What Does This Change Look Like?

The "Manage Assign To" link replaces the traditional location of the "Assign To" settings. When creating or editing a learning activity, click the "Manage Assign To" link to access the assign to settings.

Note: During the learning activity creation and editing process, if the "Manage Assign To" settings are ignored, it will default to "Everyone" in the course and will exclude due dates and availability dates.

The "Assign To" tray replaces the traditional "Assign To" cards. The assign to settings now slide out on a tray from the right side of the screen. The tray includes all the same "Assign To" functionality as the cards, optimized to reduce the number of clicks and scrolling needed previously.

Note: Click the "Apply" button to save your settings.

Learning Activities

Learning activities now have an "Assign To" shortcut button at the top. This provides instructors a quick way to access, view, and change assign to settings without needing to edit the learning activity.

Note: Clicking the "Assign To" button will open the "Assign To" tray from the right side of the screen.

Module Items

By default, module items created in Modules are still assigned to everyone in the course. However, instructors no longer need to open and edit each module item to change the "Assign To" settings. To change a module item's "Assign To" settings, simply click the item's "Three Dot Menu" icon and then click the "Assign To" link.

Note: Clicking the "Assign To" link will open the "Assign To" tray from the right side of the screen.

Modules

By default, modules are still assigned to everyone in the course, but it is now possible to assign modules to specific students and sections. To assign a module, click the "Three Dot Menu" icon on the module title, and then click the "Assign To" link.

On the "Assign To" tab, instructors can set the module visibility to Everyone or assign it to specific students. In the Assign To field, instructors can select students or sections using the drop-down menu, typing student names, NetIDs, or section names. Lastly, click the Save button.

A "View Assign To" icon is present on the module title, so instructors know which modules are differentiated when quickly scanning the modules page.

Note: The "View Assign To" link does not display if the module is assigned to everyone.

Pages

By default, Canvas Pages are still assigned to everyone in the course but can now be differentiated. Instructors will be able to assign pages to specific students and sections, as well as set availability dates. When editing or creating a page, click the "Manage Assign To" link to open the "Assign To" settings.

Instructors can differentiate pages as well as manage availability dates in the "Assign To" tray. Then, click the "Apply" button to save the settings.

Note: The "Manage Assign To" link in Pages will only provide the options to assign pages to specific students and/or sections along with the available from/until dates. Pages still use the "add to student-to-do" option that can act like a due date.

Ungraded Discussions

By default, Canvas Discussions are still assigned to everyone in the course but can now be differentiated. Instructors will be able to assign discussions to specific students and sections, as well as set availability dates. When editing or creating a discussion, click the "Manage Assign To" link to open the "Assign To" settings.

Instructors can differentiate ungraded Discussions as well as manage availability dates in the "Assign To" tray. Then, click the "Apply" button to save the settings.

Note: The "Manage Assign To" link in ungraded Discussions will only provide the options to assign discussions to specific students and/or sections along with the available from/until dates. Ungraded Discussions still use the "add to student-to-do" option that can act like a due date.

Group discussions still use the "Group Discussion" option found on the edit discussion page, which will open a separate drop-down menu where the group can be selected. The "Assign To" settings in a Discussion will not include the option to select groups.

Graded Discussions will use the full functionality of the "Assign To" settings including a due date.

NetIDs

Student NetIDs will display below their names in the "Assign To" tray when assigning specific people to learning activities. This change is designed to eliminate the guesswork when students share the same name.

Note: Don't forget to click the "Save" button to save your "Assign To" settings.

FAQs

Why are my changes on the "Assign To" pop-out tray not saving?

When Instructors use the "Assign To" settings they must click "Save" or "Apply" located at the bottom of the pop-out tray.

Also, when using the "Manage Assign To" link to enter or adjust assign to settings, or if the instructor closed the "Assign To" tray without first applying the settings, a "Pending Changes" pill icon will appear next to the "Manage Assign To" link stating that changes are not yet saved. This is a visual reminder that the instructor will need to click the "Save" button on the learning activity's edit page.

Note: The "Pending Changes" pill icon only appears when using the "Manage Assign To" link, which is available when editing Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes. It does not appear when using the "Assign To" shortcut at the top of the learning activity.

What happens when the "Manage Assign To" link is ignored when creating or editing a learning activity?

During the learning activity creation and editing process, if the "Manage Assign To" settings are ignored it will default to "Everyone" in the course, and will exclude due dates and availability dates.

Why can't I add due dates on Pages and ungraded Discussions?

Pages and ungraded Discussions still use the "add to student-to-do" option that acts like a due date. For these learning activities, the "Manage Assign To" link only provides the options to assign specific students and/or sections along with the available from/until dates.

What happens when I assign a Module to specific students (or section) but the items within the module have different "Assign To" settings?

Module items with specific assign to settings will be respected when a module has been assigned. For example, if course section 1 has been assigned module A, but module item X within module A is not assigned to course section 1, then course section 1 cannot view module item X within module A. Put another way, course section 1 can view module A and any module items other than module item X.

Additional Canvas Resources

• Canvas Product Blog: Releasing Modules to Students and Sections
• Get Help
• Training & Support
• Past Canvas changes and updates at Georgetown