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Canvas leverages collaborative technology to allow multiple users to work together on the same document at the same time. Collaborative documents are saved in real-time, meaning a change made by any of its users will be immediately visible to everyone.
When would I use Collaborations?
You can use Collaborations to:
- Copy and paste notes that everyone can access.
- Share bullet-point lists or agendas for upcoming synchronous class or group time or meetings.
- Create a text-based whiteboard that everyone in the classroom can see and refer to later.
- Assign student groups a collaborative assignment as a graded assignment (instructor feature).
View Google Assignments LTI 1.3 Collaborations
Collaborations also supports the Google Assignments LTI 1.3, which is enabled in a course as an external app. Google collaborations not only allow users to create Google Docs, but they can also create other Google Workspace files.
In order to use collaborations, Canvas admins need to enable the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 integration and configure it with the necessary credentials.
Learn how to create a Google Assignments LTI 1.3 collaboration as an instructor and create a Google Assignments LTI 1.3 collaboration as a student.
View Google Docs Collaborations
All Canvas courses support Google Docs as the default collaborations tool. Collaborations that leverage Google Docs require that all participating learners have created and linked their Google account to their personal Settings.
Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time. However, Google collaborations has a limit as to the number of users who can access a collaboration at any time.
Learn how to create a Google Docs collaboration as an instructor and create a Google Docs collaboration as a student.
View Google Drive Collaborations
Collaborations also supports the Google Apps LTI, which is enabled in a course as an external app. Google Drive collaborations not only allow users to create Google Docs, but they can also create Google Spreadsheets and Google Presentations.
The Google Apps integration requires enabling the External Collaborations Tool feature preview. However, enabling this feature preview changes the Collaborations interface and removes any existing Google Docs collaborations.
Learn how to create a Google Drive collaboration as an instructor and create a Google Drive collaboration as a student.
View Microsoft Office Collaborations
Collaborations can also be created when the Microsoft Office 365 LTI is enabled in a course as an external app.
Learn how to create a Microsoft LTI collaboration as an instructor and create a Microsoft LTI collaboration as a student.
In this video, you will learn how to use Collaborations in your Canvas course.
Last updated 2023-06-01
View the script for this video
To view subtitles for this video, click the button in the toolbar.
Video overviews reflect current feature functionality in Canvas; they are updated based on workflow changes, not on minor or non-functional interface enhancements. Depending on your institution's Canvas theme, the Canvas interface may display differently than shown in this video, but the functionality is the same.
Collaboration Overview (Students) Video Script
In this video, you will learn how to use Collaborations in your Canvas course.
Canvas integrates with both Google Docs and Microsoft Office 365 to allow multiple users to collaborate on the same document. Collaborations require users to have their own Google or Microsoft accounts. Users will be prompted to register their accounts in their personal settings in Canvas.
To get started, click Collaborations in the Course Navigation menu. To create a new collaboration, click the Start a new collaboration button. Select the collaboration type. Your institution may have enabled Microsoft Office 365 or Google Drive as LTI tools for additional collaboration opportunities. Give the collaboration a name and description. From the Collaborate With pane, you can add people to the collaboration.
Click the name of individual users in the left column. The names will then display in the right column to show that you have added them to the collaboration. You can also add groups to the collaboration by clicking on the Groups button and clicking the group names in the left column. The group name will appear in the right column to show that you have added it to the collaboration. To remove an individual or group from the collaboration, click the name in the right column, and it will appear in the left column to show that it has been removed.
To remove all collaborators, click the Remove All link.
Click the Start Collaborating button to create the document. A new tab will open with your new document. Note that Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time.
To edit an existing Collaboration, click the edit icon next to the name. To delete an existing Collaboration, click the delete icon.
You've now completed this overview video on Collaborations. For additional information on this or any other topic about Canvas, please visit guides.canvaslms.com. You can also ask questions and engage with other Canvas users by visiting community.canvaslms.com.
In this video, you will learn how to use Collaborations in your Canvas course.
Last updated 2023-06-02
View the script for this video
To view subtitles for this video, click the button in the toolbar.
Video overviews reflect current feature functionality in Canvas; they are updated based on workflow changes, not on minor or non-functional interface enhancements. Depending on your institution's Canvas theme, the Canvas interface may display differently than shown in this video, but the functionality is the same.
