Title: Read Me First: Importance of a Start Here Module
Course: Canvas Course Template 1 > Section: T: Week 0: Start Here

Start Here | Purpose

This "Start Here" module was created to

- help you introduce and orient students to your class by highlighting the most initially relevant information, and helping them understand how to effectively navigate within the course.
- act as a hub of information that the student will likely return to.
- begin building community by introducing students to you, you to students, and students to their peers (having an asynchronous place to present oneself and have an introduction to others is important even for in-person classes).
- include "practice" items that represent types of Canvas assignments (such as "quizzes/surveys," "discussions," or online submissions) that students may encounter in your class. Allowing students to initially experience each format through a low-stakes or no-stakes submission increases the likelihood that their later assignments and assessments will be measuring learning, as opposed to measuring their experience in a given assignment format.
- You can adapt these templates to fit your teaching style and course modality. Each sample template can be copied and pasted directly into your Canvas shell. These templates are meant to be customized and enhanced to fit the needs of your teaching and learning environment.
- Be sure to edit each item in this Start Here Module to reflect your course before publishing.

We hope you find these resources helpful as you design your course. Feel free to adapt these templates to suit your teaching style and course requirements.

This Module was adapted from TEP's Canvas Commons Welcome Here Module Resources and blended into UO Online's Canvas Course Templates.