Differentiation Tags

Differentiation Tags in Canvas

Personalize learning paths and manage student needs discreetly.

Infographic titled 'Mastering Differentiation Tags in Canvas' illustrating how instructors can use hidden tags to personalize instruction, manage accommodations, and filter the Gradebook or Inbox.

Differentiation Tags allow you to create custom subsets of students to selectively assign content, vary due dates, and filter your Gradebook. Unlike other Canvas tools, tags are invisible to students.

Choosing the Right Tool: Tags vs. Sections vs. Groups

Feature Differentiation Tags Sections Groups
Purpose Personalize content visibility and due dates for individuals or custom student sets. Organize enrollments based on course schedule or registrar data. Facilitate collaboration among students within a course.
Student Visibility Invisible to students. Visible in student’s user profile and notifications. Visible; students can view their group site and members.
Creation Instructor-created. Automated via SIS/Registrar. Instructor-created or student-created.
Assign Content? Works with Assignments, Quizzes, Pages, Discussions, and Modules. Works with Assignments, Quizzes, Modules, and Announcements. Only supports group-specific assignments and discussions.

Differentiation Tags: Implementation Guide

Step 1: Create Your Tags
Navigate to the People tab and click Manage Tags. You can create standalone tags for one-off needs or “Tag Sets” for structured levels, such as Clinical Group AM vs PM.
Step 2: Assign Tags to Students
On your roster, select specific students and use the Tag As menu to apply your labels. Once assigned, a tag icon will appear next to their name for your reference.
Step 3: Differentiate Your Coursework
In the “Assign To” field of an assignment, quiz, or module, search for your tag name. This allows you to set unique due dates or visibility for that specific group.
Pro-Tip: You can filter your Gradebook by Differentiation Tag to view only the students within a specific cohort or accommodation group.

Important Constraints

  • Course Copies: Tags do not currently transfer when you copy a course or export course packages.
  • Limits: Each course is limited to 40 total tags and 10 variants per tag set.
  • Quiz Accommodations: Tags do not replace quiz moderation tools for specific accommodations.

Faculty Resources

Access quick-start guides and official technical documentation.

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Instructor Reference Guide

View the comprehensive text guide for step-by-step differentiation workflows.
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FAQs & Tutorials

Browse the official Canvas Community FAQ and deep-dive technical tutorials.