Canvas LTI Tools - List of Collaboration Tools


Introduction

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 collaboration tools available in Canvas at Virginia Tech.

Contents

Instructions

Chat

Background

Chat is integrated with Canvas and allows students and teachers to instantly communicate with each other.

It can be used to:

  • Contact class participants online
  • Hold virtual office hours
  • Conduct live discussions or study sessions

Use Chat in a Canvas Site

  1. Click Chat in the Course Navigation Menu.
  2. Simply type your message in the box at the bottom of the window.
  3. Click Send. 
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Get Help with Chat

Canvas Support supports the chat tool. Click Help on any Canvas screen for a list of help options, including 24/7 chat and phone support.

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Eli Review (English)

Background

Eli Review is a set of tools to improve feedback in the classroom. Eli Review empowers teachers to coach students in feedback and revision, promoting critical thinking, and better writing.

With Eli Review, instructors can:

  • Break up large writing projects into smaller writing tasks to guide students and emphasize specific learning goals.
  • Coordinate write-review-revise cycles to encourage timely feedback and revision.
  • Encourage students to develop writing in pieces and build toward a full draft.

Add Eli Review to Canvas

Eli Review is only available in ENGL 1106 courses only. To use Eli Review, add it using Assignments or Modules.

Get Help with Eli Review

Resources

Technical Support

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Google Apps/Google Drive

Background 

Google applications can be integrated with Canvas, enabling students and teachers to collaborate on Google docs, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. 

You can embed your Google Drive files and folders directly into the following:

  • Assignment post
  • Discussion post
  • Quiz
  • Response 

Additionally, in Collaborations, you can select people or specific groups in the class and collaborate on the following:

  • Google Docs
  • Google Sheets
  • Google Slides
  • Google Forms
  • Google Drawings
  • Google Sites

Keep in mind that all users must be logged into a Google account to participate in the collaborations. 

Use Google with a Canvas Site

You can add Google Apps to a Canvas site's Course Navigation Menu, to an Assignment, a Module, the Rich Content Editor or to a Collaboration. 

Use Google Apps in Collaborations

  1. Go to your site and click Collaborations in the Course Navigation Menu.
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  2. Click the drop down menu for Collaborate using and click on Google Assignments (LTI 1.3).
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  3. Make sure to assign a Title and Description to the Collaboration.
  4. For File Type, choose between Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drawings, or Sites.
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  5. Next, check the boxes next to the names of the collaborators you would like to add and click Create.
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  6. In the popup, you'll see the title of the file you are able to create. Confirm by clicking Create.Image of the above instructions
  7. You'll go to the Collaborations main page. You can now begin collaborating with others in the Google file you made.
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Get Help with Google Tools

Canvas Support supports Google tools. Click Help on any Canvas screen for a list of help options, including 24/7 chat and phone support.

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Google Assignments (LTI 1.3)

Background

Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) allows you to pull in documents from Google Drive to Canvas.

Please note that Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) is the updated integration for Google Docs Cloud Assignment. Both tools are currently available in Canvas for the 2023-2024 school year, but Google Docs Cloud Assignment will not be available after June 30, 2024. We suggest switching to the new Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) when creating new assignments with Google. If you have created assignments using the old Google Docs Cloud Assignment tool, please remove the assignment and re-create it using Google Assignments (LTI 1.3).

Add Google Assignments to a Canvas site

  1. Click Assignments in the Course Navigation Menu.
  2. Create a new assignment or edit an existing one. 
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  3. For Submission Type, click External Tool and then click Find. 
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  4. Find and click on Google Assignments (LTI 1.3). 
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  5. A window will appear to link your Google account. Check that your Virginia Tech Google account is showing, then click Link.
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  6. In the new pop up, click Link.
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  7. Enter the assignment points, due date, title, and instructions and scroll down.
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  8. Under the Files section, either attach an existing Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide by clicking Attach or create one from scratch by clicking Create.
    • If you click on Create, click on the untitled file name to open your file to configure.
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  9. Click Create. You'll return to the Configure External Tool window.
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  10. Scroll down to see the URL for your Google file. Click Select.
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  11. Configure the rest of the assignment settings like normal and click Save or Save & Publish.

