Account-Level Observer Assignments

[OliviaHall6]

In the Canvas Guide "What is the Observer Role?" there is a reference to observers that are assigned at the account level. I work with a Competency-Based Higher Education Program in which students have mentors that follow them throughout the program. We'd like our mentors to have observer-level access on Canvas that we can assign once, on an account-level, so that those mentors are able to view their student's work in each of the courses they take. 

However, we are having difficulty learning how to assign observers at an account-level, and have been informed that it is not possible to do so. The recommendation has been to assign these mentors as observers on the course level, but this would take significantly more upkeep throughout a students' program that we are hoping to avoid. In light of the article above, I'm hopeful that there is another way. Has anyone experienced success in assigning observers to students at an account level (not a course level)? 

Thanks in advance! 

[mzimmerman]

Hi @OliviaHall6 

If the mentors in question already have accounts on Canvas, then you do not need to create "observer" accounts, merely pair the observers with the student(s) that they need to observe.  You can do this via an SIS import file, or with a pairing code that the observer enters.

There is more information about both creating Canvas user accounts for your observers (if the mentors do not already have them) and associating them with students via SIS import files at https://docs.google.com/document/d/10E08Zlv4TX2vf6n6-qWxfaHG0Ix5HjFZskP9k1mHXbE/edit#heading=h.xjxy8... 

[OliviaHall6]

Thanks so much for your response! I'm unable to view the link you included. Would you be able to attach it in some other way? 

[mzimmerman · Accepted solution]

Hi @OliviaHall6 

I was merely linking to a document that I found here in the community.  It's basically the same as the information on this help page:https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Resource-Documents/Observer-Account-Creation-and-Pairing-P...