Canvas @ Brown

Ensuring Pedagogical Continuity: Preparing for the Unexpected

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Maintaining the momentum of your course is essential to student success, even when the unexpected occurs. While we strive for seamless digital experiences, external factors like regional power outages or system downtimes can occasionally disrupt the flow of a semester. By taking a few proactive, low-effort steps now, you can ensure that your communication channels remain open and your instructional materials stay accessible, allowing you to focus on teaching rather than troubleshooting when it matters most. The following technical workflows will walk you through how to export essential data and set up redundant resources to keep your classroom resilient.

Faculty

Expand or collapse content How to Archive Course Content

Canvas course content (which does not include Media Library content or content from other 3rd party tools) can be exported as a Canvas Course export package which is a single file (IMSCC ZIP file) that can be stored on your local computer or personal storage device. 

The resulting file can be opened by programs that support Common Cartridge files or they can be imported into another Canvas site (preferably new/empty) at any time.  Export packages can be imported into as many Canvas course sites as needed as long as you retain the original export package file. 

How to Archive Course Content

How to Download Canvas Course content

Download your course so that you can use it in Canvas or any other modern Learning Management System. This will maintain the course structure and tools. 

  1. Download as a Common Cartridge for use within a modern Learning Management System

  2. Download a zip file of all files OR select files from the Files area

Expand or collapse content Download a Common Cartridge

Since this is an older course, it will most likely be active under Past Enrollments in Canvas here: https://canvas.brown.edu/courses

  1. Now select your course.

  2. In the course navigation select Settings, (which is at the very bottom of the course navigation)

  3. After the page refreshes, look to the far right of the page and select the Export Course Content button

4. You will then see the Export Type option, which defaults to Course

5. Press the "Create Export" button

6. You will see a progress bar and a note "The export process has started."

7. When the export has finished, you will be shown a link to download the file

The file is in a format called a Common Cartridge, with a file extension of .imscc. It cannot be viewed outside of a learning management system (LMS)

Most modern learning management systems (LMS) will know how to use this file, but please note that going from one LMS to another will also have some changes.

  • If there were any specific tools that are/were Brown University created/licensed, then those will most likely not work in another LMS. Examples of these may be Panopto, Media Library, OCRA and others

Expand or collapse content Download Your Course Content as Documents: PDF, DOC, etc.

  1. Download a zip file of all files OR select files from the Files area

  2. Since this is an older course, it will most likely be active under Past Enrollments in Canvas here: https://canvas.brown.edu/courses

  3. Now select your course.

  4. In the course navigation select Files

In this example, GRMN0300 is the main course folder with "unfiled" as a subfolder

Now you have a few options:

  • You can select an individual file

  • You can select multiple files

  • You can select all files ( by clicking on the main course folder and then hit Ctrl-A or ⌘-A)

  • You can select the main folder (GRMN0300 in this example)

  • You can select a subfolder (unfiled in this example)

  • When you do make a selection, you'll see a small toolbar appear above the files:

    • (from left to right, the icons mean) View, Manage Access, Download, Move, Delete

Expand or collapse content How to Download Student Assignment Submissions
  1. Open Assignments via Course Navigation column
  2. Click the name of the assignment you would like to view
  3. Click the download submissions link
  4. Canvas will generate the assignment submissions together and download them to your computer as a .zip file. You can view the status of the download in the progress bar and also by download percentage
  5. When the file is finished processing, download the file by clicking the Click here to download link. Canvas will also include the size of the download file as part of the link for your reference. (To close the download window, close the icon)
  6. Once the file has been downloaded, locate the ZIP file on your computer. To open the file, either double click to open it (Mac users) or right-click the file and select Extract All (PC users).
  7. When the file expands, click the submissions folder to view the assignment submissions.

How to Download Student Assignment Submissions

Expand or collapse content How to Export the Gradebook
  1. Open Grades via the Course Navigation column
  2. Click the Export button, then click the Export Current Gradebook View link.
  3. If you are using grading periods and want all grading periods included in your CSV file, click the Export Entire Gradebook link.
  4. When the export is completed, Canvas downloads the CSV file automatically to your computer.

How to Export the Gradebook

Expand or collapse content How to Change Due Dates

Single Due Date

  1. Open Assignments via the Course Navigation column
  2. Click the title of the assignment you want to change
  3. Click the Edit button in the top-right corner
  4. Scroll down to the Assign area.
  5. In the Due Date field, click the calendar icon to select a new date and time.

