Types of CANVAS Collaborations

[ltyler]

I am new to CANVAS Collaborations and wanted to have my students work on a Presentation together but I cannot see any way for them to design anything except for a Google Document. The guides seem to indicate I can select the Type of document but nowhere can I find that. Is that something that the students have access to when they get the assignment to work on a Collaboration?

[nwilson7]

 @ltyler ‌, the Canvas collaborations tool takes advantage of either Google Apps or Microsoft O356.  It is not really something built into Canvas.  After you choose Google or 0365, you are then able to choose a document, slide/powerpoint, or an excel/sheets.  The nice thing about doing it through Canvas is you are able to use your groups all set up in Canvas and it creates the "document" for all your students with all the sharing permissions all set and you included in those so you can always see what the students are doing.

Hope this helps!

Nick 

[ltyler]

Thank you for your quick response Nick,

But that’s just it, I never get the choice to use slides or spreadsheet; just a straight Google document. See below.

Kenneth (Lance) Tyler, DMin, BCC

BCCi Area 12 Certification Chair

(909) 558-7444 or #87444

ltyler@llu.edu<mailto:ltyler@llu.edu>

[kblack · Accepted solution]

Hi  @ltyler ‌ - To add to what  @nwilson7 ‌ has stated regarding the ability to use either Google Apps or Microsoft O365, it is possible that your institution opted to not add Google Apps as an LTI (as it's called....) and instead are using just plain old Google Docs.  This is referenced at the beginning online lesson on Collaborations here:  How do I use the Collaborations Index Page?  It sounds like you are only seeing the ability to add a Google Doc, and that is pointed out in this online lesson:  How do I create a Google Docs collaboration as an instructor?  As that states at the beginning, a Google Docs collaboration is a wee bit different from a Google Drive collaboration.  I believe one of the issues with an institution switching from one to the other is that faculty would lose all existing collaborations if when the switch-over is made, so there may be good reasons why your institution has chosen to remain with Google Drive.  The bottom line, I think, is that you should check with your local institution about this first, and then they can consult with the Canvas engineers regarding the pros/cons of making a switch-over from Docs to Drive....and when.

[ltyler]

Thank you Ken,

I think you may have hit on the answer as I suspect you may have been some financial and educational aspects to why we only are able to use Google Docs.

I appreciate the help provided by both of you and will check that out with the Dean,

Kenneth (Lance) Tyler, DMin, BCC

BCCi Area 12 Certification Chair

(909) 558-7444 or #87444

ltyler@llu.edu<mailto:ltyler@llu.edu>