Canvas Commons

Introduction

Commons is a new way for educators to collaborate, share, and find the best educational resources available within Canvas. On Commons, you’ll be able to share Courses, Assessments, and Activities created in Canvas with other educators as well as find and import other learning resources directly into your own Canvas courses.

Features

Learning Object Repository (LOR)
Sharing is easy
Searching is intuitive
Adding content to your course is easy
A broad range of content types
Share widely or to a specific groups

Getting Started

Canvas Commons can be found inside Canvas. Begin by logging in to Canvas.

Instructor Resources

Using existing Canvas Commons resources in your Canvas course

From within Canvas, click the link for Commons in the red bar on the side of the screen.
Search for content, and click the blue link to view a specific result.
When you have found the content you want to use, click the blue button to Import/Download it to your Canvas course.
See the Canvas guide ‘How do I use Commons?‘ for more information.

Sharing your own resources to Canvas Commons

Open your Canvas course.
Locate the item you want to add to Commons and click the three dots.
Select Share to Commons.
See the Canvas guide ‘How do I share a resource to Commons?‘ for more information.

Syllabus Statement

Important! Canvas Commons resources become standard Canvas content in your course. You do not need to include a separate syllabus statement.

Student Resources

Using Canvas Commons resources in your Canvas course

When your instructor uses resources from Canvas Commons, they will appear as regular content in your Canvas course.

Online Documentation

Training

Interested in discovering new ways to use Canvas in your teaching? Or, want to learn best practices? Attend a CanvasLive session led by faculty/staff.

Licensing

Commons uses your Canvas account and does not require a separate sign-on. There is no associated fee for ISU faculty or students to use Canvas Commons.

Support

The Canvas Commons tool is supported by Instructure. Use one of the following channels to connect with their 24/7 support:

live chat — open the ?Help menu in Canvas and click ‘Chat with Canvas Support’
ticket support — open the ?Help menu in Canvas and click ‘Report a Problem‘
phone support — call 515-294-4000, then follow the prompts for Canvas support

News & Updates

Studio Release: Chromebook compatibility (March 30, 2021)

In this Studio release (March 30), Chromebook users can seamlessly capture their screen or webcam and upload their video to Studio.

April 8, 2021

Canvas Release: Course availability date enhancements (April 17, 2021)

The April 17, 2021 Canvas Release includes updates to Course Availability Date Enhancements. Instructors can now choose to use term or course start and end dates via a dropdown in the course settings. Term dates specified by the institution are now visible in this same location.

April 7, 2021

Canvas Deploy: Gradebook tooltip, delayed announcements, external apps and assignment scores (April 14, 2021)

The April 14, 2021 Canvas Deploy addresses feature and bug fixes for Gradebook tooltips, delayed announcements and the Safari browser, and external apps (LTI) and Complete/Incomplete assignment types.