Canvas FFT

[CapeFearLibn]

Hello. I am a current Canvas user as a PT instructor at a university that uses Canvas. I have two current courses through that institution in Canvas. I will soon lose access as I am not contracted to teach in the Spring or Summer semesters, but I will be teaching again in Fall 2025.

How do I set up a Canvas FFT account so I can work on my course during the down time (and while things are fresh in my mind)? I keep hitting a road block with setting up a FFT account. Am I supposed to use my current university Canvas credentials? That takes me to my university's Canvas and I don't see how to set up a FFT account from there. Do I create a new profile with a personal email account and not connect with my current university? I tried to do that, but the account I tried to set up was denied. How do I get started?

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hello @CapeFearLibn ...

Are you creating a FFT (Free For Teacher) account using this website?  Try Canvas

You wouldn't necessarily have to use your school e-mail address to create a FFT account.  Also, keep in mind that there are a few limitations to FFT accounts compared to your school's paid Canvas environment ... one of which is the amount of storage space you have available in a FFT course (which cannot be changed).  Here's a good reference for you:

Canvas Free-for-Teacher FAQ ... check out the linked Comparison PDF on this page for all the details

Here's one other Guide that might be helpful for you, too: How do I sign up for a new Free-for-Teacher Canvas... - Instructure Community - 894

Keep us posted here in the Community...thank you.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hello @CapeFearLibn ...

Are you creating a FFT (Free For Teacher) account using this website?  Try Canvas

You wouldn't necessarily have to use your school e-mail address to create a FFT account.  Also, keep in mind that there are a few limitations to FFT accounts compared to your school's paid Canvas environment ... one of which is the amount of storage space you have available in a FFT course (which cannot be changed).  Here's a good reference for you:

Canvas Free-for-Teacher FAQ ... check out the linked Comparison PDF on this page for all the details

Here's one other Guide that might be helpful for you, too: How do I sign up for a new Free-for-Teacher Canvas... - Instructure Community - 894

Keep us posted here in the Community...thank you.

[CapeFearLibn]

OK...I now have an FFT, but my .imscc export/import (and the zip ) file is too large. I don't seem to be able to export just selected sections of the course—modules and assignments and homepage...to make the imported file size smaller.

Any ideas?

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @CapeFearLibn ...

Well, there are two possible options for you.  Keep in mind that a FFT course is limited to 500 MB of course storage space (based on the link that I gave you earlier).

• In your school's paid Canvas account, you could request (from your school's Canvas admin) a blank course shell.  Then, you could use that course shell to select specific content to import from your existing course into the empty shell.  How do I select specific content as part of a course import?  Then, when you have imported just those items you want, you would then export that course.   How do I export a Canvas course?  Finally, you would import the *.imscc file that you exported into the FFT course.  How do I import a Canvas course export package? 
• With your existing *.imscc file that is too big, you could change the file extension on this to a *.zip file.  Then, you could unzip the file.  Look through the files and folders (there will be several folders that have a random string of alpha-numeric characters, by the way) and see if you can somehow remove files in there that you don't need.  Then, zip up the files/folders in the same form that you downloaded the file, and change the *.zip file back to a *.imscc file extension.  I've never actually tried this myself, but in theory, it should work?

Would either of these options work for your needs?

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

@CapeFearLibn ,

In addition to the information from @Chris_Hofer , I thought I'd add on...

Does your university have Canvas Commons set up? Canvas Commons is a learning object repository that allows you to share resources with either yourself, your school, or even everyone on Canvas that also has access to Commons.

You can share your course to Commons, and then try logging into Commons on your FFT account (FFT does have commons enabled), and download it from there or import it from there, too. Free for Teacher courses have a specific max limit of 500 MB, (I'm pretty sure it's actually 524 MB), so anything beyond that limit will result in an unsuccessful import. This applies to both the k12 free for teacher and the normal free for teacher instance.

However, you can always keep the course export files somewhere safe on your computer, and then use those same files to upload the course content later next school year. Would that be another solution for you? I have done that in the past before, and it's worked like a charm each time with no issues.

Just thought I'd add in! Hope this helps, too.

- Noah