Optional: Update the Available from and Until dates to control when students can access or submit the assignment.

  1. Click Save

Bulk Due Dates

  1. Open Assignments via the Course Navigation column
  2. Click the three vertical dots (Options icon) next to the "+ Assignment" button.
  3. Select Edit Assignment Dates.
  4. Update the due dates for assignments in the list.
  5. Click Save
Expand or collapse content How to Add Quiz Accommodations (Extra Time)

Classic Quizzes

  1. Open Quizzes via the Course Navigation column
  2. Click the title of the quiz you want to add accommodations to
  3. Click on Moderate This Quiz on the top right.
  4. To access a specific student, use the Search People field.
  5. Click on the pencil icon.
  • You can see the settings for all students, and add attempts for the individual student. If your exam has a time limit, you will see the original time limit and you will be able to add additional minutes to the individual student
  1. Click Save

New Quizzes

  1. Open Quizzes via the Course Navigation column
  2. Click the title of the quiz you want to add accommodations to
  3. Click on Moderate This Quiz on the top right
  4. To access a specific student, use the Search People field
  5. Click on the pencil icon next to the students' name under the Accommodations field
    • By clicking within the Accommodations field, these settings will be applied to all course assessments for the student.  If you wish for accommodations for a single assessment, select Moderate on the far right.
  6. Select the accommodations you wish to apply to the student.
  7. Click Save

How to Add Quiz Accommodations (Extra Time)

Expand or collapse content Request a Google Class Group
  1. Visit http://coursetools.brown.edu
  2. Authenticate using your Brown credentials
  3. Use the "Select Term" dropdown menu to select the term your course is affiliated with.
  4. A new page will load based on the options you selected. Find and select the course where you would like to request a Google Course Group.
  5. Scroll through the Tools section of your course listing, then stop when you locate the Google Groups option.
  6. Click the red Request Google Groups button

After successfully requesting a Google Group you will see a checkmark and message below the Google Groups tool tab as well as the message "Google Groups has been requested."

Request a Google Class Group

Student

Expand or collapse content How to Download All Your Canvas Work
  1. Open Canvas and select, Account on the far left, then click Settings.
  2. To start an export, click Download Submissions in the right-hand sidebar, then hit the Create Export button.
  3. Once the progress bar finishes, click the New Export link to download your files. This might take a few minutes. 
  4. Find the file in your downloads. To unzip the files, double-click (Mac) or right-click > Extract All (Windows) to see your folders.

Note:

  • This file includes everything submitted in Canvas Assignments for both current and finished classes.
  • Does not include Instructor feedback. It only saves the files you sent, not the comments or drawings your teacher added.
  • Does not include submissions to Canvas Discussions, Canvas Quizzes or to 3rd party tools (e.g. Gradescope, Harmonize, Top Hat, etc..)
  • There is a 30-Day Limit to the download link which expires after a month, so save it to your computer or drive right away. If it expires, you will need to start the process over. 

How to Download Your Canvas Work

Canvas Alternatives

Expand or collapse content How to Create a Google Classroom
  1. Go to classroom.google.com.
  2. At the top of the Classes page, click Add + Create class.

Note: If you don’t find Create class, your account only lets you join classes. Switch accounts or contact your Google Workspace administrator for help.

  1. Enter the class name. (The class name can't contain a URL)

Optional:

  1. To enter a short description or class time, click Section and enter the details.
  2. To add a subject, click Subject and enter a name or click one from the list that appears when you enter text.
  3. To enter the location for the class, click Room and enter the details.
  4. To enter the class level, click Level(s) and enter the details.
  1. Click Create.

How to Create a Google Classroom

Expand or collapse content How to Share a Google Classroom With a Google Course Group
  1. Go to Google Classroom and click on your course.
  2. At the top of the page, click the “People” tab [1].
  3. Under the Students heading, click the Invite Students button [2].
  1. In the pop-up, enter in the email address for your Google Group and then click “Invite”.  (If you are unsure what that email address is, go to the My Groups page and find your course group. The email address should be displayed just under the group name.)
  2. You students will receive an email inviting them to join your Google Classroom.
Expand or collapse content How to Create a Google Classroom Assignment
Expand or collapse content Create an Assignment
  1. Go to classroom.google.com
  2. Click the class > Classwork.
  3. At the top, click Create > Assignment.
  4. Enter the title and any instructions.

You can continue to edit and customize your assignment. Otherwise, if you’re ready, find below to post, schedule, or save your assignment.

