blueprint Courses are courses managed as a template, and changes to locked objects can be synced from the blueprint course to your course at any time. However, you can manage any unlocked course content in your course.
You can view the latest information about a blueprint sync in Course Settings. The blueprint information contains details about the content or other attributes changed in your course.
Notes:
- To be notified of synced updates from a blueprint course, enable the Blueprint sync notification in User Settings.
- For details on what course settings and features are synced or not, refer to Blueprint Sync Functionalities.
Open Course
In Global Navigation, click the Courses link [1], then click the name of the course [2].
Open Settings
In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.
Open Blueprint Information
In the sidebar, click the Blueprint Information link.
View Sync Information
The Blueprint Information page shows information from the last blueprint sync. The page displays the name and course ID of the blueprint course [1] and the name and course ID of your associated course [2].
You can also view the date and time of the sync [3] and the number of changes [4].
If a message was included as part of the notification, the message is displayed above the list of synced changes.
For a course association made by an admin, sync information will also show the date and time the sync was made, but no details will be included related to the sync.
View Sync Details
The Blueprint Information page shows the specific content that has been synced. Each content object shows the synced status of the object (locked or unlocked) and the name of the object [1], the object type [2], the change applied [3], and whether or not the sync was applied [4].
Content changes can be created, updated, or deleted. Updated changes indicate any change to existing content.
Close Blueprint Information
When you are finished with the Blueprint Information page, click the Done button.
HeatherAhern
in
This behavior has been resolved and deployed to the production environment as of 7/02/25.
Description
When a user adds a file to a module in a blueprint course, then replaces the file and syncs the change to associated courses twice (replace file > sync > replace file > sync) the module item corresponding to the file is removed in the associated course after the second sync. The updated file still shows on the Files page in the associated course.
Expected Behavior
Instead the module item should remain in the associated course after the second sync and point to the updated file included in the sync.
Workaround
Deleting the file from the module in the blueprint course then adding it back and syncing will bring the module item back in the associated course.
Steps to Reproduce
Prerequisites: A blueprint course with an association. Three files with different content and the same name on your computer.
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Upload one of the files in the blueprint course.
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Create a module in the blueprint course, add the uploaded file, and sync to the associated course.
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In the blueprint upload another one of the files and choose the option to replace the existing file with the same name.
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Sync the changes to the associated course.
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Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the third file with the same name.
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Note that the module item for the file is no longer in the module in the associated course.
Additional Info
LX-2430
Known issues indicate notable behaviors that have been escalated to the Canvas engineering team. Known issues are not a guarantee for an immediate resolution. This document is for informational purposes only and does not replace the Support process. If you are encountering the behavior outlined in this document, please ensure you have submitted a Support case (per your institution's escalation process) so Canvas Support can adequately gauge the overall customer impact and prioritize appropriately.
InstContentTeam
in
Admin and Instructors can sync badges and pathways when a course is associated with a Blueprint course. This feature enhances the effectiveness of courses by automating the creation and syncing of credentials, improving the efficiency and scalability of an institution's credentialing process.
Verify Badges and Pathways
To verify that badges and pathways were copied over from the blueprint course, click a course.
Click Badges [1], and confirm the badge from the blueprint course was copied [2].
No additional action is required to sync badges to a Blueprint course, as badges are automatically included when a sync is run.
