Canvas: Import Assignments from a previous course using a CSV File

This article describes how to export assessments from a previous course and upload multiple assessments at once using a Microsoft Excel CSV (comma separated values) file.

Summary

This article describes how to upload multiple assignments at once using a Microsoft Excel CSV (comma separated values) file.

 

How-To

Task: Import assignments from a previous course using a CSV file

While assignments must be manually entered individually through the Canvas UI (User Interface), there is an alternative.  Many Instructors have lists of assignments or can extract assignments from gradebooks used in prior semesters. Canvas also offers a method for importing those assignments in a batch using a CSV file.

Instructions

Step 1 - Select your course and click Grades on the course menu.

Step 2 - Click Export (top-right), then click Current.

Step 3 - Follow the prompts presented by your browser. (You are downloading a .csv file from Canvas in the proper format.)

• Here is a link to the Canvas guides for additional details about downloading scores from the gradebook. 
• How do I export grades in the Gradebook?  

Step 4 - Open the Excel file you just saved to your computer and add columns for each assignment you want to create. (If you already have an Excel gradebook, you can paste the assignments.) Do not change the file name when you save your updated file.

• Here is a link to the Canvas guides for additional details about uploading scores to the gradebook. 
• How do I use the Gradebook?  

Step 5 - Back in the Canvas gradebook, click Import (top-right). You will be prompted to choose a CSV file to upload, browse for the file you saved in step 4 and click the blue Upload Data button.

Step 6 - Follow the prompts presented in Canvas (usually asking if a particular assignment is new and how many points should be assigned.) Then click Continue.

Step 7 - You will be presented with a screen asking to change student grades from a certain value to a desired value. You can just click Save Changes without doing anything else.

Step 8 - The new assignments will populate the syllabus and gradebook. Assign due-dates as desired for the imported assignments.

 

Outcome

You are able to import assignments from a CSV file into your Canvas course.

 

Further Readings 

Here is a link to the Canvas guides for additional details about downloading scores from the gradebook.

How do I export grades in the Gradebook?  

Here is a link to the Canvas guides for additional details about uploading scores to the gradebook.

 How do I use the Gradebook?  

 

Need additional help?

Submit a Canvas (myCourses) support request or visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.