Streamlining Student Navigation

Let’s look at streamlining how students access your course.

Course Navigation

First, we will adjust the course navigation to focus students’ attention to the areas of greatest importance. To do this:

  1. Log into your Canvas course.
  2. In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.
  3. Select the Navigation tab at the top of the screen.
  4. You will see two lists. The top list contains course navigation menu items that are visible to your students. The bottom list contains course navigation items that are hidden from your students.
    • Hidden course navigation items will have a crossed-out eye icon next to them within your course.
Hidden course navigation items have a crossed-out eye icon next to them. Students cannot see these items in their course navigation menu.
  1. Click and drag a course navigation item from either the top or bottom list, and move it to the other list…depending on your desired preferences.
    • Alternatively, click on the Edit Course Navigation icon (three-dot kebab icon) next to any item in either list, and select one of the following options: Enable, Disable, Move.
  2. Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

Using fewer navigation options is recommended. For example, you can keep Assignments, Pages, Discussions, Quizzes, and Files hidden, since students will access these items through Modules.

How do I manage Course Navigation links?

Modules: Where Students Access Your Course Content

Modules are ‘containers’ for your content that you use to guide students through your Canvas course. Modules are most commonly organized by week or major project. You can add files, links, Canvas pages, Assignments and other items to your Modules. To provide more context, we recommend adding files and links within Canvas pages.

The Modules course navigation link is found on the left side of your screen. If it is not present, follow the instructions above to reorder navigation links.

Referencing the screenshot below.

  1. Add a Module by clicking the + Module button.
  2. Make the module available to students by publishing the Module.
  3. Add an Item by clicking the Add Item icon within a Module.
  4. Make the items within the Module available to students by publishing them.
  5. Use the 👓 View as Student button to view the page as a student.
This screenshot from the Canvas "Modules" index page shows the steps on how to create a module, publish the module, add content to the module, publish the content, and view the "Modules" index page as a student.

Additional Resources