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Description
A public course in Canvas ia a course that allows public users (those not logged into Canvas) to view selected course content without needing to enroll or sign in. This setup is ideal for sharing general information, orientation materials, or collecting anonymous feedback through ungraded quizzes and surveys.
Key Features of a Public Course
- No enrollment required: Anyone can access the course without signing in.
- Open access: Course content is viewable by anyone with the link.
- Anonymous participation: Users can complete practice quizzes and ungraded surveys without logging in.
- Flexible content sharing: useful for distributing general information or resources.
How to make a course public?
For instructions on making a course public, see this Canvas help page: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-customize-visibility-options-for-a-course-or-course/ta-p/844
What can be Accessed by Public Users?
Public users have varying access depending upon the tool, the item, and the location within the course.
Course Menu
Public users can view most links in the course menu if the link is marked as visible in the course’s Navigation settings. Third-party integration links are viewable, but if selected, the public user will be redirected to log in.
Home Page
Public users can view the Home Page if it is set to Course Modules, Assignments List, Syllabus, or Pages Front Page. If the Home Page is set to Course Activity Stream, public users will see a default “No Recent Messages” note.
Syllabus
The Syllabus can be viewed by public users, and they can select Canvas-created items (quizzes, assignments, discussions) to see those description pages.
Pages and Files
Published pages can be viewed and published files can be viewed and downloaded by public users. This includes SCORM packages added as pages.
Pro tip: OneDrive files are viewable only if their sharing settings are set to public availability.
Modules
Within the Modules page, any published module can be viewed. Canvas-created quizzes and assignments linked within the modules page can be selected by a public user to view those description pages.
Practice quizzes and ungraded surveys can be accessed and taken by public users from the Modules page. Discussion prompts cannot be viewed from the Modules page.
Assignments
Public users can view published Canvas-created assignment descriptions from the Assignments course navigation link. Discussion prompts can be viewed from the Assignments page, but comments for that discussion cannot be viewed. A public user can view the title of an assignment created through a third-party integration but if selected, the public user will be redirected to log in.
Collaborations
The Collaborations tool link can be viewed in the course navigation, but the public user cannot see any collaborations. Instead, they’re provided with a Canvas-created default message describing Collaborations.
Quizzes
The Quizzes course navigation link is available to public users. These users can see the title and description of any Canvas–created graded quiz that is published in the course, but they cannot submit an attempt for these graded quizzes. Public users can submit an attempt for practice quizzes or ungraded surveys.
A public user can view the title of a quiz created through a third-party integration but if selected, the public user will be redirected to log in.
What Cannot be Accessed by Public Users?
The following course navigation links are not available for public users, even if these links are visible in the course:
- Discussions – the course navigation link is not available, but discussion prompts can be viewed from the Assignments and Syllabus pages.
- Announcements
- People
- Grades
Additional Support
For exploring different ways to deliver instructional content in Canvas, evaluating technology options to support teaching goals, or for additional support for public courses or other options for delivering content in Canvas, consider scheduling a consultation with an instructional technologist.
Get Help from Canvas
- Live chat with Canvas support (Faculty)
- Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support
- Dial the Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation Menu
- Contact OIT at 740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, test courses/manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.)
Get Help from OIT