Collaborations Overview (Instructors) Video Script
In this video, you will learn how to use Collaborations in your Canvas course. Canvas integrates with Google Docs to allow multiple users to work together on the same document. Collaborations using Google Docs require course participants to have their own Google accounts, and users will be prompted to register their Google accounts in their personal settings in Canvas.
To get started, click Collaborations in course navigation. To start a new collaboration, click the Start a new collaboration button or Select the collaboration type. Your institution may have enabled Microsoft Office 365 or Google Drive as LTI tools for additional collaboration opportunities. Give the collaboration a name and description. Then, add people to the collaboration in the Collaborate With pane.
Click the name of individual users in the left column. The names will then display in the right column to show that you have added them to the collaboration. You can also add groups to the collaboration by clicking the Groups button and clicking the group names in the left column. The group name will appear in the right column to show that you have added it to the collaboration. To remove an individual or group from the collaboration, click the name in the right column, and it will appear in the left column to show that is has been removed. To remove all collaborators, click Remove All.
Click the Start Collaborating button to create the document. A new tab will open with your new document. Note that Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time. To edit an existing Collaboration, click the edit icon. To delete an existing Collaboration, click the delete icon.
You've now completed this tutorial video on Collaborations. For additional information on this or any other topic about Canvas, please visit guides.canvaslms.com. You can also ask questions and engage with other Canvas users by visiting community.canvaslms.com.
How can collaborations be graded, say for group projects? Will it show up in the grade book or speedgrader?
If you've been invited to join a collaboration, you can access the collaboration from Canvas. Collaboration files can also be viewed your online account for the collaboration type (OneDrive or Google Drive, respectively).
If your institution grants permission, you can create collaborations in the course. Your instructor can always view any collaboration you create, though other students can only view collaborations that have been shared with them. If your instructor has added you to a course group, you can always create collaborations within a group.
You can choose to receive notifications about collaborations in your Canvas notification settings.
Note: Depending on your institution's preference, your Collaborations page may not match the images shown in this lesson. However, functionality of the page remains the same.
Open Collaborations
In Course Navigation, click the Collaborations link.
View Collaborations
The Collaborations page displays all collaborations where you have been invited to participate. For each collaboration, you can view the name of the collaboration [1], the description [2], the person who created the collaboration [3], and the date and time the collaboration was created [4].
Add Collaboration
If you have permission, your institution may allow you to create collaborations in your course.
To create a new collaboration, click the Start a new collaboration button.
Depending on your institution's preference, you may be able to create a Google Drive collaboration or create a Microsoft Office 365 collaboration.
If your collaborations page does not match the image shown in this lesson, you can still create a Google Docs collaboration.
Open Collaboration
To open a collaboration, click the name of the collaboration.
Note: The collaboration will open in a new tab. You may be asked to sign in to view the file.
You can create collaborations within your groups. Canvas defaults to using Google Docs. Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time.
Depending on your institution's preference, you may be able to create a Google Drive collaboration or create a Microsoft Office 365 collaboration in groups as well.
Open Collaborations
In Group Navigation, click the Collaborations link.
Create Collaboration
To create a collaboration document using Google Docs, you will first need to name the document [1], create a description [2], and select who you will be collaborate with [3]. Click the Start Collaborating button [4].
I am trying to contribute to a Collaboration and I keep receiving a message 'An unexpected error occurred'.
Any suggestions please.
Thanks in advance.
You can start a new collaboration using Google Docs in Canvas. Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time. However, a Google file may be shared with up to 200 email addresses including viewers, commenters, and editors. To alert invitees about collaborations, you can create course events in the Calendar.
Google Docs collaborations are separate from Google Drive collaborations. If your collaboration options include Google Spreadsheets and Presentations in addition to Documents, your course has enabled Google Drive collaborations.
Notes:
- This lesson is for creating a collaboration in a course; when collaborations are created in a group, only group members and users with instructor-based roles (including TAs) can be selected as collaborators.
- Creating a collaboration is a course permission. If you cannot create a collaboration in a course, your institution has restricted this feature.
- When creating a collaboration you cannot link to a previously created collaboration.
