Canvas provides powerful tools for both administrative efficiency and student collaboration. This guide outlines the differences between Sections, Groups, and the Assign To feature, helping you choose the most effective tool for your teaching needs.
Canvas Sections vs Groups vs Assign To
Canvas Sections
Sections are used primarily for administrative and logistical purposes. They allow efficient management of enrolments and class organisation within Canvas and are generally invisible to students.
Common uses include:
- Assigning different due dates to tutorial groups
- Managing marking responsibilities among multiple instructors
- Organising cohorts for logistical or support purposes
At ANU, some sections are automatically created through the university’s timetabling system.
Canvas Groups
Groups are student-facing collaborative workspaces designed for:
- Group projects and assignments
- Private discussions within the group
- File sharing and collaborative editing
Students can self-enrol or be assigned to groups, depending on the task setup.
Assign To Feature
The Assign To function allows you to control access to:
- Assignments
- Modules
- Pages
You can customise availability dates, due dates, and access for individual students, Sections, or Groups.
When to Use What: Decision Matrix
| Scenario | Sections | Groups | Assign To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students need team workspace for collaboration | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Different due dates for different tutorials | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| TAs/Markers need to mark only their students | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Group assignments with shared submissions | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Send messages to specific tutorial groups | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Hide content from certain students | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Students self-enrol in presentation teams | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Restrict module access to specific cohorts | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Different assignments for different student types | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Section Management at ANU
Automatic Section Creation
Sections are often generated automatically via middleware that imports timetabling data into Canvas. These typically include:
- Tutorial groups
- Lecture streams
- Workshop sessions
- Laboratory groups
Manual Section Management
For cases not handled automatically, you can create sections manually for:
- Deferred exam cohorts
- Support groups (e.g. equity or academic support)
- Project teams with admin oversight
- Cross-year collaborations
Section Naming Conventions
Best Practice Naming Structure:
Format: [COURSE]_[TYPE]_[TIME/DAY]_[YEAR]
Examples:
PSYC1001_Tut_Mon11_2025(Psychology tutorial, Monday 11am, 2025)ENGL2020_Wksp_Wed14_Sem1(English workshop, Wednesday 2pm, Semester 1)CHEM1005_Lab_Fri09_Grp1(Chemistry lab, Friday 9am, Group 1)
Tips:
- Keep names under 25 characters
- Use consistent abbreviations
- Avoid sensitive information (students see section names)
- Ensure accessibility for screen reader users
Creating a Section in Canvas
To create a new section:
- Go to Course Navigation > Settings
- Click the Sections tab
- Enter the name (use the recommended naming structure)
- Click Add Section
Important Notes:
- Section names must be unique within a course
- Some sections may already exist via timetabling
- Names are visible to students – be mindful of language
- Refresh the page to see newly added sections
Permissions Required:
You must be a Subaccount Admin, Course Convener, or Teacher to create sections.
Using ‘Assign To’ Effectively
Module Assignment
Assign Modules to specific students or Sections to tailor learning paths. Use this for:
- Differentiated or extension content
- Cohorts in co-badged or co-taught courses
Page Assignment with Availability Dates
Customise Available from and Until dates for different sections or students. Ideal for:
- Releasing content gradually
- Tutorial-specific resources
- Assessment briefing materials
Assignment Differentiation
Assign assignments to individuals, Sections, or Groups with distinct due dates and availability windows. Useful for:
- Extensions
- Different assessments for different student types
- Scaffolding complexity based on learner needs
Understanding MyTimetable Integration
MyTimetable is ANU’s official timetabling system. It syncs student activity allocations directly into Canvas as Sections.
What is imported?
- Teaching activities (tutorials, labs, etc.)
- Student allocations
These will display as sections in Canvas (e.g. TutA/01 LING1001-2013 MyTT).
Key Behaviours and Limitations
| Behaviour | What it means |
|---|---|
| Allocations are read-only | Changes must be made in MyTimetable, not Canvas |
| Attendance flexibility | Students may attend a different session if they miss theirs |
| Co-taught courses | Appear as individual sections for each activity |
| No manual changes | Manual edits in Canvas will be overwritten by MyTimetable sync |
| Timetable updates | Must be finalised in MyTimetable first |
| Sync frequency | Updates may take up to 24 hours to reflect in Canvas |
Staff Actions
✅ Do:
- Check Canvas sections for accuracy
- Refer students to MyTimetable for official allocations
- Clearly communicate expectations for missed classes
❌ Do Not:
- Manually edit or delete auto-created sections
- Add/remove students manually from these sections
- Rename sections imported via MyTimetable
Best Practice Tips
- Use Sections for filtering Grades, Announcements, and SpeedGrader views
- Communicate section purposes clearly to students
- Set expectations early around tutorial flexibility and attendance