Course Design Support
Add Library Content to Canvas
Did you know you can embed Western Libraries content in your Canvas course?
You can embed the following content in your course:
- Research & Writing Tutorials and Quizzes (SPOT)
- Databases: specific databases, or grouped by subject
- Research Guides: by subject, curated by librarians
- Live Chat Widgets: for the Tutoring Center and Research & Writing Studio
- Add Library links to the course navigation
View an example of what this looks like in this open Example Course.
Self-Paced Online Tutorials (SPOT) can be embedded in your course. There are also corresponding quizzes for each tutorial that you can add to assess your students.
Embedding the tutorials places them directly in Canvas and allows the students to complete the tutorial without leaving your course. View an example of embedded content here.
Add tutorials and/or quizzes directly from Canvas Commons (Canvas Commons is where educators can freely share content).
How-To Import From Canvas Commons
Before you begin, have a Canvas course ready to import the tutorial or quiz into.
- Open and sign into your WWU Canvas
- On the left main navigation bar, select the "Commons" icon
- In the top search bar, search for “Western Libraries SPOT.”
- Click the title of the Tutorial (Page) or Quiz to view details
- Click the “Import/Download” button to the right
- Select the course(s) to import it into
- Select the “Import to Course” button.
- The import will begin, and when complete, you will see it in your course in the corresponding part (Quizzes or Pages).
- Verify that it is published
- Add to your modules if you wish.
Use the "External Tool" function in Canvas to add databases and research guides.
Adding Chat is the same as adding SPOT Tutorials and Quizzes - use Canvas Commons (Canvas Commons is where educators can freely share content).
The Chat is built in a Canvas page and will work directly in Canvas, allowing the students to chat with the library without leaving your course.
How-To Import From Canvas Commons
Before you begin, have a Canvas course ready to import the chat into.
- Open and sign into your WWU Canvas
- On the left main navigation bar, select the "Commons" icon
- In the top search bar, search for “WWU Chat”
- Click the title of the Chat to view details
- Click the “Import/Download” button to the right
- Select the course(s) to import it into
- Select the “Import to Course” button.
- The import will begin, and when complete, you will see it in your course in the Pages section.
- Verify that it is published
- Add to your modules if you wish.
To add an item (a link) to the course navigation, you use an app called Redirect.
- Go to your Course settings
- Select the Apps tab
- Type, "redirect" in the Filter by Name box. The Redirect logo will appear (it does not show its name, see image)
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- Click the "+ Add App" button
- A window appears to enter info and change settings.
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- In the "Name" filed, enter what you want the link name to be in the course navigation.
- In the URL Redirect, enter (paste) the entire URL of the website you want. Any external or Canvas link works.
- Check ON the Show in Course Navigation
- Check OFF the Force open in new tab, to keep the user in the Canvas environment
- Click "Add App" button
- Click Home to refresh
- Click your Course Settings again and go to the Navigation Tab
- You can re-order its position in the course navigation just like any other.
Library Tutorials are managed by a small group of teaching and learning professionals at Western Libraries.
Contact
Curt Pavia, Western Libraries' Learning Technologist, with questions about the content in these tutorials and assistance importing into Canvas.
Feedback
You may provide feedback on this site and any tutorials with this quick survey form.
Looking For More?
- Consult with a library professional.
- Or, visit our good friends at Western's Center for Instructional Innovation and Assessment (CIIA) - they are loaded with ideas and resources.
- Don't forget to check out Western's Teaching Handbook.
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