Create a certifcate in Canvas LMS

[ErnestChan]

Hi Everyone,

We would like to create a completion PDF certificate in Canvas LMS and wondering whether we need to use any external tools to do that. Could we just create this certificate in HTML/CSS in a Canvas page and add a pdf button to download this page in pdf format? I saw some online tutorial on using Google form for that with a add on tool but our school blocked this third party app in our Google workspace. Any other good alternative? Thanks

- Ernest

[Beehive · Accepted solution]

Hi Ernest,

Have you considered using badges? You can use the free version of what was called Badgr, now called "Canvas Credentials." You can build in badges to be issued automatically upon completion of certain requirements in the Canvas course, and these badges can be digitally authenticated. You can enter what assessments were required to earn it as well as objectives. These badges can then be added to LinkedIn, Portfolium/Canvas Student Portfolios, etc. You can even add expiration dates for your badges for learners to recertify after a certain period of time. 

With the paid version, you can even make Learning Pathways for stackable credentials. Would you like more information on this?

[Beehive · Accepted solution]

Great! Broadly, I would break it down into these steps.

• Create your course in Canvas, including the assessments on which you will issue the badge(s)
• Enable the Canvas Credentials Dev Key and install in the course you're using (it's an "inherited" Dev Key, which is convenient. That just means someone at Instructure created the key, so you don't have to!)
• Create an "issuer" account.
  • This could be something like, "The Center for Teaching and Learning at XYZ College"
• Back in your course, make sure that Canvas Credentials is showing in your course navigation menu, and click it
• Create your badges!
  • Make life easier by selecting the option to automatically issue badges once requirements are met unless you have a compelling reason to require manually issuing badges.

Happily, you will find guides along the way of the process to help you, and I have linked guides in these general steps throughout. There's also the link to the entire suite of support articles for Canvas Credentials I recommend. I just set this up in my instance for one of my courses, and it took maybe an hour and a half or so.

I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any troubles along the way.

[Beehive · Accepted solution]

Hi Ernest,

Have you considered using badges? You can use the free version of what was called Badgr, now called "Canvas Credentials." You can build in badges to be issued automatically upon completion of certain requirements in the Canvas course, and these badges can be digitally authenticated. You can enter what assessments were required to earn it as well as objectives. These badges can then be added to LinkedIn, Portfolium/Canvas Student Portfolios, etc. You can even add expiration dates for your badges for learners to recertify after a certain period of time. 

With the paid version, you can even make Learning Pathways for stackable credentials. Would you like more information on this?

[ErnestChan]

Hi,

We would like to try the free version of Canvas Credentials in our Canvas. What's the installation process like? thanks!

- Ernest

[Beehive · Accepted solution]

Great! Broadly, I would break it down into these steps.

• Create your course in Canvas, including the assessments on which you will issue the badge(s)
• Enable the Canvas Credentials Dev Key and install in the course you're using (it's an "inherited" Dev Key, which is convenient. That just means someone at Instructure created the key, so you don't have to!)
• Create an "issuer" account.
  • This could be something like, "The Center for Teaching and Learning at XYZ College"
• Back in your course, make sure that Canvas Credentials is showing in your course navigation menu, and click it
• Create your badges!
  • Make life easier by selecting the option to automatically issue badges once requirements are met unless you have a compelling reason to require manually issuing badges.

Happily, you will find guides along the way of the process to help you, and I have linked guides in these general steps throughout. There's also the link to the entire suite of support articles for Canvas Credentials I recommend. I just set this up in my instance for one of my courses, and it took maybe an hour and a half or so.

I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any troubles along the way.

[ErnestChan]

Hi!

Thanks for your response on my question in creating a completion certificate in Canvas. I am wondering if for some academic reason we prefer not to use the canvas credentials, what other alternative we could explore for this task? Could we use just HTML+javascript to do that? we actually just look for a simple way to create a certificate for a non-credit course and this certificate could be just a pdf file with the student name on it.

Best,

Ernest

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @ErnestChan,

While you might be able to get something like that working, as a Canvas admin, I'd really recommend against that direction.  If you use custom coding, it's always going to be subject to break with future Canvas or web browser updates, and it would definitely not be supported by Instructure.  Using badges as @Beehive  suggested does take a little bit of initial setup work, but I think it's a much better and supporter long-term solution for your needs.

-Chris