Canvas Release: SIS Integration Settings (2017-04-22)

erinhmcmillan
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni

This document introduces SIS Integration Settings as noted in the Canvas Production Release Notes (2017-04-22) and Canvas Production Release Notes (2017-07-15).  

 

This update applies to student information system (SIS) providers supporting assignment-level grade passback in Canvas. SIS providers must already be integrated with the SIS platform. To enable this feature, or for questions about an SIS provider, admins should contact their Customer Success Manager.

Canvas integrates with a new SIS integration platform that streamlines the SIS experience in Canvas. Institutions can manage SIS validations and assignment sync settings for all subaccounts and courses.

 

 

Supported SIS Providers

New SIS integration settings apply to any SIS CSV provider supporting assignment-level grade passback, PowerSchool PowerTeacher Pro, and SIS providers compliant with OneRoster™ v.1.1. The settings could also be used in conjunction with existing Instructure Skyward and PowerSchool (old Gradebook) LTI-based integrations.

 

Integration Account Settings

When SIS Integration Settings is enabled, Account Settings displays the SIS Integration Settings section. Each of the available settings can be managed by a Canvas admin.

 

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SIS Friendly Name

This text field allows admins to specify the name of their SIS provider. If selected as part of the SIS Sync settings, the name displays in the SIS checkbox in Canvas assignments, graded discussions, and quizzes. Instructors may not be familiar with knowing what an SIS is but they know the functionality of a setting identified as PowerSchool or Skyward.

 

SIS Imports

This setting enables SIS imports and allows admins to import CSV files. This setting previously existed in Canvas in the Features section.

 

SIS Syncing

This setting manages all workflows associated with sending SIS data back to the SIS provider. This checkbox must be selected to manage any granular grade passback settings. Currently this setting does not support syncing a final or midterm grade, which will be added in a future release.

 

Admins can enable four workflow settings with SIS Syncing. These settings set defaults for all assignments throughout all courses; however, course instructors ultimately manage which assignments are synced by selecting the Sync to SIS option in a graded assignment or the Sync to SIS toggle option in the Assignment Index Page. Each SIS provider has its own assignment data validations, most of which were not previously required in Canvas. Now admins can choose to set specific validations to pass back to their institution’s SIS.

 

Lock this Setting for Subaccounts

This setting is responsible for locking all selected SIS Sync settings for subaccounts. Subaccount admins cannot change any SIS settings.

 

Default SIS Sync for Assignments, Quizzes, Graded Discussions

This setting displays the SIS Friendly Name in the Post to [SIS] checkbox in Canvas assignments, graded discussions, and quizzes. All graded assignments, graded discussions, and graded quizzes will be enabled to be passed back to the SIS by default. (In quizzes, this setting does not apply to practice quizzes and surveys.) The name of the SIS also displays in the checkbox when creating an assignment shell in the Assignments page.

 

Require Assignment Due Date

Part of the Default SIS Sync for Assignments, Quizzes, Graded Discussions setting, this setting requires a due date for Canvas assignments. In a course, if a due date is not included in a graded assignment, Canvas will ask the user to add a due date. The assignment cannot be saved until the due date error is resolved or the Sync to SIS option is disabled for the assignment.

 

Due date validation is based on the assignment setup:

  • If the assignment is assigned to Everyone, the due date is validated against the course date. If the course does not include a course override date, the assignment is validated against the term date.
  • If the assignment is assigned to one or more sections, the due date is validated against the section date. If the section does not include a section override date, the assignment is validated against the course or term date.
  • If the assignment is assigned to one or more students, the assignment is currently not validated.
  • If the assignment is assigned to one or more students using MasteryPaths, the assignment is currently not validated.

 

Limit Assignment Names Lengths

This setting requires the assignment name to a specific number of characters, based on the SIS provider’s length limit. Admins can set the maximum number of allowed characters in the Characters text field.

 

In a course, if an assignment name exceeds the number of set characters, Canvas will notify the user that the assignment name is too longer. The assignment cannot be saved until the name length error is resolved or the Sync to SIS option is disabled for the assignment.

 

Course-Level Display

Friendly Name Sync to SIS

When enabled for an institution, the Sync to SIS Friendly Name displays in graded assignments and in the Assignment Index Page Sync to SIS icon. The Friendly Name is used to indicate whether a specific assignment will be synced with the SIS during the assignment grade passback.

 

From the Assignment Index Page, the hover text shows the friendly name and whether or not the assignment has been enabled to be passed back to the SIS.

 

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Within a graded assignment, the assignment options and settings include the checkbox to pass the assignment back to the SIS.

 

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Course assignments created in the Calendar also include a checkbox for SIS syncing.

 

Calendar Assignments window includes sync to SIS option

 

Unpublished Assignments

A user can create an assignment and select the Post to SIS checkbox, but the SIS integration cannot collect assignment data until the assignment is published. This behavior also relates when using the SIS Integrations API.


In the Assignments Index Page, an assignment will not display the Sync to SIS icon until the assignment is published.

 

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Assignment Validations

When an assignment is selected to be passed back to the SIS, and the institution validates due dates and/or assignment name lengths, Canvas displays the error message as part of the assignment. The error(s) must be resolved before the assignment can be saved or published.

 

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Syncing Errors

If a user enables an assignment to sync to the SIS after the assignment was created, the assignment will be validated against any institution requirements. Attempting to sync the assignment will generate the error message. The error must be resolved before the assignment can be synced with the SIS.

 

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Disabling Assignment Sync

The Assignments page includes the option to disable sync for all assignments. Located in the Settings menu, the Disable Sync option allows a user to disable sync settings for all assignments without having to disable each assignment individually.

 

The Disable Sync option only displays if the page includes at least one assignment that is enabled to be synced with the SIS. Otherwise, the Disable Sync option does not display in the Settings menu.

 

Assignments Page Settings menu with the Disable Sync to SIS option

 

The Disable Sync option applies to all assignments in the page. If the course also uses Multiple Grading Periods, the Assignments page can be filtered by grading period.

 

Once selected and confirmed, the option immediately disables the assignments to be synced with the SIS. If an assignment needs to be enabled to be synced with the SIS, the assignment will need to be enabled manually.

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