Adaptive release is a term commonly used in the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) to describe the practice of releasing content to students based on specific criteria or performance. In the Canvas LMS, while the “adaptive release” label isn’t used explicitly, the same functionality is achieved through a combination of module requirements, prerequisites, and differentiated assignments. This allows instructors to create personalized learning paths and control the flow of course materials effectively.

You can control how students move through your Canvas course by using module availability settings. In Modules, you would use Requirements, Prerequisites, and/or “lock” the module depending on how you would like students to progress through your course.

Option 1: How to Add Requirements to a Module

Requirements force students to complete specific tasks within a module (like viewing a page or submitting an assignment) before it counts as finished.

1. Click Modules in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Find your module and click the three vertical dots (options icon) on the far right.
3. Select Edit from the dropdown menu.
4. Click + Add requirement.
5. Choose whether students must complete all requirements (and if they must do them in sequential order) or just one of them.
6. Select the specific page, quiz, or assignment from the dropdown, then choose the action they must take
   1. View the item: student must open the page or file
   2. Mark as done: student must manually click a “mark as done” button on the page
   3. Contribute to the page: student must post to a discussion or edit a page
   4. Submit the assignment: student must turn in a paper, quiz, or assignment
7. Click Update Module.

Option 2: How to Lock a Module by Date

Locking keeps the entire module hidden or inaccessible until a specific calendar date and time. Students will see the module title, but they cannot click or view any items inside it.

1. Click Modules in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Find your module and click the three vertical dots on the right.
3. Select Edit from the dropdown menu.
4. Check the box next to Lock until.
5. Click the calendar icon to select your unlock date and type in the exact time (ex: 9:00 am)
6. Click Update Module.

Option 3: How to Add Prerequisites to a Module

Prerequisites prevent students from starting a new module until they have successfully finished all the requirements of a previous module. (Note: You must set up Requirements on the earlier module first for this to work properly).

1. Click Modules in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Find the later module (the one you want to keep locked) and click the three vertical dots (options icon) on the far right.
3. Select Edit from the dropdown menu.
4. Click + Add prerequisite.
5. Select the preceding module from the dropdown menu that students must finish first.
6. Click Update Module.

Optional Configurations

To use adaptive release settings for individual items, such as Quizzes, you may wish to use Differentiated Assignments. Differentiated Assignments in Canvas allow you to create Assignments, Graded Discussions, and Quizzes for individual students, sections, or all students in your courses. Assignments and Graded Discussions can also be differentiated for student groups. Creating assignments for various users creates varied due dates. Availability date functionality is still available for each assignment.

How to Test Your Settings Using Student View

Before publishing your course, you should always test your module locks, requirements, and prerequisites to ensure they are working exactly as you intended.

1. Go to your course Home page or Modules page.
2. Click the Student View button (indicated by a glasses icon 👓) in the top-right corner of the screen.
   • Note: Your screen will now feature a high-visibility colored border at the bottom, confirming you are seeing the course exactly as a student would.
3. Click Modules in the left-hand navigation menu.
4. Navigate to your restricted module to verify its status:
   • If locked by date: Verify that a lock icon appears alongside the specific date and time it will open.
   • If locked by requirements: Click through the module items to make sure circles appear next to each item, changing to checkmarks only after you complete the specified task (like submitting the quiz or viewing the page).
   • If locked by prerequisites: Check that the later module is greyed out and explicitly states which previous module must be completed first.
5. When you are finished testing, click Leave Student View in the bottom-right corner of the screen to return to your instructor account.