Differentiation Tags are a Canvas feature that enables instructors to organize students into custom groups within their courses. These student groupings are only visible to instructors and Graduate TAs and can be used to support personalized learning and course management.
Only users enrolled in a course as a teacher or TA role can create, edit, or delete Differentiation Tags. (UTAs cannot leverage this feature.)
How to Access, Create, Assign, and Remove Differentiation Tags
- Navigate to your Canvas course
- Select People from the left course navigation menu
- Click the Manage Tags button
Standalone tags are ideal for quick, one-off grouping needs.
- Click the blue Get Started button (first time) or + Tag button (subsequent times)
- Enter the name for your tag in the text field
- Click the blue Save button
Example Tags:
- "Needs Extra Time"
- "Make-Up for Quiz 4"
- "Remote Student"
- "Transfer Cohort"
Alternatively, Tag sets are best for structured, multi-level differentiation with related categories.
- Click the blue Get Started button (first time) or + Tag button (subsequent times)
- Enter names for individual tag variants in the provided fields
- Use the + Add another tag button to create additional tags within the set
- Use the trash can icon next to any tag name to remove unwanted tags
- Enter a name for the entire tag set in the designated field
- Click the blue Save button
Example Tag Sets:
- Reading Level: Needs Support, Standard, Advanced
- Clinical Group: AM, PM, Online
Students can have multiple tags but only one tag per tag set
- From the People page, check the box next to the student's name(s) you want to tag
- Click the blue Tag As button
- Select the appropriate tag from the dropdown menu
- Tag set names appear in bold as headers
- Individual tags are listed under their respective sets
- Repeat this process for additional students or to assign multiple tags to the same student
Once assigned, a tag icon will appear next to tagged students' names on the People page. Click the tag icon to view all tags associated with that specific student.
- Locate the student on the People page
- Click the tag icon next to their name
- Click the X next to the tag you want to remove
Editing Tags
- Navigate to People > Manage Tags
- Click the pencil icon next to the tag or tag set you want to modify
- Make your changes
- Save your updates
Deleting Tags
- Navigate to People > Manage Tags
- Click the trash can icon next to the tag or tag set you want to remove
- Confirm the deletion
Deleting a tag will remove it from all students who currently have that tag assigned.
How to Use Tags for Course Content
Once created, Differentiation Tags can be used to:
- Assign content: Select tags in the "Assign To" field for assignments, quizzes, discussions, and modules
- Filter gradebook: Use tags as filters to view specific student groups in the Gradebook
- Set different due dates: Assign unique due dates for different tagged groups
Important Notes
- Tags are completely invisible to students
- Tags do not copy between Canvas courses or export with course packages
- Tags are reusable across all supported course components
- When a student belongs to multiple tags with different due dates, the latest due date takes priority
- Individual student overrides take precedence over tag-based due dates
Resources
For more information on differentation tags, please visit our article:
Additional Differentiation resources can be found below:
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]