Time management tools

Last revised January 26th 2022

In Canvas you can control different functions by when and how they get published. These are:

  • Lock modules
  • Lock folders and files for a specified period of time
  • Posting date for announcements
  • Assignment availability and due dates
  • Posting assessments

Lock modules

You can set a module to be locked for students until a given date. You do this in the menu for each module. Please see the guide on: Lock modules to a specified date and time.

 

Lock folders and files to a specific time period 

You can control when a folder or file will be visible and accessible. Go to Files and select the specific folder or file. If you want to lock a folder, you need to be in the hierarchy above so the folder appears in the content list.

The example below lists the content in the folder "Introduction Canvas (screen shots)". 

Files in Canvas

 

Click the Publish icon (1). This is a menu for folders and files, unlike other areas in Canvas where there is an on and off-button for publishing. The menu looks as follows:

Publishing details for folders in Canvas

 

Publishing details for files in Canvas
  

For example, if you would like to restrict a folder so that the content will only be accessible to teachers, you select the Unpublish (2) icon. 

The Only available to students with link (3) option makes the file available to students who are given a link to the file, and is a good option when you want to restrict access to a file only within the area in Canvas where it is used. For example, if you link to a pdf file in an assignment that will only be available for a certain period of time, then the pdf file should not be available outside the assignment.

Schedule student availability (4) gives students a window of time to view the file. It offers a starting date and time (Available From) and an end date (Available Until).

Click the Update button.

Note that in most cases the publication of files takes place in the desired way automatically. A recommendation is to hide the File menu for students via Adjust the menu option. Instead publish files in for example Modules.

Posting date for announcements

Announcements in Canvas are used to communicate (a message function) with your students about course-related topics. It can be found under Announcements in the course menu. For basic instructions, see: Get the information out - Announcement

Find instructions for how you schedule a future posting date for an announcement below. First, click the Add Announcement button. Then, click the Delay posting (1) checkbox, and set the date and time (2) for posting the announcement. 

Delay announcement 

Assignment availability and due dates 

You can control when an assignment is available. Read more about the basics on the Assignment page, Submission to teacher - Create assignments.

Select participant

Due date in Assignment

When you edit an assignment, you can assign the assignment to everyone (1) or to specific participant(s) (2), create a Due date (3) for the assignment as well as set Available date (4) for when the assignment is available to students (Available From, Until). Note that with the Available date set, the students can post the assignment within the time span. If a student clicks on the assignment prior to the Available date, they will see a message indicating that the activity is currently locked and will open on the Available Date.

Due date adjustments

Note: If you have set a Due date AND the assignment still is Avaliable, the students can submit but the submission will be marked as Late submission.

It is possible to create multiple conditions by clicking +Add. For example, if a student is granted a late submission. 

 

Posting assessments

You can control when assessments of students' work will be posted. For more information, see the page: Hide grades with manual posting.