Caltech
Canvas
Home  /  Canvas Resources  /  Integrated Tools

Integrated Tools

Canvas integrates well with several third-party tools, aka LTIs (Learning Tools Interoperability). Some are visible in the navigation menu of all new course shells, some are hidden and need to be enabled, and some are only available via Modules and the Rich Content Editor (RCE).

To hide, enable, or rearrange the order of integrated tools in the course menu:

  • From your course site, select Settings in the course navigation menu on the left side of your browser window (at the bottom).
  • Click the Navigation tab at the top of the page to find two banks of items. The items in the top bank are visible, while the items in the bottom bank are hidden.
  • Click the 3-dot menu for a given item to enable or disable it, and move it automatically to the other bank.
  • Drag items manually to reorder them in the menu.  
  • Click Save when finished.

To learn more about each of the external tools below, follow the links to their information pages:

  • Course Reserves - request digital course reserves, printed materials, and textbooks within Canvas courses.
  • Ed Discussion: originally licensed for a Caltech pilot in 2021, this Q&A forum retains limited functionality within Canvas.
  • Gradescope - a grading tool for problems sets, exams, and coding assignments. Scores can be imported directly into the Canvas gradebook.
  • NameCoach - hear how to pronounce the names of your students.
  • Perusall - encourage active reading and engagement with videos using this social annotation tool.
  • Piazza - Caltech's licensed course Q&A forum that facilitates interaction among students and instructors, featuring a LaTeX editor, highlighted syntax and code blocking.
  • Redirect Tool - add custom links to a course navigation menu for a class website, solution set, or other resource students will need to access frequently.
  • SensusAccess - provides accessible formats of files, documents, and webpages.
  • Studio - for media storage that doesn't count against course limits, with built-in recording, distribution, captioning, and engagement tools. Quick Guide
  • Zoom - videoconference integration that places links in a single course location, as well as in the course Calendar.

Additionally, Box, Google Drive, and Office 365 (OneDrive) are available for sharing content via Modules and the Rich Content Editor (provided in Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and the Syllabus). YouTube and Vimeo plug-ins are also available in the RCE for embedding videos.

A screenshot of the Modules drop-down selector menu

Look for External Tool in the Module item selector drop-down menu (right), and the plug-in icon in the Rich Content Editor (below).

Close-up of the "plug-in" icon in the Rich Content Editor

Is there an integrated tool (LTI) you are interested in using in your course? Fill out this form to request it: Request an LTI