When viewing module items, how to make Previous and Next buttons float at the bottom of the screen

[johnb]

Morning all,

In the image below, you can see that the Previous and Next buttons float at the bottom of the screen. This means that users do not have to scroll to the bottom of the page/screen in order to move forwards or backwards to the next module item.

I would like to implement this functionality but cannot figure out how to do so.

The only reference to this I can find is https://sites.udel.edu/canvas/2016/01/previous-next/#:~:text=When%20a%20user%20views%20a,return%20to....

It states:

"As reported in the Canvas Release Notes, starting January 30, 2016, a small change will happen to the Previous and Next buttons in the Modules tool.

When a user views a module item, the Previous and Next progression bar now always floats at the bottom of the screen. This change helps users not have to scroll to the end of a page to advance to the next module item or return to a previous item."

I have reviewed these release notes but can find no reference to this feature.

Can anyone assist with this please?

Best Wishes,

jb

[jcarpenter1]

Good morning @johnb !  I understand that you want the Next and Previous buttons to be at the very bottom of a page, no matter what, so students MUST read the entire page.  Have you tried adding requirements to your modules?  If not, you can add the requirement that the student must click that the page is done, and this shows up at the bottom of the page!

This link will take  you to how to make requirements in a module.  https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-add-requirements-to-a-module/ta-p/1131

I also got around this by making my module, making my own "Next" button and linking the next page to the button, and then unpublishing the pages in the modules.  LOTS of work, but it took care of what you are asking it to do.

[johnb]

Thanks so much @jcarpenter1 for your response. In fact, I want to achieve exactly the opposite of what you describe (apologies for the lack of clarity in my original post). I want users to be able to navigate backwards or forwards via the Previous and Next buttons without having to scroll to the bottom of the page. 

[dbrace]

Hi @johnb,

Based on the clarification that you provided, I believe you would need to:

1. not use the "Modules" area of the course
2. use a "Page" layout for the entire course
3. basically create your own manual layout for everything (pages, discussions, assignments, quizzes) that would mirror the functionality of the "Previous" and "Next" button that appear when using a "Module" layout (if doing this, you would need to put files in each of the other types of content because you cannnot create a UI experience for a file that would have "Previous" and "Next" button anywhere on the webpage that appears)
4. for everything that you make (pages, discussions, assignments, quizzes) at the top of the RCE, manually create a "Previous" and "Next" link (or button

consult with either

https://www.howtocanvas.com/create-amazing-pages-in-canvas/buttons

https://instructure.design

If/When manually creating links or buttons, be very careful with how you create them because if you do not make them correctly you will have problems when importing/copying the content/course. I would recommend that you regularly use the  How do I validate links in a course? - Instructure Community - 1001  feature.

Does that help you?

-Doug