Managing Module Flow with Prerequisites and Requirements in Canvas

Managing Module Flow with Prerequisites and Requirements in Canvas

Overview

Canvas provides tools to manage the learning flow by requiring students to complete specific activities before accessing the next item or module. Using these features helps maintain consistency and ensures that all essential content is reviewed in the intended order.

This guide also includes an important note about how changes may affect student progress in active courses.

Steps to Enable Controlled Progression in Canvas

Step 1: Open the Canvas Course

Log in to Canvas and navigate to the course where you want to configure module settings.

Step 2: Go to the “Modules” Section

Select Modules from the course’s left-hand navigation menu.

Step 3: Select the Relevant Module

Locate the module that contains the activities you would like learners to complete in sequence.

Step 4: Edit the Module

Click the three dots (⋮) next to the module name and choose Edit.


Step 5 : Add Module Requirements

Under the Requirements section, click Add Requirement.
You may choose one of the following options for each activity:

  • Must view the item

  • Must mark as done

  • Must submit the assignment

  • Must score at least… (for quizzes, graded items, or SCORM packages)

Apply requirements to each item you want monitored for completion.

Step 6: Enable Sequential Progression

To ensure learners complete items in order, enable:

✔ Students must move through requirements in sequential order

This prevents learners from skipping ahead.

Step 7: Add Prerequisites (Optional)

If you would like students to complete a previous module before starting this one:

  1. Scroll to the Prerequisites section

  2. Click Add Prerequisite

  3. Select the module that must be completed first

Step 8: Save Your Changes

Click Update Module to apply the configuration.

Alert
Important Note on Applying Changes to Active Courses

If prerequisites or requirements are added after learners have already begun the module, Canvas may not retroactively recognize activities they previously completed.
As a result, some items may appear incomplete until the learner revisits or reopens them.

Info
It is recommended to communicate upcoming changes to learners to ensure clarity and continuity.


Notes
GIF Tutorial: Enabling Prerequisites and Requirements:


    • Related Articles

    • Release notes for Loree - Canvas A2302.2

      Loree UI Enhancement on Add Link modal We have now updated the Add Link model with a new user interface and more options. Now when we click on Add link option for a text or an image we will get a new add link modal with with three options. 1. Course ...

    • Release notes for Loree - Canvas A2302.4

      Loree Interactive Enhancement Duplicate title value validation for interactives in the admin dashboard We have now restricted Loree admin from renaming an existing Loree interactive with an existing interactive name. When a Loree admin tries to ...

    • Release notes for Loree - Canvas A2202.4

      Loree Language indicator and Select option As a Loree user: 1) When we change the language of the text content by using the text language option available at the end of the text content it gets changed to the selected language, But when we change the ...

    • Release notes for Loree - Canvas A2302.3

      Blueprint Course Support Blueprint Course Edit Restrictions As a Loree user , When we launch Loree editor and try to edit the course content which is locked from it's Blueprint master course, We were able to edit the content. Now we have updated the ...

    • Managing Assignments and Discussions in Loree: What to know?

      Streamline your course management by effectively handling Assignments and Discussions in Loree Assignments List When you click on the "Assignments" option in the Loree top navigation dropdown, it will retrieve a list of all the assignments from the ...