Expand or collapse content Select Additional Classes
  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under For, click the Down arrow  > select the class or classes you want to include.

Assignments to multiple classes go to all students in those classes.

Expand or collapse content Select Individual Students
  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Next to All students, click the Down arrow  > All students again to deselect students.
  3. Click a student's name to select them.

Unless you’re selecting multiple classes, you can select individual students. You can’t select more than 100 students at a time.

Expand or collapse content Add a Grade Category
  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under Grade category, click the Down arrow  > select a category from the menu.

Use grade categories to organize assignments. With grade categories, you and your students can find the category an assignment belongs to, such as Homework or Essays. Teachers also find the categories on the Grades page.

For more information on grade categories, go to Add a grade category to posts or Set up grading.

Expand or collapse content Add a Grading Period

To organize assignments and grades into your school or district’s grading structure, create grading periods, such as quarters or semesters.

  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under "Grading period," click the Down arrow .
  3. From the menu, select a grading period.

Tip: Before adding a grading period to an assignment, create a grading period for the class first. Learn how to create or edit grading periods.

Expand or collapse content Change the Point Value
  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under Points, click the value.
  3. Enter a new point value or select Ungraded.

You can change the point value of an assignment or make the assignment ungraded. By default, assignments are set at 100 points.

Expand or collapse content Add a Due Date or Time

By default, an assignment has no due date. To set a due date:

  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under Due, click the Down arrow.
  3. Next to No due date, click the Down arrow.
  4. Click a date on the calendar.

Optional: To set a due time, click Time > enter a time and specify AM or PM.

Note: Work is marked Missing or Turned in late as soon as the due date and time arrive. For example, for work to be on time at 9:00 AM, set the time due to 9:01 AM. For instructions to check work status, go to Find student assignments.

Expand or collapse content Add a Topic
  1. Create an assignment (details above).
  2. Under Topic, click the Down arrow.
  3. Choose an option:
    • To create a topic, click Create topic and enter a topic name.
    • Click a topic in the list to select it.

You can only add one topic to an assignment.

Learn more about how to add topics to the Classwork page.

Expand or collapse content Add Attachments
Create an assignment
  1. In the assignment, below "Attach," choose:
  • Drive : Attach files with Google Drive to your assignment.

Important: Google Drive files can be edited by co-teachers and are read-only to students. To change these share options, you can stop, limit, or change sharing.

  • YouTube: Add YouTube videos to your assignment.
  • Create : Create new Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings, or forms.
  • Record : You can record an audio, a video, or a screencast to attach to your assignment.
  • Important: This option is available if you are using Google Workspace for Education Plus or the Teaching and Learning Add-on.
  • To start recording, you must allow access to your camera, microphone, or screen.
  • You can record up to 5 minutes of audio, video, or screencast content.

When you attach a practice set to an assignment, you can't edit it.

  • Upload : Upload a file from your computer to your assignment.
  • Link : Attach a link to your assignment.
  • NotebookLM : Attach a notebook to your assignment.
  • Gem : Attach a Gem to your assignment.
  1. If you find a message that you don’t have permission to attach a file, click Copy. 

Classroom makes a copy of the file to attach to the assignment and saves it to the class Drive folder.

  1. Next to the attachment, click the Down arrow  and choose an option for how students interact with the attachment:
    • Students can view file—All students can read the file, but not edit it.
    • Students can edit file—All students share the same file and can make changes to it.
    • Make a copy for each student—Students get their own copy of the Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file with their name added to the document title. You and the student can edit the document. When students turn in the assignment, they can’t edit the document until you return it to them.
      Note: This option is only available before you post an assignment.

(Optional) To delete an attachment, next to the attachment, click Remove.

Expand or collapse content Create & attach a video to a Material
  1. Go to classroom.google.com.
  2. Click a class  Classwork.
  3. At the top, click Create  Material .
  4. In the “Attach” section, click Create  Vids .

Tip: This should create an untitled video that attaches to the assignment.

  1. Click the untitled file.
  2. Add content to the video.
  3. Add a name to the file.
  4. Reload Classroom and check if the video is correct.
  5. Next to the attachment, click the Down arrow  and choose an option for how students can interact with the attachment:
    • Students can view file: All students can read the file, but not edit it.
    • Students can edit file: All students share the same file and can make changes to it.
    • Make a copy of the file for each student: Students get their own copy of the Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Vids file with their name added to the document title. You and each student can edit the document. When students turn in the assignment, they can’t edit the document until you return it to them.

