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Canvas: Importing Content from Past Course [Faculty & Staff]

Modified on: Fri, May 23 2025 10:28 AM

Before the beginning of each semester, the university will generate course shells for every course taught in the upcoming semester.  The process of exporting course content and importing the export file quickly imports course content, assignments, and quizzes from previously taught courses into existing courses. 

Exporting course content

  1. Navigate to canvas.wfu.edu and click the Login button or launch Canvas from the Google App Launcher.
  2. Click Settings from the Course Navigation bar (left navigation bar) and then click Export Course Content from the right menu.
  3. Select Course and click Create Export.
  4. Canvas will display the export progress. This may take a few minutes depending on the size of the course file. You will receive an email when the export is complete. 
  5. Return to the Canvas course to the Contents Export. Click the New Export link to download the file.

Importing course content 

  1. Navigate to canvas.wfu.edu and click the Login button or launch Canvas from the Google App Launcher.
  2. Select the destination course (i.e. empty course shell or My Sandbox Course) from the Dashboard or the Courses pop-out menu. 
  3. Click Settings from the Course Navigation bar (left navigation bar) and then click Import Course Content from the right menu.
  4. From the Import Content page, select Canvas Course Export Package from Content type. 
  5. In the Source section, click the browse your files link to select the Canvas Course Export Package file and click Open.
    The file will be named course title and should be located in your Downloads folder.
  6. Select from the following:
    • All content
    • Select specific content [RECOMMENDED] 
  7. Select Adjust events and due dates and select Remove dates to remove all event and due dates so that you can manually enter them.


    Please Note: Remember to enter the appropriate course dates to align with your teaching plan.
  8. Click +Add to Import Queue.
  9. Once you have started an import, the Current Jobs menu displays the job status of any imports in process, as well as any prior import history.
    • If you selected Select specific content in the previous step, you will need to select which content to import.  Click on the Select Content button.
    • Use the check boxes to select the content you wish to import and click Select Content.
      Please note: Do not select Zoom or Calendar entries from the Content list if these options are present. It will populate your course outdated information.


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