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External Tools Introduction

Canvas, like many LMSs, supports loading external resources inline using the IMS LTI standard. These tools can be configured on a course or account level, and can be added to course modules or used to create custom assignments (see the LTI Outcomes service for more information on that). Canvas supports some additional integration points using LTI to offer a more integrated experience and to allow for more customization of the Canvas product, even in a cloud environment. This is accomplished by configuring additional settings on external tools used inside of Canvas.

Because tools can be configured at any level in the system heirarchy, they can be as general or specific as needed. The Chemistry Department can add chemistry-specific tools without those tools cluttering everyone else's interfaces. Or, a single teacher who is trying out some new web service can do so without needing the tool to be set up at the account level.

Types of Tool Integrations

Canvas currently supports the following types of tool extensions:

  • External tool assignments, with grades passed back from the tool to Canvas

    This type of integration is part of the LTI 1.1 specification, and is important in that it allows external services to take care of things that can be graded automatically, or outside the LMS scope.

    Example use cases might include:

    • Administering a timed, auto-graded coding project
    • Evaluating a student's ability to correctly draw notes at different musical intervals
    • Giving students credit for participating in an interactive lesson on the Civil War

  • Adding a link/tab to the course navigation

    Example use cases might include:

    • Building a specialized attendance/seating chart tool
    • Adding an "ebooks" link with course required reading
    • Connecting to study room scheduling tool
    • Linking to campus communication hub

  • Adding a link/tab to the account navigation

    Example use cases might include:

    • Including outside reports in the Canvas UI
    • Building helper libraries for campus-specific customizations
    • Leveraging single sign-on for access to other systems, like SIS

  • Adding a link/tab to the user profile navigation

    Example use cases might include:

    • Leveraging single sign-on to student portal from within Canvas
    • Linking to an external user profile

  • Adding a button to insert custom content using the rich content editor

    Example use cases might include:

    • Embedding resources from campus video repository
    • Inserting custom-designed chemistry diagrams into quiz question text
    • Building integrations with new or subject-area-specialized web authoring services

  • Selecting a link for modules or an external tool assignment

    Example use cases might include:

    • Building and then linking to a remixed version of an online Physics textbook
    • Selecting from a list of pre-built, interactive quizzes on blood vessels
    • Choosing a chapter from an e-textbook to add to the "Null Hypothesis" module

How to Configure/Import Integrated Tools

Tools extensions can be configured using LTI configuration XML as specified in the IMS Common Cartridge specification, or using the external tools API. Configuration XML contains all non-account-specific settings (everything except the consumer key and shared secret, which must always be entered manually). The user can retrieve the info from a standard URL that you provide (recommended), or paste in the XML that you provide. For more information on this configuration, see the "Examples" link.

For information on how to programmatically configured external tools, so users don't have to copy and paste URLs or XML, please see the Canvas external tools API.