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Checklist: What to Review Before Publishing Your Canvas Course
Overview
Before you publish your Canvas course, it’s essential to review all content and settings to ensure students can access everything they need. This includes verifying that assignments, modules, files, and quizzes are published and properly configured.
This guide provides a comprehensive pre-publishing checklist to help you finalize your course setup and prepare for a smooth student experience.
Estimated Time to Complete: 15 – 30 minutes
Instructions
- Use Student View to Preview Your Course
- Go to Home, then click Student View (upper-right corner)
- Navigate through the course as a student:
- Are all modules visible?
- Can you access readings, assignments, and quizzes?
- Does the homepage provide a clear introduction?
Tip: Log out and back in as yourself to return to instructor view.
- Confirm All Content is Published
Item | How to Check |
Homepage | Click Home and verify it’s marked as the front page and published |
Modules | Go to Modules and confirm each module and its items have the green “Published” checkmark |
Assignments | Click Assignments and ensure each one is published with correct due dates |
Quizzes/Exams | Verify each quiz is published and availability dates are set appropriately |
Files | Check the Files tab for any lecture slides, PDFs, or handouts that need to be visible |
Discussions | Publish relevant threads and set participation dates if needed |
*Only published items will be visible to students—even if the module itself is published.
- Check Zoom (Capitol Live) Setup
- Confirm your recurring Zoom meetings or Welcome Session are visible under Capitol Live (Zoom)
- Double-check time zones and date accuracy
*This only applies to Online Syncrhonous Courses.
- Confirm eSyllabus is Complete
- Open the eSyllabus tab and verify all required fields are updated
- Save your changes
- Ensure the syllabus accurately reflects office hours, schedule, and assignment policies
Need help editing your eSyllabus? Refer to the following guide: How to Edit Your eSyllabus
- Post a Welcome Announcement
- Go to Announcements > + Announcement
- Introduce yourself and the course
- Let students know how to get started and when they can expect your first message or class session
*You may also use the Chair-supplied canned announcement, but it’s strongly recommended to post your own as well.
- Verify Gradebook Settings
- Check Grades > gear icon
- Review:
- Late Policy
- Grade Posting Policy
- Assignment Groups and Weighting (if applicable)
- Final Step: Click Publish
- Once you’ve reviewed and confirmed everything is ready:
- Navigate to Home
- Click the Publish button in the top-right corner
- Once you’ve reviewed and confirmed everything is ready:
Your course is now live and visible to students!
Troubleshooting
Issue | Solution |
Students say they can’t see the course | Make sure both the course and content (modules, assignments, files) are published |
Zoom meetings not visible | Confirm Capitol Live (Zoom) is enabled in your course navigation |
Student View shows missing items | Exit Student View, publish any missing content, then check again |
Still Need Help?
If you’re unsure whether your course is fully ready for students, contact the Online Learning team at ask@captechu.edu for a quick review or additional support.