Store Files (ESSENTIAL)
Files is the Canvas tool you can use to upload Powerpoint files, course files, syllabi, readings, or other documents. As an instructor, you can lock the folders so students cannot access your files. Files can be placed in Modules, Assignments, or Pages. Canvas users will find access to files (documents, images, media, etc.) in three different places:
- Personal files, located in each user's profile.
- Course files, located in each course.
- Group files, located in each group (students and teachers who are enrolled in groups).
| Important: Teachers are responsible for all copyright aspects of the materials they offer/distribute in their courses. The best way to avoid any copyright infringements is to make articles available through links. On the page Dealing with Copyright in Education of the site of the University Library VU you can find information about how to deal with copyright for online articles. |
Video
Watch this video to learn more about Files in Canvas:
Learn more about Files in Canvas in the following guides:
- What are Files for instructors? Links to an external site.
- How do I view my user files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I view course files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I view group files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I use Files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I move and organize my files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I create a folder in Files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I upload a file to a course? Links to an external site.
- How do I preview a file as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I upload ZIP files as an instructor? Links to an external site.
- How do I bulk upload files to a course? Links to an external site.
Import tool
If you want to upload a lot of files at once it can be useful to use the Course Import Tool. With the Course Import Tool you can upload content (files, quizzes, assignments, etc). Watch the short video below, or follow this roadmap:
Importing in Canvas
- Go to your Canvas course
- Go to settings --> import course content into this course
- Select at content type 'Unzip .zip-file to a folder'
- Select the .zip file you want to upload
- Choose where you want to place the content
- Click <import>
- You can find the the content in your 'files'
As mentioned earlier in this course, it is very important to structure your course properly. Placing content in modules is a way to make your course more structured. You can place links to files in your modules, through a page or an assignment. It is not recommended to leave your files unstructured in the files section.
Note: by default all course files are visible for students. So, be aware about what you upload in course files. There are two ways to make the course files invisible.
- Hide the 'Files' link in the Course Navigation menu:
- Unpublish or restrict files in the files menu (but be aware that you have to publish a file to make it visible for students, even if you placed a link to a file in a module):
Be aware that even if you restrict access to these files, there are ways to obtain their content. This means that you should not upload files containing sensitive data to your course.
For example, suppose you have a file with exam questions or information about patients or any other sensitive information that should not be shared with your students. Do NOT upload these files; Canvas is not the right place to store these files.
Video
Watch this video to learn more about the Course Import Tool:
Of course it is possible to import all kinds of other content such as quizzes and SCORM files. To learn more about these topics take a look at the following guides:
- How do I import SCORM files as an assignment? Links to an external site.
- How do I import quizzes from QTI packages Links to an external site.