Direct Link to Canvas Commons content not working

[macoe]

I have uploaded a page to Canvas Commons for my staff that I would like them to incorporate into their courses as a template. When I try and provide the direct resource link from commons, the link takes the teachers to the generic Canvas log on page. Our school district has their own instance of Canvas. Even if the teacher logs into our Canvas instance and then tries to click on the link, the link still directs them to the generic Canvas log on (Which we do not have) and no way to verify our SSO (Our SSO is Google but clicking the Google icon doesn't work either).

Is there a solution to this? As it stands, I'm having to tell my teachers exactly what to filter to find out template for their course.

[kmeeusen · Accepted solution]

Hi @macoe 

Canvas Commons is tied directly to Canvas accounts, and can only be accessed through Canvas.

But wait, there's more.........................................

There is an easy work-round for this that I just tested, post the link in Canvas. I would suggest using a global announcement for teachers only. I realize that some teachers won't need it, but the ones who do will get it.

Alternately, while more tedious, you could filter your Admin People tab to show instructors, then message each instructor the link. Unfortunately, you have to do this one teacher at a time.

Finally, have you tried playing with Blueprint Courses yet. You could push the desired page to all necessary courses using a blueprint course. Learn more at....

• How do I enable a course as a blueprint course as an admin?
• How do I associate a course with a blueprint course as an admin?
• How do I lock course objects in a blueprint course as an admin?
• How do I sync course content in a blueprint course as an admin?
• How do I view the sync history for a blueprint course as an admin?

Good luck,

Kelley

[laura_schmidli]

Is there any update on this? Is fixing this issue any kind of priority for Instructure? 

The "Resource Link" from Canvas Commons is entirely not functional, which defeats the purpose of sharing items to Canvas Commons. I work at a large institution, and the suggested workarounds are not scalable. 

[ScottBuhr]

Same issue here. The solution provided doesn't fix the problem that the resource link won't open to the specific institution login page from which it was shared. 

[ScottBuhr]

Through trial and error it looks like it will only work for folks who have already navigated to the canvas commons. If they have not been there before it won't work. Still, I have trouble opening a link from time to time and have to use the search bar to find it. 

[SusanNiemeyer]

Here is my question: why are you all using Canvas Commons? As an instructor, I have found Canvas Commons to be particularly unhelpful.

Why not simply create an in-house Template or development course? 

[ScottBuhr]

Hi Susan, 

The commons is a nice way to share pages or assignments that you want professors to be able to very quickly and easily add to their course. Here is an example: 

I created an activity for the students in our teacher education program that we'd like to do in multiple teacher ed courses. It's called "Start My Class" and involves students opening a teacher's class to practice getting up in front of a group and preparing something to share. I shared the assignment in Canvas for all of our professors to pull directly into their courses. Many of them modify it slightly to fit them, but they can pull it right into their course with no modification as well. This brings in the rubric as well and the formatting of the page/assignment. We have several items like this and they have seemed to work well so far. Just an example. Here is a link if you'd like to take a look, though if that doesn't work you can just search for "start my class" in the commons.