bCourses is UC Berkeley's implementation of the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). This article for instructors provides a checklist to create and manage your bCourses site including adding course content, creating pages and modules, and publishing your site. For more detailed information about specific features, please see the Canvas Instructor Guide.
Global Navigation
The Global Navigation Menu is located on the left side of every page in Canvas. Global Navigation links provide quick access to frequently used Canvas features. Canvas Guide: How do I use the Global Navigation Menu as an instructor?
Create Your Course Site
Create your course site by following the step-by-step instructions in How do I create a course site?
- After you've created your course site, the Official Sections tool lets you add or delete section rosters from your course site. Help article: How do I add or delete a section roster from my course site?
- In most cases we recommend one site for all sections, though you can create separate sites for each section if needed. Help article: What options are available for setting up my multiple-section course on bCourses?
- DeCal Undergraduate Students: Please have your faculty sponsor create the site and add you with in the "Teacher" role. Help article: How do I get a course site for my DeCal course?
Add Course Content
- If you've used bCourses before, you can copy entire courses, or specific content such as assignments, modules, pages, and discussions from previous bCourses sites into existing courses. You only have access to copy content from courses in which you are enrolled as an instructor or GSI. Canvas Guide: How do I copy content from another Canvas course using the Course Import tool?
- Note: Content from a Media Gallery needs to be imported separately; see How can I import Kaltura Media Gallery content from another course site?.
- Note: If you are importing content from an older bCourses site, the import might include outdated tools that no longer work in the course navigation (ex. "Course Capture"). See How do I manage Course Navigation links in my bCourses site? to remove links to outdated tools.
- If you've taught at a different institution that uses Canvas and have exported your course as a common cartridge file, you can import it to bCourses following this guide: How do I import content from Common Cartridge into Canvas.
Edit Syllabus
Editing the Syllabus allows you to add text and link files, images, and other course content in your Syllabus Description. Canvas Guide: How do I edit the Syllabus description in a course?
Upload Files
As an instructor, Files allows you to store files and assignments within bCourses. You can upload one or multiple files, view all details about your files, preview files, publish and unpublish files, set usage rights, and restrict access to files. Canvas Guide: How do I use Files as an instructor?
Link to Library Resources
The Library recommends linking to public domain, library-licensed, or open-access online content rather than uploading copyrighted materials to your course site when possible. Add Course Readings to bCourses: Add Linking to Library Resources
Create Pages
As an instructor, you can create a new page to add to your course. Canvas Guide: How do I create a new page in a course?
Add Modules
Modules are used to organize course content by weeks, units, or whatever organizational structure works for your course. With modules, you are essentially creating a one-directional linear flow of what you would like your students to do. Canvas Guide: How do I add a module?
Course Home Page
The Course Home Page is the first page students see when they open the course. The Home Page also helps students understand how they can navigate through the course. As the instructor, you can customize where students land. Canvas Guide: How do I use the Course Home Page as an instructor?
Student View
You can view a course the same way that your students view your course through Student View. Enabling Student View creates a Test Student in your course. Canvas Guide: How do I view a course as a test student using Student View?
Set a Default Grade Posting Policy
By default, all assignments have an "automatic" grade posting policy. This means that as soon as you enter a grade, it will be visible to the student. If you prefer to finish your grading, and then release all student grades simultaneously, you can do this by applying a "manual" grade posting policy. Grade posting policies can be applied to each individual assignment, or, can be applied to the entire course. If you set a manual policy at the course level, it will not change any previously-created assignments, but will be applied to any new assignments created after that point.
- How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the Gradebook?
- How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the Gradebook?
Publish your site
You must publish a course before students can access it and its contents. Students cannot see unpublished courses and content. Canvas Guide: How do I publish a course?
Post Announcements
You can create an announcement to share important information with all users within your course and with users in sections of a course. Canvas Guide: How do I add an announcement in a course?
Note: Your course must be published for students to receive announcement notifications.
Optional Steps
Download the Canvas Teacher mobile app
The Canvas Teacher app allows teachers to manage certain aspects of their course, communicate with students, and grade assignments from a mobile device. Download the Canvas Teacher app on Android and iOS devices.
Customize the Course Navigation menu
The Course Navigation Menu is a series of links on the left side of your course that help you and your students access different course areas. Canvas Guide: How do I use the Course Navigation Menu as an instructor?
Invite Guests
Enrolled students and GSIs are automatically added to your site via Official Sections. If would like to add unofficial GSIs, class auditors, or other people into your course, they must have a valid CalNet ID.
- For guests who do not yet have a CalNet ID, see this help article: How can I add an auditor to my course?
- For those who already have valid CalNet ID, see this help article: How do I add people to my site?