Create A Duplicate Copy Of Canvas Content

Environment

Canvas

Issue

How to safely create a duplicate assignment, quiz, or page, without overwriting content.

Resolution

Canvas assigns unique IDs to each content item. Importing content that has the same ID as content already in the course (as would happen if you import the same content from the same course more than once) will overwrite the content. If you copied a quiz from a previous semester course, modified the quiz, then re-imported the same quiz from the same previous semester course, your modifications would be overwritten and there is no way to restore them.

A course export will create a new ID for the content item which allows for creating a copy of the item without overwriting it. These instructions detail how to create a copy of a content item within the same course.

Copy a Classic Quiz

1. Export the quiz

• How do I export quiz content from a course?

2. Refresh the page and download the QTI export file

3. Import the quiz

• How do I import quizzes from QTI packages?
• Select the QTI .zip file option from the dropdown and leave the defaults

4. Rename and edit the copy as necessary

Note: the quiz will have the same name as the original and will have the same publish status

Copy a New Quizzes Quiz

• How do I duplicate a New Quizzes quiz?

Note: the quiz will be renamed with the word "Copy" added to the end  and will have the same publish status as the original.

Copy a Assignment or Page

1. Export the course

• How do I export a Canvas course?

2. Refresh the page and download the IMSCC file

3. Import the course

• How do I select specific content as part of a course import? 
• Select the Canvas Course Export Package option from the dropdown

4. Rename and edit the copy as necessary

Note: copied content will have the same publish status as the original and copied assignments will have the same name as the original.

Additional Information

• Check out the new Academic Technology@Michigan website for course planning resources from across U-M
• Visit the Canvas @ Michigan site for faculty including the U-M Instructor Guide with links to additional support resources from across campus
• Check out the Canvas and MiVideo tutorials

For additional questions, please contact the ITS Service Center