Make A New “Sandbox” Course
sand·box /’san(d) bäks/
noun
- a shallow box or hollow partly filled with sand to play in.
- a virtual space in which new or untested software can be run securely.
Faculty can create their own development courses in Canvas. These are sometimes referred to as “sandbox” courses, since they are a place to explore, experiment and build new things.
Things to Know
- Development courses should never have students enrolled in them. They are for development only.
- Any and all content created in a development course may be copied into an official course.
- Any development course you create, you may also delete (see below).
See the following Canvas Guides for complete instructions:
How do I create a new course shell?
Note: If you do not see this feature on the Dashboard, please contact TMI.
How do I import content from another Canvas course?
How do I permanently delete a course?
What’s It For?
Possible uses for a development course:
- Prepare content for a new course you have never taught before.
- Make a copy of a current course and begin making changes for the next semester.
- Import content from a textbook publisher for evaluation.
- Import and review content from a colleague before bringing it into your own course.
- Experiment with some Canvas tools (Quizzes, Discussions, etc.) without cluttering an existing course.
- And more…!
The option to Start a New Course is found on the Dashboard.
So go make a sandbox, and play in Canvas!
See the Canvas Guide:
Hey, I do not want to make a sandbox but would rather have the two summer classes I am teaching summer 21 up so I can start to work on them early. Is this possible PLEASE?
#2525
#8495
Hi Anthony,
Official course shells are created and made available automatically two weeks before the start of an academic term. This avoids problems created by last-minute scheduling changes, and other adjustments made before the beginning of a term.
Faculty have two full weeks to import a prior course and update it for the new term.
If you require more time to prepare, the recommended process is to:
– create a new development course (“sandbox”)
– import the prior course and make changes
– import the development course into the new course when it has been generated automatically
Details on this process, and links to support documents, can be found here:
New Semester Import Course Content (Method A)
I have always started from a previous class shell–this is a challenge. (…starting from and empty Sandbox).