During our current transition to Canvas, we are implementing a multi-pronged approach to the migration process. In the information below, we provide the instructions for how you can manually move your own course from D2L to Canvas.
Please visit the Canvas Project FAQs for more information about how courses are being migrated.
Once you begin developing courses or editing migrated courses, you can easily copy these courses to a new blank course shell.
In Canvas, you have the ability to easily copy any course that you have access to. The roles who can copy content are Teacher, Co-instructor, and Master Course Teacher (only for manually-created non-academic courses).
WARNING: Always start in the course where you want to copy the content, not the course where the content already exists.
To copy a Canvas course, go to the course where you want to copy the content.
Select the Import Existing Content button in the upper right. You can also access the Import options in the Settings area.
Choose Copy a Canvas Course in the Select Content Type drop-down.
Begin typing the course title and search for the course you want to copy.
Select what Content you would like to copy:
Choose All content to copy all items from the course.
Choose Select specific content to select the items to copy.
Click the + Add to Import Queue button to start the import.
If you choose All content, the import will appear in the Content imports area on the page. It will show a progress bar as it imports.
If you choose Select specific content, a Select content button will appear in the Content imports area on the page. Click Select content and choose the items you would like to copy. Click Select Content.
When the copy is complete, it will have a Completed status in the Content import area.
NOTE: If something did not get copied, the status will either say Partially Completed with the number of issues and a View Issues button, or it will say Failed.
At times, you might want to export your course for backup or archive purposes, but you might also want to provide it to another person teaching the same material. You can export the entire course or just the quizzes.
Export downloads area available for 30 days.
Exporting Your Course
Go to the course and select the Settings link in the course navigation.
Select the Export Course Content button in the menu on the right of the screen.
Choose the Course option
Click Create Export
The export will begin processing. Once it is done, you will see a link appear at the top of the page. It will say “New Export”
To download, click New Export
It should auto-download, but if not, you can download to the appropriate location.
The file will be an .imscc file.
If you receive a Canvas Export File from another instructor, you can easily import this file into your course.
Go to the course and select the Import Existing Content button on the Home page, or go to Settings and choose Import Course Content.
Under Select Content Type, choose Canvas Course Export Package in the drop-down.
Either browse and find the export file (.imscc file type) or drag and drop it into the Choose File box.
Select what content you would like to import:
If you choose All content, the import will appear in the Content imports area on the page. It will show a progress bar as it imports.
If you choose Select specific content, a Select content button will appear in the Content imports area on the page. Click Select content and choose the items you would like to copy. Click Select Content.
When the copy is complete, it will have a Completed status in the Content import area.
NOTE: If something did not get copied, the status will either say Partially Completed with the number of issues and a View Issues button, or it will say Failed.
You can export your D2L course and import it into your Canvas courses to begin working on future courses or just to see how Canvas works. Follow the instructions linked below.
Moving your courses from D2L to Canvas is the process of exporting from D2L and importing them into Canvas. You will need to have a blank course shell in Canvas prior to going through this process.
Need a sandbox or development shell? . If you have courses listed from Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, you can also use these to develop your courses. These shells have been created and will not be live.
If you have older courses that you no longer teach, but would like to keep a backup copy, you can simply create the D2L backup and store it on your computer.
In this transition to Canvas, the only content that will be transferred from D2L will be course content and assessments. If you need to keep any student data, you can download and save the information using the linked instructions.
