Canvas can be extended by integrating external tools. Software companies, textbook publishers, and training websites all make Canvas external tools. Some are free, others must be purchased. Virginia Tech's Canvas external tools are categorized here based on broad categories for publisher tools, collaboration tools, multimedia tools, assessment tools, accessibility tools, and tools that didn't fit into those categories. For our main article on external tools, see Canvas - Requesting and Using External Tools (LTI Tools).

Instructors can request new external tools be added to Canvas.

• Canvas administrators and Virginia Tech's legal, IT security, and software purchasing teams must review external tools before they can be integrated.
• Only Virginia Tech, not Canvas, can add an external tool to Canvas or to your course site.
• Not all requests can be fulfilled. 

To be easily integrated with Canvas, external tools should be designed according to the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard. Some companies refer to external tools them as LTI tools. Canvas external tools are considered applications or apps. Canvas and some companies refer to external tools as LTI apps or external apps.

This article covers accessibility tools available in Canvas at Virginia Tech.

Contents

• Ally
• EquatIO

Ally

Background

The Ally tool in Canvas helps instructors ensure that course materials are accessible and can be effectively accessed and understood by students with disabilities. Providing accessible course content is required by Virginia Tech under VT Policy 7215 and by federal law under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

For complete instructions, see: Accessibility Checker for Canvas - Using Ally.

Checking Accessibility with the Accessibility Meter

In Files

1. Click Files in the Course Navigation Menu.
2. There will be a column labeled Accessibility.

In Assignments (and anywhere else that uses the Rich Content Editor)

Go to Assignments, Announcements, or any other tool that uses the Rich Content Editor. Ally will scan files attached through the Rich Content Editor and provide an accessibility score for each file. The accessibility meter appears next to each file when viewing the published or previewed content. It does not appear while you are editing the content.

Get Help with Ally

• See Accessibility Checker for Canvas - Using Ally.
• For technical support and information on accessibility, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. Your request will be forwarded to the Accessible Technologies group. 

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EquatIO

Background

EquatIO is multi-platform software for digitizing math and chemistry expressions and equations. 

• Input math using a text editor, LaTeX, or use handwriting, screenshot, or speech recognition. 
• Insert math into Microsoft Word, Google Suite tools, and Canvas.
• Make math accessible! 

See Digital Math - Creating and Editing Digital Math with Equatio for full instructions on how to use EquatIO.

Access EquatIO in Canvas

The EquatIO LTI tool is no longer being updated and has been decommissioned in Canvas. Moving forward, instructors can use either the EquatIO desktop app or EquatIO Chrome extension. See how to get and access the EquatIO tool.

Use the EquatIO Desktop App with Canvas

1. Open the EquatIO desktop app to create equations or expressions.
2. Once created, copy and paste the content into the Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE) in Assignments, Pages, Discussions, or Quizzes.
   • You can insert equations or expressions in different ways:
     • Copy/paste the Latex for the equations or expressions.
     • Insert equations or expressions as an image.
     • Copy the HTML format of the equations or expressions and switch to the HTML editor in the Canvas Rich Content Editor.

Use the EquatIO Chrome Extension with Canvas

1. While on a Canvas page using Chrome, launch the EquatIO extension.
2. Use the toolbar to build equations or expressions.
3. Once created, copy and paste the content into the Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE) in Assignments, Pages, Discussions, or Quizzes.
   • You can insert equations or expressions in different ways:
     • Copy/paste the Latex for the equations or expressions.
     • Insert equations or expressions as an image.
     • Copy the HTML format of the equations or expressions and switch to the HTML editor in the Canvas Rich Content Editor.

Get Help with EquatIO

• See Troubleshooting in Digital Math - Creating and Editing Digital Math with Equatio. 
• For technical support and information on accessibility, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. Your request will be forwarded to the Accessible Technologies group. 

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