- Each collaborator will need a Google account and will need to connect Google Drive as a registered service in Canvas.
- Google Apps for Education (integration with your school) works with Google Docs in Canvas. Please note, if your school email does not allow access to Google Docs, you will need to use a regular Google account (i.e. example@gmail.com).
- Email notifications for collaborations relate directly to the account used to connect to Google Drive.
Open Collaborations
In Course Navigation, click the Collaborations link.
Start a New Collaboration
Click the Start a new collaboration button.
Authorize Google
If you have not previously authorized Google Drive access in Canvas, you may be prompted to authorize access. Click the Authorize Google Drive Access button.
Collaborate Using Google Docs
Click the Collaborate using drop-down menu and select Google Docs.
Create Collaboration Document
To create a collaboration document using Google Docs, you will first need to name the document [1], create a description [2], and select collaborators [3]. By default, you can view the list of people in the course and can collaborate with individual or multiple users in the course. You can also click the Groups tab and collaborate with a group.
Click the Start Collaborating button [4].
Notes:
- Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time.
- Collaborators must have a Google account and will need to authorize Canvas before they can view the collaboration.
- You can add multiple groups to a collaboration, but all groups will collaborate in the same document. For group-specific collaborations, consider creating a new collaboration for each group or creating a group collaboration within the group.
Edit Document
View the newly created document in a new browser window.
Note: By default, any collaborator can share the document. The document owner can manage the document's share settings from within the Google Doc.
You can use the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 to create a collaboration with a Google Document, Spreadsheet, Presentation, or other Workspace files.
Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time. However, a Google file may be shared with up to 200 email addresses including viewers, commenters, and editors.
Notes:
- Google Assignments LTI 1.3 collaborations are separate from Google Drive collaborations and Google Docs collaborations. If you cannot create a Google Assignments LTI 1.3 collaboration, this feature has not been enabled for the course.
- Once you invite a user to a collaboration, the collaboration is available to the user in the user's Google Drive. Uninviting the user or deleting the collaboration does not remove access to the collaboration once a user has been added.
- When creating a collaboration you cannot link to a previously created collaboration.
- Once you have created a Google Assignments LTI 1.3 collaboration, only users invited to participate in the collaboration may access and edit the document. The document's share settings cannot be modified from within the Drive document. The only way to add a collaborator is by adding them to the collaboration in Canvas.
Open Collaborations
In Course Navigation, click the Collaborations link.
Start a New Collaboration
Click the Add Collaboration button.
Sign in to Google
If you have not previously authorized Google Drive access in Canvas, you may be prompted to sign in. Click the Sign in button.
Select your Google account.
Add Details
To add a title for the collaboration, enter a title in the Title field [1].
In the File type drop-down menu, select the type of collaboration you want to create. You can create docs, slides, sheets, forms, drawings, or sites.
To add a description for the collaboration, enter text in the Description field [3].
Invite Collaborators
Click the checkbox next to the name of a user you want to add to the collaboration [1]. To select or deselect all users, click the Collaborators Selected checkbox [2].
Add as many users as necessary.
Note: Collaborators must have Google account and will need to authorize Canvas before they can view the collaboration.
Create Collaboration
Click the Create button.
What is the purpose of this campaign?
The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the benefits of collaborative assessments with students.
Tool categories
🔧 The 'Course pacing', 'Assignments', 'Peer review', 'Groups', and 'People' tool categories should be toggled on before importing the campaign on to display the content. Click here to find out how to manage tool categories in your dashboard.
Message placement
📌 Homepage 📌 Assignments page 📌 Discussions page
📌 People page
Support Articles
Some of the articles included in this campaign are custom made by Impact and cannot be previewed outside of the Dashboard page.
- Tips for Replying to Discussions
- Tips for Working in Groups
- Tips for leaving helpful reviews
- How do I reply to a discussion as a student?
- How do I view all groups in a course as a student?
- How do I view my Canvas groups as a student?
- How do I submit a peer review to an assignment?
How can the impact of this campaign be measured?
Campaign engagement
Views on messages & links on support included inside messages
Views on support articles included in this campaign
Average tool adoption
Monitors have been placed on the following pages/elements as data points to define the use of the tool