Get Help with Google Tools

Canvas Support supports Google tools. Click Help on any Canvas screen for a list of help options, including 24/7 chat and phone support.

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Hypothesis

Background

Hypothesis is a tool that is integrated with Canvas that allows instructors and students to annotate, collaborate, and search notes. By using Hypothesis assignments, instructors can assign students readings in PDF or online formats and have students work alone or collaboratively to submit annotations and peer comments for feedback and grading in Canvas.

Use Hypothesis in Canvas

Hypothesis can be added to Canvas using assignments or modules:

Annotating with Hypothesis

Grading

Get Help with Hypothesis

Technical Support

  1. Submit a Ticket with Hypothesis
    1. From the Hypothesis screen in which you need assistance, click on the question mark in the top menu bar.
    2. Click on New support ticket to go to their support form.
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  2. Email Tier-1 support for general questions: support@hypothes.is

Resources

Pedagogical Support

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Microsoft Education

Background

Microsoft can be integrated with Canvas, enabling students and teachers to use Microsoft OneDrive or Microsoft OneNote in Canvas sites.

Make sure you have a Microsoft 365 account through your department.

  • Most departments provide Microsoft 365 (M365) services to faculty and staff. Contact your departmental IT if you have questions about your licensing.
  • M365 services are also provided to students at Virginia Tech.

Class Notebook

Microsoft OneNote is integrated with Canvas through an external tool called Class Notebook in the Microsoft Education toolset. This tool allows teachers to create digital notebooks to stay organized, deliver course content, and collaborate with both students and colleagues.

Access Microsoft Education

  1. Log in to Canvas.
  2. Navigate to the course where you want to use OneNote/Class Notebook.
  3. In the Course Navigation Menu, click Microsoft Education. Sign into your Microsoft account if prompted.

Enable Class Notebook

  1. When you access Microsoft Education for the first time, you'll see the Welcome to Microsoft Education page.
  2. Click Continue setup.
  3. You'll go to the Dashboard Apps page.
    • If you need to get back to this page, click on your profile icon in the top right corner and go to Course Settings.
  4. Enable Class Notebook by toggling it on and click Done.
  5. When you refresh the page, you'll now have the option to click on Class Notebook.

Set up a Class Notebook

  1. Click Set up a OneNote Class Notebook and choose to set up the notebook from a Blank Notebook or From existing notebook content.
  2. Name the notebook. The default name will be the name of your course, but you can edit this. Click Next.
  3. You'll see a list of things that you will get in your notebook. Click Next.
  4. Set up sections. By default, four sections are automatically added - Handouts, Class Notes, Homework, and Quizzes. You can edit section names, click + Add section to create new sections, or delete sections by clicking X. Click Create. 
  5. Once your notebook is created, click Open Notebook to go to your new notebook. 
  6. Now that your notebook is created, any time you open Microsoft Education > Class Notebook in Canvas, you'll be able to open your notebook.
  7. If you need assistance, click the links under Need help? to view the user guide or support page.

OneDrive

Using Microsoft OneDrive in Canvas, instructors can:

  • Access Microsoft OneDrive documents through SpeedGrader to add feedback.
  • Link Microsoft OneDrive documents anywhere they use the Rich Content Editor.
  • Include Microsoft OneDrive documents in Modules.
  • Create Collaborations for course groups, student groups, and on-demand groups using Microsoft OneDrive documents.
  • Sign in to Canvas with your Microsoft OneDrive login using single sign-on.

Students can: 

  • Collaborate on assignments using Microsoft OneDrive documents.
  • Submit Microsoft OneDrive files directly to Canvas Assignments. 

Access Microsoft Education

  1. Log in to Canvas.
  2. Navigate to the course where you want to use Microsoft OneDrive..
  3. In the Course Navigation Menu, click Microsoft Education. Sign into your Microsoft account if prompted.

Enable OneDrive

  1. When you access Microsoft Education for the first time, you'll see the Welcome to Microsoft Education page.
  2. Click Continue setup.
  3. You'll go to the Dashboard Apps page.
    • If you need to get back to this page, click on your profile icon in the top right corner and go to Course Settings.
  4. Enable OneDrive by toggling it on and click Done.
  5. When you refresh the page, you'll now have the option to click on OneDrive.

