Copy Content from the Previous Semester

You can copy an existing course into a new course in Canvas. Content is copied, but student enrollments, work, and grades are not copied. To copy a Canvas course taught at Grossmont or Cuyamaca to another course at Grossmont or Cuyamaca, follow these instructions:

 

1. Go the NEW course in Canvas

Go to the course that you want to copy into, usually the new course. If you see something like the image below, you're probably in the right course.

If it doesn't look like the image below, it means there is material in this course already. Please double-check that you're in the right course before proceeding. 

2. Click the Import existing content button

 

 

 

 

3. Select Content Type

Copy a Canvas course

  1. Click Select One

  2. Select Copy a Canvas Course

 

4. Search for a course

  1. From the "Select a course" drop-down, choose the course you want to copy FROM.
  2. If you don't see the course listed, it may be in the completed courses list, so click the checkbox to include completed courses.

Search for a course

 

 

5. Choose Content

Content selector

  1. You can skip Default Question bank.

  2. Most of the time choose All content. On some occasions, you may want to "Select specific content" from the old course.

 

6. Adjust events and due dates

If you want to have due and availability dates shift from one semester to the next (highly recommended!), check the box for "Adjust events and due dates." Then enter the beginning date and ending dates for the two semesters. In this example, the course copied FROM is the 2017 Fall semester (8/21/17 - 12/16/17) and the course copied TO is the 2018 Spring semester (1/29/18 - 6/4/18). If needed, refer to the Academic Calendar for semester dates.

Adjust due dates screenshot

 

7. Substitution

This example shows how to fill out the Substitution section if last semester you taught Mondays and Wednesdays and in the upcoming semester it will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  Substitution screenshot

 

8. Import

Click the Import button when finished making your selections to start the import. Large courses can take over 30 minutes to import, so let it run. You can do work on other courses in other browser tabs while you wait. If you opted to "Select specific content" look for a blue button to select the content you want to copy.

Import button

 

 

Copy a course taught at a different college

If you want to copy a course taught at a different college, for example at Southwestern College, follow these instructions: 

  1. Log Into the other College's Canvas using their URL. For example, southwestern.instructure.com. 
  2. Export the course Links to an external site. from the other college and save the .imscc file to your hard drive.
  3. Go to GCCCD's Canvas at gcccd.instructure.com, which is where you are right now.
  4. Go to your GCCCD course.
  5. Import the export file Links to an external site. into your GCCCD course.