Start and End of Semester Checklists for Instructors
Canvas Course Checklists
Each semester brings a set of tasks to help ensure your Canvas courses are ready for students and wrapped up properly at the end. Use this checklist throughout the semester and work through the section that matches where you are in your course.
1. Before You Build
Get your Canvas shell and course setup sorted out before you start adding content.
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Checklist Item
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Details & Resources
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Verify course access and sections
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Make sure your course appears in Canvas, you're listed as the instructor, and you're
working with the correct section or sections. If something is missing or incorrect,
check with your department.
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Request section merges
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If multiple sections will share one Canvas course, request the merge before importing
or adding content.
Learn more about the merge process |
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Add course users
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Add approved co-instructors, TAs, or other course personnel using the appropriate
Canvas role.
Learn how to add users | Review Canvas roles and permissions |
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Plan integrations
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Identify any publisher tools or other integrations you'll need before building activities
around them.
Watch the publisher tools video | Learn more about publisher integrations |
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Copy previous course content
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Import content from a previous Canvas course into your new course shell.
Learn how to copy course content |
2. Build and Review Your Course
Organize the student experience and make sure your course content is ready.
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Checklist Item
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Details & Resources
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Organize your Dashboard
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Favorite and nickname courses so your current courses are easy to identify.
Learn how to favorite courses | Learn how to nickname courses |
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Set up your homepage
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Organize with Modules
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Structure content by week, unit, topic, or another logical sequence.
Learn how to organize with Modules |
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Create or review course content
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Build or review Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Files, Announcements, and
other course materials.
Pages | Assignments | Discussions | Quizzes | Files | Announcements |
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Update dates and settings
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Review due dates, availability dates, points, submission settings, and other course
settings.
Learn how to bulk update dates |
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Review Course Navigation
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Enable the tools students need and hide unnecessary navigation items.
Learn how to manage Course Navigation |
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Set up tools and integrations
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Confirm Panopto, Gradescope, publisher tools, and other integrations are configured
and working.
Review integrated tools and publisher information |
3. Before Students Arrive
Check the key items students need for a smooth start.
Canvas calculates grades differently than D2L/Brightspace. Review your grading structure and calculations carefully before the semester begins.
Learn how grading works in Canvas | Set up a grading scheme | Review Gradebook settings and calculations
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Checklist Item
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Details & Resources
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Set up your Gradebook
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Review assignment groups, weighting, grading schemes, policies, and grade calculations. Learn how grading works in Canvas | Set up a grading scheme | Review your gradebook settings and calculations |
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Check accessibility
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Review course materials for accessibility and address priority issues.
Get started with Panorama | Review accessibility resources |
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Check links and files
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Test links, documents, videos, and other course materials.
Learn how to use the Link Validator |
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Test external tools
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Make sure integrations and publisher content work as expected.
Review integrated tools |
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Use Student View
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Check navigation, Modules, content visibility, assignments, dates, and the overall
student experience.
Learn how to use Student View |
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Set a clear starting point
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Make sure students know where to begin on the homepage or in your first Module. What
do they see as they click into your course?
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Publish your course
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Students cannot access the course until it is published.
Learn how to publish your course |
4. First Week
Support students as they begin working in your course.
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Checklist Item
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Details & Resources
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Post a welcome announcement
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Welcome students and share important first-week information.
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Remind students where to begin
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Point students to the homepage, a "Start Here" area, or the first Module.
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Confirm materials and activities are visible
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Make sure students can access the content and activities they need.
View your course as a student |
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Check course tools and integrations
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Confirm required tools and integrations are working as expected for students.
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Watch for patterns in student questions
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Repeated questions may indicate that navigation, instructions, dates, or content need
clarification.
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5. End of Semester
Wrap up grades and prepare your course for the next term.
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Checklist Item
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Details & Resources
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Review final grades
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Check missing work, assignment settings, grade calculations, grade posting policies,
and final totals.
Understanding Canvas Grading | Things to Review When Grading | Verifying the Correct Student |
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Complete the incomplete-grade process
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Follow MSU procedures when a student needs continued Canvas access. Email ecat@montana.edu with the required course and student information.
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Back up grades
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Export a spreadsheet copy of your Canvas Gradebook if you or your department need
a local record.
Learn how to export grades | Learn about KNOX secure storage |
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Export a course backup
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Download a copy of your course content without student data for future reference.
Learn how to export a Canvas course |
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Prepare for next semester
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Request future section merges early—before adding or importing content.
Review section merge instructions |
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Import content into new Canvas shells
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Copy appropriate content from your previous course into the new shell. Student data
will not be copied.
Learn how to copy course content |
Brush up on Canvas tools, explore new strategies, or get additional help building your course.