{"id":1098,"date":"2025-10-20T12:42:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T17:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/?page_id=1098"},"modified":"2026-03-18T14:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:00:10","slug":"best-practices-for-preparing-canvas-sites","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/resources\/resources-for-instructors\/best-practices-for-preparing-canvas-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Practices for Preparing Canvas Sites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

Consistency across all courses can have a significant, positive effect on student success. When used effectively, Canvas provides a quick and easy pathway for students to find all relevant course materials, such as readings, assignments, and instructor feedback. To this end, instructors teaching face-to-face, online, and blended\/hybrid courses should incorporate the following strategies into their course sites. It is particularly important for instructors to consider how regular and substantive interaction is integrated in their online course(s) and to provide multiple ways for students to contact them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assign Due Dates in Canvas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All assignments with specific deadlines should be listed in Canvas so that students can easily track upcoming assignments in the course. As much as possible, deadlines should be consistent from week to week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interact with Every Student at Least Weekly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors is a hallmark of good teaching and a federal requirement for all courses, including fully online courses. While welcoming students and building classroom community are important, interactions must contribute to students\u2019 progress toward course learning objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organize Materials Chronologically<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This allows students to quickly navigate to a given week or module to find what they need at that moment in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provide Multiple Ways for Students to Contact You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For example, post video office hours or a phone number, in addition to email and the Canvas inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publish the Course Site Prior to the Course Start Date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This allows students to orient themselves to the course materials and sites. One week prior<\/strong> is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use CASL\u2019s Canvas Course Template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This template<\/a> will help you set up your courses efficiently and effectively and promote a consistent student experience among courses in Canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the Gradebook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Provide timely and accurate grades to students using the gradebook in the LMS so students can determine where they stand at any point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Student-Friendly Naming Conventions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use this strategy for all documents, assignments, and other course components to help students easily identify the materials and resources they need to be successful. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n