Technology

Copying Content from Another Canvas Course

Last modified 10/23/2023


You can copy course content such as assignments, modules, pages, and discussions from previous Canvas courses into existing courses. You can also bulk migrate quizzes. You will only be able to copy content from a course which you are listed as an instructor. The instructions below explain how to copy your course content: 

  1. Open the course you want to add content to
  2. Select Settings from the Course Navigation Menu
  3. Select the Import Course Content link from the right-hand side. 
  4. In the Content Type drop-down menu, select Copy a Canvas Course
  5. In the Search for a course drop-down menu, select the course you would like to copy from
    1. You can also type in your course name in the Course name box to search for a course
    2. Select the Include completed courses checkbox to include completed courses in your search
  6. Select course content
    1. Select All Content to import all content from a course
    2. Select Select specific content; if you want to select specific content
    3. Checkmark the Adjust event and due dates box to adjust or remove the due dates to specific assignments and course events
  7. Select the Import button
  8. You should see the current jobs section below, which will show you the progress of the import. 
    1. If you selected Select specific content, the progress will show as Waiting for select, which means you need to select the content you want to import. 

Important

Importing the same course content more than once will overwrite any existing content in the course. 

  • Copying your Home Page

If you choose to copy All Content from your course, you will copy your Home Page, but it will not override the template homepage of the course you copied it to; the Home Page is in the Pages area of your copied course. Follow the instructions below to move your copied Home Page to the Home Page section of the course: 

  1. Select Pages from the Course Navigation Menu
  2. Select View All Pages to view a list of all course pages
  3. Locate the your Copied Courses Home Page
  4. Select the three more dots options icon to the right
  5. Select Use as Front Page
  6. You should now see a gray Front Page tag under your the name of your home page on the list


  1. Alternatively you can select your old front page from the list of pages (Number 2 above) 
  2. Then select the three more dots options icon next to the Edit button
  3. And select Use as Front Page from this area. 

  • Copying Some Content

The Copy To function explained at the beginning of this article is also a good tool to use if you want to copy a few select items into another course. It does not have to be used to copy everything. 

  1. Select the Assignments, Quizzes, Modules, Pages, etc. from the course navigation menu
  2. Select the three more dots next to the item you want to Copy To another course
  3. Select Copy To
  4. Type the name of the course or select the Course from the drop down menu that you want to Copy To
  5. You can choose to select a module to copy the item to if you want 
    1. Then choose the place you want that copied item to go to within that module. 
  6. Select the Copy button once you've selected all the options you want to
  7. The item will now be copied to the other course


How to Get Help


For technical assistance, Submit a Help Ticket or contact the Technology Support Center at (309) 438-4357, by email at SupportCenter@IllinoisState.edu, or by Live Chat at Help.IllinoisState.edu.

For instructional assistance, you may contact the Center for Integrated Professional Development by phone (309) 438-2542, or email at ProDev@ilstu.edu.


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