Import Existing Content Tool:


Importing content from previous Canvas courses can be done in several ways but the most common is to use the Import Existing Content tool.  


Caveats: 

  • Modules imported from previous courses will often still be published and will import to your current course in a published state.
  • Imported Module titles will have the previous year dates, which are typically not the same as the current year.  This matters because the Modules are named by week in the standard template.  
  • One way to resolve this is to move all of the imported module content from the into the correct Module of the current-year course.


Instructions follow below.  Click on any image to embigify.


Included is the official Canvas video on this topic & more information can be found here: Canvas Import Tool


From the Home link of the course you want to import contents to, click the Import Existing Content button on the right.


The resulting page will present several options.  Embigify the image below for details.

Once the above selections have been made to your liking, click the Import  button.  This will queue the job but not run it until you have made the specific content selections to import.  


This will now allow you to select the specific content that you would like to import instead of importing an entire course.  In the example below, Module 6 and Module 7 were selected from a previous course to be imported into my current course for this year.  


When all selections have been completed, click the Select Content  button to start the job. 


⚠️ Please note that importing a Module will automatically import all of the module's content. Whatever is contained in the Module will be brought over.


The job will begin and a status bar may appear.  Jobs importing more content may take longer and times when there is more demand on the system may take more time as well.  

The system will indicate when the import job has been completed or if there are any errors.


⚠️ As seen in the example below, the imported Modules are in the destination (current) course at the bottom of the Modules page.  The imported Module dates however, do not match the current year template dates.

⚠️ Notice that the imported Modules are in a published state which reflects their state in the original course.

Moving Module Content after Import:


Module content can be moved by choosing the Move Module contents option, or module content items can simply be dragged from one module to another.



To move the contents of the imported Module with incorrect name into the current year Module with the correct dates for the current year.  Simply select the 3 dot menu at the end of the module and select Move Contents...

When Move Contents is selected, you will be given the choice of where to move the contents to.  Maybe it is the new module of the same name (Week 7 old into Week 7 new) or perhaps you want to move it elsewhere.  The choice is yours.  


In my example, I am moving my imported Module 7 contents into this year's Module 7, but I could have moved it anywhere.

Once your destination selection has been made, click the Move button.



You can see below that now the imported content of the old Module has been moved into the desired location in the current year's template,


Rinse and repeat as necessary. 

Module content items can be dragged from one module to another if you are not   moving the module's entire contents.