OneNote Class Notebook

Summary

Create a OneNote class Notebook that gives your students a shared public space and their own workspace that is private between the instructor and student.

Body

Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking app that works across many devices. Users can create sections and pages to keep their notes organized and searchable. 

Instructors can create a special type of notebook called a Class Notebook, which automatically has three distinct characteristics:

  • Student Notebooks: private notebooks that are shared between each instructor and their individual students. Instructors can access these notebooks at any time, but students cannot see other students' notebooks.

  • Content Library: a notebook for instructors to share course materials with students. Instructors can add and edit its materials, but for students, the notebook is read-only.

  • Collaboration Space: a notebook for the students and instructor of the class to share, organize, and collaborate in.

To setup a Class Notebook for your Canvas course:

  1. Click the Settings link at the bottom of your Course Navigation menu. 
    Screenshot of a canvas course menu.  The settings link is highlighted.
     
  2. Click the Navigation tab.
    Screenshot of the top of the course settings page in a Canvas Course.  The Navigation tab is highlighted.
  3. Locate the Microsoft Education tool in the list, click the three dots, and then enable
    Screenshot of the Microsoft Education tool in the Navigation list in Canvas
     
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Save.
  5. Click the Microsoft Education link in your course menu.
  6. Click Continue setup:
    Screenshot of the initial setup of the Microsoft Education tool, with links to learn more about various tools and a Continue Setup button.
     
  7. Enable the Class Notebook app and click Done:
    Screenshot of the Microsoft Course Settings setup page. Class Notebook is toggled on and highlighted, as well as the Done button.
     
  8. Click the Class Notebook link and then Set up a OneNote Class Notebook:
    Screenshot of the initial class notebook setup screen with.
     
  9. An explanation of each section appears, click Next.
  10. Customize the student's private space as needed. Rename, delete, or add new sections. We would recommend keeping things simple and remove any sections you won't use by clicking the X next to a section. Click Create when ready.
    Screenshot of setting up the student section of the class notebook. Sections can be renamed or deleted and new sections added.
  11. Click Open Notebook. The notebook can be used in the web version of OneNote, or in the full app. The various parts of the notebook appear in the navigation on the left.

Details

Details

Article ID: 168286
Created
Mon 8/18/25 3:03 PM
Modified
Thu 8/21/25 9:21 AM