Copy to versus Duplicate functions
While the words copy and duplicate can be synonymous, their corresponding Canvas functions are not. This article clarifies these similarly named functions.
Article Contents
Copy to
Copy to: For sending content from one distinct Canvas course section to another (e.g. from your Spring section to Summer), use the Copy to function. If you use Copy to within the same course section, you will overwrite content with the same name, and this can cause you problems.
To use Copy to, click the three option dots on the module title bar or any page, assignment, or discussion, and click Copy to.
Then, type in the name of the course to which you would like a copy of that particular item sent.
NOTE: When using this feature, you will see a warning about the overwriting the same existing course content in the target course.
Duplicate
Duplicate: For making a copy of course content within the same Canvas course section, use the Duplicate function. The duplicate function is more like the typical copy/paste functionality users expect.
When you use this function, look for your duplicated module at the bottom of your Modules page. Look for items duplicated within a module at the bottom of that same module. Headings and quizzes cannot be duplicated.
NOTE: When duplicate is used, the new item will have the word "copy" at the end of the title. For example, if you duplicate your "Week 1 Overview," you will see "Week 1 Overview copy." You can edit the "copy" version for another week's overview, which will not alter the original "Week 1 Overview."
Related Article
How to copy / import content from the same or different Canvas course