Course Request Form users: If you request to Copy from existing site, all course content is imported automatically, unless you check the box not to import Announcements or specify Additional Instructions. If you prefer to import your own content for greater customization, leave the Copy from existing site field blank and follow the directions on this page.

Files, assignments, quizzes, modules, and other materials can be copied from one Canvas site to another using the Course Import Tool. Canvas also has the functionality to export course content.

Please note that videos stored in Class Recordings, or Panopto, cannot be copied through this method. See Panopto for Instructors for information about copying videos.

Course Import Tool

  1. Navigate to your Canvas course and locate the Import Course Content button on the right side of the course home page.
  2. Select Content Type. In most cases, you will select Copy a Canvas Course and choose a course from the list.
  3. Select to import all content or to select specific content.
  4. Choose to adjust events and due dates.
  5. Click the Import button to proceed.
  6. If you have selected all content, the job will begin processing. If you opted to select specific content, click Select Content to make those selections.

When selecting specific content, keep dependencies in mind. For example, if you have Files that are linked within Pages or Modules, you will need to copy the Files section of the course along with the Page or Module that students will see.

When your import is complete, Canvas will report any missing links or content discovered during the import so you can investigate or replace missing items. For help creating links to canvas content:

Canvas has a Link Validator tool that will scan your entire course for broken links. Click Settings > Validate links in content > Start link validation.

Recommendations for Importing

General

  • Import content from a Canvas site into another Canvas site only once. Importing the same content multiple times can cause previously-imported assignments or quizzes to be overwritten.
  • To copy items within the same course, use the Duplicate function to create unpublished copies of assignments, pages, or discussions.
  • Some materials (like Course Materials @ Penn Libraries and external tools) must be set up each semester.
  • Imported items retain due dates (unless you remove them), availability dates, and published/unpublished status.

Files

  • Review files individually to be sure sensitive items, such as problem solutions or exam answers, do not become available prematurely.
  • You can selectively copy files as needed or copy everything at once.
  • Unpublish or restrict files that should not be visible to students immediately.

Assignments & calendar events

  • To reuse assignments and calendar events, select a target range of dates for the new term by checking Adjust events and due dates. You can also define day substitutions (i.e., move Tuesday items to Wednesday).
  • While Canvas does its best to extrapolate new dates, you should review dated items carefully. If the importer gets something wrong, the drag-and-drop functionality of the Calendar makes it easy to move assignments and events from one day to another.
  • To confirm dated items, you may find it helpful to check your site’s Syllabus to identify undated items and confirm the order of events.

Quizzes

  • Use caution when copying quizzes. Imported quizzes will be published and available in your new course by default. You can unpublish or make them unavailable to students until a specific date.
  • Quiz configuration settings will also be imported. You should review settings that allow or restrict students from seeing their quiz responses and the correct answers.

Group sets

A default Project Groups group set will also be imported when a group assignment is imported. However, the group set will be empty, and you will need to create new groups for your current students.

Course Content Exports

To save backup copies of your courses, follow the directions to export a Canvas course. Under the Settings tab, click the Export Course Content button. You’ll be prompted to export all content or just quiz content.

The export file type will be IMSCC ZIP. You can change it to .zip if you prefer.

You can then use this file to import the content into a different Canvas site or to another learning management system (LMS).

Additional Resources

Getting Help

Please contact your Local Support Provider or submit a request to canvas@pobox.upenn.edu.