Customize Your Course Sandbox

Welcome! This template has been provided in your sandbox to assist with preparing your course. Please follow the instructions below to customize your course. You may also reach out for assistance from an Instructional Designer.

Step 1 - Customize Modules

1. Go to the Modules tab in the course menu. Tip: You can right click Modules and open in a new tab or window to avoid leaving this page completely.
2. On the Modules page, you will see a Faculty Resources module (do not publish), a UAB Policies and Resources module, a Start Here module, and 1 content or weekly modules.
3. Review each page in the Start Here module. Click Edit and use the Rich Content Editor opens a new website to update content on the pages as needed.
   Note: You will not be able to edit the Tips for Online Success, Netiquette, Time Management, and Online-Learning Readiness Assessment activities. If these do not apply to your course, you can removethem.
4. There is one content module named Module 1.
   • Each page, assignment, discussion, and quiz within Module 1 contains sample criteria highlighted in yellow relevant to the Canvas assignment or content type. These serve as examples and can be edited or deleted as needed.
   • In Module 1, there are multiple pages that reference the schedule of the course (Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, etc.). Remove the pages that are not relevant for this course.
   • Duplicate Module 1 opens a new website to create the number of modules needed for the course.
   • Update the pages in each module.
5. Change the names of the modules opens a new website if desired.
6. Add assignments, discussions, and/or quizzes opens a new website to the associated module and include the due date for each assignment opens a new website, discussion opens a new website, and/or quiz opens a new website. You can also edit dates in bulk opens a new website.  Visit the Canvas guides to learn how to create and edit a Classic Quizzes or create and edit a New Quiz.
7. Publish modules and items within modules opens a new website when they should be visible to students and lock them until the desired.

Step 2 - Customize the Syllabus

Option 1: Simple Syllabus Tool (Preferred)

1. In the course menu, click on Settings. Select Navigation.
2. Move either Simple Syllabus or Simple Syllabi to the top list. Use Simple Syllabi when you have a cross-listed (merged) Canvas course that needs to show syllabi based on section enrollment. Otherwise use Simple Syllabus. Move Syllabus to the bottom list. Save.
3. After you import your Sandbox content into your academic course, go to Simple Syllabus in the menu. You will not be able to edit it in the sandbox.
4. Edit your syllabus. View the UAB Simple Syllabus webpage for guides.

Option 2: Canvas Syllabus Tool with Word Document

1. Download the UAB Syllabus Template.
   • Go to your Downloads folder on your computer to find the document.
   • After opening the document, you may have to click on Enable Editing at the top of the document.
   • Update the syllabus document and save it to your computer.
2. On the Syllabus tab in your course in Canvas, select Edit.
3. Highlight the text "View full version of the syllabus" and hyperlink your syllabus document.
4. Update the content in the textbox. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3 - Customize the Template Homepage

1. Go to the Pages tab in the course menu.
2. Click View All Pages on the top left.
3. Locate and click Template Homepage or OLT Home from the list.
4. If using Simple Syllabus, edit the Syllabus button on the homepage. 
   • Select edit on the top right corner of the homepage. 
   • Click on the Syllabus button and select Link Options.
   • In the pop-out on the right, you will see the link. Click in that box with the link and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the cursor to be before the word Assignments.
   • Delete “assignments/syllabus” and add “external_tools/139159” in that field. Done. The text of external_tools/139159 is what you will use for any course. That number is specific to Simple Syllabus and not specific to a course.
   • After making all edits, click Save at the bottom.
5.  If this is not already set as your homepage, click on the three dots on the far right and click Use as Front page to set this as your course homepage. 

Step 4 - Import Sandbox Course into Another Course

1. When you are ready to copy the content from this sandbox to another course, go to the destination course.
2. Follow the Course Import Tool Guide opens a new website.