Instructors teaching multiple course sections will be asked if they would like to combine them. If an instructor wishes to use a single Canvas course for all of those sections, they should select the "Combine" button.
How to Combine Course Sections in Coursetools
There are several considerations to make when combining course sites in Coursetools. Please review the following scenarios to find the appropriate steps you can take to combine your sections:
- Navigate to Coursetools.brown.edu and use the dropdown menu to find your course using the active term or primary instructor.
- Select your course to open the course listing.
- If applicable, you will see an alert that indicates that there are several sections listed for your course and you will see the prompts combine or do not combine.
- If you would like your sections merged, then select combine. This will create one primary Canvas site with all sections rather than individual Canvas sites for each separate section.
To comply with FERPA regulations, we ask that you communicate in writing to students that you have combined the two course sites. I have included some language below for you to use in your syllabus or announcements if you wish.
“This course will share its Canvas site and other online materials with [course code]. Students in both courses will be able to see the roster of the other course. [Add additional activities that they might do together] If you have concerns about this, please e-mail me as soon as possible to discuss your options.”
- Navigate to Coursetools.brown.edu and use the dropdown menu to find your course using the active term or primary instructor.
- Select your course to open the course listing.
- Once you have opened your course listing, you will see that you have already combined several sections. (In the example below, you will see that FREN0060 S01 & S02 have been combined into one course.)
- You will then see a prompt in bold that says "Available Sections to merge into FREN 0006 S01."
- Review the list of available sections to merge.
- If you would like to merge these sections into the existing combined site (S01 & S02), click on the red button that says Merge Sections
- You will now see an additional warning detailing the technical considerations of merging an additional course site into a previously combined section.
Please note the following:
- If there are existing Canvas sites, the site for the primary section will be retained and rosters of the secondary sections will be merged into the primary’s Canvas site.
- All secondary section Canvas sites (and course content contained within) will be deleted
- This action may result in the loss of course data.
- CourseTools Course Merges do not impact Banner. Each section will still retain different rosters in Banner and need to be graded separately.
- If you would like to proceed with the merge, please select the red Merge Sections button.
- You will then see an additional pop-up warning that says "Are you absolutely sure you wish to perform this merge?"
- Click OK to confirm.
If a class has multiple sections with different primary instructors, and the instructors wish to only use a single Canvas course for all of those sections, please follow these steps:
- Each instructor must navigate to Coursetools.brown.edu and use the dropdown menu to find their course listing using the active term or primary instructor.
- On the course listing page, scroll down to the box that says Canvas.
- Select the Request button inside the Canvas box. The system will take a moment to process, then it will say "Requested."
The system will take a moment to process, then it will say "Requested."
- Once each instructor successfully generates a Canvas site for their section, please email [email protected] with the following request:
Subject: Course site merge (multiple instructors)
Please merge the following sections into one site
Parent site: example url
Child sites: example url
Please Cc the instructors of each section on that email to expedite the process
- You will receive an automated response indicating that the DLD has received you inquiry as well as follow up email confirmation from a Learning Technologist
This confirmation will include a link to the merged Canvas site for all sections
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with [email protected].
If you see the following error, please contact [email protected] for assistance:
If you are teaching one course with multiple sections, but you only want some of those sections merged, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Need Additional Help?
For help with Canvas, please contact [email protected]
To discuss strategies for implementing Canvas and DLD approved integrated learning tools into your course, please contact [email protected]