Can the "Import Existing Content" Course Selection List Display More Identifying Information?

Question

When using Import Existing Content in Canvas, has anyone else found it difficult to identify the correct source course when multiple courses share the same course code?

At our institution, a single course code can have multiple distinct class topics or offerings within the same teaching session. For example, several Canvas sites may all be associated with the course code ASIA1111, but each represents a different class topic.

Currently, the course selection dropdown in the Import Existing Content workflow does not always provide enough information to distinguish between these sites. As a result, users may inadvertently import content from the wrong course.

While it is possible to find the Canvas Course ID from the course URL and use that to identify the correct site, this workaround is not intuitive and is unlikely to be known by most teaching staff.

Would it be possible for Canvas to display additional identifying information in the course selection dropdown, such as:

* Class Number
* Class Topic
* Canvas Course ID
* Teaching Period / Session
* Other SIS attributes that help distinguish course offerings

This would:

* Reduce the risk of importing content from the wrong course site
* Improve usability for academic and teaching staff
* Reduce support requests related to course imports
* Make self-service course copying and content management more reliable

Has anyone else encountered this issue, and are there existing solutions or plans to enhance the course selection experience in the Import Existing Content tool?

dbrace · Answer

Hi @IrishPF,

I agree that this could better and that submitting it to the collaborative roadmap like @james_whalley mentioned would be a good idea.

While it goes through that process, when you are search for a course, do you see the term/semester/session that it is associated with the course shell when searching? The term/semester/session will appear below the name of the course.

This also could be related to how your institution gives course shell their name and code.

Another suggestion would be to use the nickname feature because that can help in other areas as well (e.g. Canvas Inbox, Canvas calendar, emailed notifications).

-Doug

james_whalley · Answer

@IrishPF I agree 100%. I would put this in at the Collaborative Roadmap. While this space is meant for non-Instructur folks to help others with problem solving, the Collaborative Roadmap is where you can make sure your idea gets to Instructure's product managers.