The Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, & Innovation (CETLI) has created an optional template for use in any Canvas course site. This template is intended as a starting point that may be modified by the instructor to meet the needs of varied disciplines and instructional settings. Using a template can expedite the course design and setup process, allowing you to focus on enhancing the learning content. 

Your Local Support Provider may recommend a department- or program-specific template. We highly encourage you to contact them before selecting a template.

Template Preview

CETLI template course card

You may preview a live version of the template from the student perspective by clicking the course card to the left. If you elect to add the full template to your course, you will be able to see the instructor view and it will become fully editable.

Some instructor-facing resources included within the template will not be visible in student preview mode.

Get the Template

If you wish to add this or another template to your Canvas course site, we recommend applying it before adding any other course content. This helps to ensure that no materials will be overwritten or settings changed when the template is installed.

There are multiple options for adding the full, editable template to your Canvas course site.

Request installation

Request to have the template added to your course via either option below, and a member of our team will install the template for you.

  1. Course Request Form: To have the template added at the time your Canvas site is created, complete the Course Request Form. In the Additional Instructions field, enter CETLI Template for Instructors as the title of the template you would like to add. If your course has already been created or your school does not use the Course Request Form, please use one of the other options below.
  2. Email request: Submit a request to canvas@pobox.upenn.edu including the following information:
    • Name and ID of the course to which the template should be applied (e.g., PSYC 1010-005 202430).
    • Name of template: CETLI Template for Instructors

DIY installation

As an instructor, you have the capability to add some or all of the template content to your own Canvas course sites. Follow the directions below to install the template.

  1. Download the template file (.imscc) from PennBox to your computer. PennKey login required.
  2. Open the Canvas course where you wish to install the template. This works best in an empty course. You can reset course content in a Sandbox course or request a blank course shell from canvas@pobox.upenn.edu.
  3. On the right side of the course home page, select Import Existing Content.
  4. From the Content Type drop-down menu, select Canvas Course Export Package.
  5. Use the Choose File button to select the .imscc file you downloaded in Step 1.
    • To import the entire template, select All content > Import.
    • To import only certain parts of the template, click Select specific content > Import. A Waiting for Selection status will appear. Click Select Content, then check off the item(s) you wish to import and click Select Content again.
  6. The Current Jobs section displays your import status and a progress bar. When the import is complete, click Home to view the updated course including template content.

Customize

Once the template has been applied to your Canvas site, it is fully editable and you should customize the content to meet your needs. Review the template home page for instructions on using the template, and find additional support materials in the Instructor Resources module.

The template only provides a starting point for your course development. You should add and edit the content and delete boilerplate language and unused items.

Before publishing your course, use the View as Student button in the top right corner of the screen to confirm the visibility of content items and links.

Getting Help

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