Tip: This option is only available before you post an assignment.

Expand or collapse content How to Download Student Submissions in Google Classroom

You can export and download your data from Classroom. You can download data that hasn't been deleted. You can create an archive to keep for your records or use the data in another service. Learn how to download your data.

Methods for Exporting Classroom Data

  1. Export All Data (Takeout): Visit takeout.google.com, select only "Classroom" to create an archive of class information, rosters, assignment details, and attachments, which are delivered in a downloadable link.
  2. Export Grades (Classwork):
    1. Navigate to your class in Google Classroom.
    2. Click the Classwork tab.
    3. Open any assignment.
    4. Click the Settings gear icon in the top right.
    5. Select "Copy all grades to Google Sheets" or "Download all grades as CSV".
  3. Export Individual Student Work: Go to the Google Drive Classroom folder to find, download, or copy assignment submissions
Expand or collapse content How to Grade Student Submissions
Expand or collapse content Locating the Assignment

Before you can grade, you need to find where the work is "living" within your digital classroom.

  1. Go to classroom.google.com.
  2. Click on the specific Class you want to grade.
  3. At the top, click the Classwork tab.
  4. Click on the specific Assignment title, then click View Assignment at the bottom of the dropdown to see the full student list.
Expand or collapse content Understanding Student Statuses

On the grading screen, students are grouped by their work status. Knowing these categories helps you track who has finished and who might need a reminder.

  • Turned in: The student has submitted the work and it is ready for your review.
  • Assigned: The student has not hit "Submit" yet, or you have already returned the work without a grade.
  • Graded: You have finished the evaluation and sent the work back to the student.
Expand or collapse content Reviewing and Grading Work

The grading tool allows you to view documents and enter scores in one continuous interface.

  1. On the left side of the "Student Work" page, click a student’s name.
  2. Click on the attached file they submitted; this opens the Classroom Grading Tool in a new window.
  3. Review the work: You can read the document, spreadsheet, or slide directly in the browser.
  4. Enter a grade: In the right-hand panel, under the Grading section, type the score in the "Grade" box.
Expand or collapse content Providing Feedback

Google Classroom offers several ways to provide feedback beyond just a numerical score.

  1. Marginal Comments: Highlight specific text in the document and click the Add a Comment icon (the speech bubble) to leave a note on a specific line.
  2. Private Comments: Use the Private comments box in the right-side panel to leave a general note about the entire assignment. These are only visible to the individual student.
  3. The Comment Bank: Click the Comment Bank icon (the second icon down on the far right) to save and reuse common phrases, which can save significant time on repetitive feedback.
Expand or collapse content Finalizing and Returning Assignments

Your private comments and the final score will remain hidden from students until the assignment is officially returned.

  1. In the grading interface, select the blue Return button located in the upper right corner.
  2. Verify the action in the confirmation window; the student will then be notified that their graded work is available.

Students will not see their final grade or your private comments until you officially "return" the assignment to them.

  1. While in the grading tool, click the blue Return button at the top right.
  2. Confirm the return in the pop-up window. The student will receive a notification that their work has been graded.
Expand or collapse content Additional Details

To further streamline your workflow, keep these features in mind:

  • Submission History: If there is a dispute regarding a deadline, you can click See history under a student's name to see exactly when they turned in or unsubmit their work.
  • Formatting Feedback: You can use bold, italics, or bulleted lists within your private comments to make your instructions clearer for the student.
  • Multimedia Options: If your school uses certain premium versions of Google Workspace, you may have the option to record up to five minutes of audio or video feedback for a more personal touch

Ongoing Recommendations

Expand or collapse content Faculty
  • Periodically export an archive of your course and your gradebook for safekeeping
  • Do not use the LMS has cloud storage for files
  • Use the Course Reserves tool for 
  • Create Google Groups / Class email lists for your course in case of emergencies

Comunicating with Students

For instructors who need to communicate with your students and share course resources, you have a few options:

  1. Using Class Lists - these are custom email addresses that are created to send emails to all registered students in your course.   For more information, please check out these help articles.

  2. You can request a Google Course Group which will include all of your registered students as members.  With your Google Course Group, you can email your class as well as share Google Drive folders and files.  Use the sharing mechanism on your folder or file to share your content with your Google Course Group and it will share to your whole class automatically.

For more information, visit: Canvas Incident Information

Expand or collapse content Students
  • When possible, download study materials to your computer

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]

Other Resources

Still have a question? Contact [email protected]