Collaborations

Canvas Collaborations can be created using the Microsoft Education tool.

  1. Go to the course you want to collaborate in and click Collaborations. 
  2. In the Collaborate Using field, change Google Apps to Microsoft Education.
  3. Choose Select Existing Document to pick an existing file, or under Blank Document Type, choose Word, Excel, or PowerPoint and fill in the Document Name.
  4. In the left column, you will see all the enrollments in the course site. Click on the people or groups you want to collaborate with to move them to the right column. Click Create. 
  5. You'll go to the Collaborations main page. To view your Collaboration, click its name. You can now begin collaborating with others in the file you made or start a new collaboration.

Assignments

Canvas Assignments can be created using the Microsoft Education tool.

  1. Click Assignments in the Course Navigation Menu.
  2. Create a new assignment or edit an existing one. 
  3. Scroll to Submission Type. Choose External Tool from the dropdown box and then click Find. 
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  4. In the new window, find and click on Microsoft Education. 
  5. A window with your OneDrive files will appear. Locate and click on the file you want to embed and click Attach. 
  6. You'll return to the Configure External Tool window with your file attached. Click Select.
  7. Scroll down to select who you want to assign it to and when it would be available, and then click Save. 

Get Help with Microsoft and Canvas

  • Enterprise Cloud and AI Platforms (ECAP), a unit in the Division of IT, supports Microsoft.
  • Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) supports the Microsoft Education Canvas integration. 
  • If you need assistance, go to the 4Help Portal, sign in, and click Get Help.

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Packback

Background

Packback enables Inquiry-Based Online Discussion at scale using AI to:

  • Act as a Digital TA to coach students to ask their own open-ended questions
  • Auto-moderate the discussion
  • Help instructors increase the impact of their feedback

For instructors, Packback's platform offers:

  • A toolset for building a motivating and engaging learning environment through discussion.
  • The role of a "Digital TA" to help to identify great posts for you to highlight in your class, auto-moderating the community on Packback's Community Guidelines, and auto-scoring content based on your weekly participation requirements.
  • Outside of the Packback AI, instructors on Packback are equipped with a number of tools that make managing online discussions easy and scalable, including tools to help browse, gather insights from, and give feedback on discussions. 

For students, Packback has been designed to create a discussion environment that supports intrinsic motivation and curiosity, the benefits of which extend beyond the discussion into overall class engagement and performance. Packback's product design references existing academic research on how to build effective online communities and encourage critical thought, as well as research in the realm of positive psychology to help build a motivating experience.

This has led to a platform that delivers better quantitative discussion metrics (more source citations, longer posts, more consistent posting) and improved course outcome metrics.

Add Packback to Canvas

Get Help with Packback

Resources

Technical Support

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Piazza

Background

Piazza facilitates real-time online discussion. Instructors use Piazza to host class question-and-answer sessions, where students post questions and collaborate to edit responses to these questions. Instructors can also answer questions, endorse student answers, and edit or delete any posted content. 

  • For more information about Piazza and what it can do for your class, see Overview - Piazza.    

Add Piazza to a Canvas Site

You can add Piazza to a Canvas site's Course Navigation Menu, to an Assignment, or to a Module.

Use Piazza

Click Piazza in a course's Course Navigation Menu. You'll go to the Piazza start page where you have to create your Piazza Account. 

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Get Help with Piazza

See Piazza's Support Center for more information on using Piazza and information on contacting Piazza support. 

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Zoom

Background

Zoom is a versatile video conferencing tool that all Virginia Tech affiliates can use on their computers and smartphones. All Virginia Tech students and faculty staff members have Virginia Tech Zoom Pro accounts, where they can host, schedule, and participate in meetings, and record meetings for free on the cloud.

Add Zoom to a Canvas Site

You can add Zoom to a Canvas site's Course Navigation Menu, to an Assignment, or to a Module.

Get Help with Zoom

For problems logging into Zoom, contact Virginia Tech 4Help:

  1. Go to the 4Help Portal, log in with your PID and PID password, and click Get Help. 
  2. Call (540) 231-4357. 

For problems using Zoom, contact Zoom support:

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