Introducing Differentiation Tags in Canvas

Starting in Spring 2026, Canvas courses will have a new feature designed to support inclusive, flexible, and learner-centered teaching: Differentiation Tags.

If you’ve ever wanted to assign different versions of an activity, provide targeted practice, or support varied learning pathways without managing multiple course sections or duplicating content, Differentiation Tags are for you.

What Are Differentiation Tags?

• Provide targeted support or enrichment for students completing a project in different formats.
• Assign different due dates, instructions, or resources.
• Scaffold learning based on readiness (students needing additional practice on a concept) or a learning goal
• Design flexible pathways within a single Canvas course.

Groups vs. Differentiation Tags: What’s the Difference?

Canvas already has several ways to organize students, and it’s natural to wonder how Differentiation Tags fit in. Here’s a practical breakdown.

Groups: Collaboration Spaces

Groups are designed for student collaboration. When you create Groups, Canvas generates shared spaces with:

• Group discussions
• Group files
• Group assignments and submissions

Best for:

• Group projects/peer collaboration
• Shared digital workspaces

Differentiation Tags: Instructional Flexibility

Differentiation tags allow instructors to create custom sets of students within a course that are hidden from students.

Best for:

• Differentiated assignments and due dates
• Targeted practice or support
• Flexible learning pathways

Key advantages:

• Students can have multiple tags
• Tags can change over time
• No additional course spaces are created

Getting Started for Spring 2026

You don’t need to redesign your entire course to begin; start with one activity or one week.

👉 How do I create and manage Differentiation Tags as an instructor?