Ready to Launch: Online Course Toolkit

If this is your first time teaching at Utah Tech University, contact your department and IT to receive your login credentials for Canvas as soon as possible.

The university banner system automatically generates an empty Canvas course for each of the course offerings you are assigned to teach for the upcoming semester. Students will also automatically be enrolled in the course.

If there is already an online course built: Import Existing Content

• Check with your department chair or program coordinator to find out if there is a Canvas course template for your course.
• Import content from a previous course:
  • Use the Canvas guide to import an entire course or specific items.
  • Be sure to check the box “Include completed courses” to access all previous content.
  • Adjust all due dates during the import process.

If there is no online course built already: Create New Course Content

• Import the UT Online institutional Canvas course template from Canvas Commons.
• If you are developing a course from scratch, contact a UT Online Learning Designer as early as possible. Building a strong online course takes time and collaboration.

• Use the Validate Links tool in Canvas to check for broken links.
• Use Student View to check how your course appears to learners.
• Confirm that all due dates and assignment group weights are correct to avoid grade inflation or underweighting.

• Import the UT Online Institutional Syllabus Template from Canvas Commons.
  • Tutorial Video: Using Institutional Templates
• Update your syllabus with:
  • Instructor contact information
  • Course requirements, expectations, and dates
  • University-required elements
  • Textbook information (including ISBN) (if applicable)

• Create student groups in the People tab before assigning group tasks.
• Set up peer-review assignments or peer-reviewed discussions.
• Upload and embed any self-made videos using Kaltura.

• Run the Canvas Accessibility Report to scan your course for issues.
• Use the UT Online Accessibility Checklist for quick fixes and best practices.
• Need help? Reach out to a Learning Designer for accessibility support.

• Share a photo of your face and introduce yourself.
• Make sure students know how they can contact you for questions.
• If you do a video, Keep the video short (1 – 2 minutes).

• Publish individual modules, assignments, quizzes, and discussions that you want students to access.
• Then, publish the entire course so students can enter the course shell.
  Important Notes:
  • If the course is published but individual items are not, students will still not see them.
  • Students can view the course once published, but cannot participate until the term officially starts.

Notification Preferences

• Update your Canvas Notification Settings to receive alerts about student messages via text or email.
• Note: Replying to Canvas messages from your email will not include attachments. Use the Canvas Inbox to send files.

Welcome Your Students

• Write a Welcome Announcement in Canvas and schedule it to post on the first day of class.
• Send a welcome email from Canvas Inbox or your UT email address a few days before class starts, encouraging students to log in as soon as they can.

Follow-Up

• By the end of the first week, send a message to students who have not yet started the course or submitted any work.

Throughout the Semester

• Send weekly announcements to keep students informed and engaged.