Setup Collaborations within Canvas

The collaborations within Canvas is an excellent tool allowing your students to work on group projects or papers within groups collaboratively. Changes are done in real time and visible to any user in real time. This ability is vital for completely online classes. However, regular in-seat classes can benefit as well. Students live busy lives and it is easier to meet in groups virtually rather than trying to find a time and place where all can physically meet. The participation rate in group-work has risen due to this tool.

1) Log into the course in which you want to create the group or collaboration work.

2) On the left side menu click “Collaborations”

3) In the upper right of the screen click “Start a new Collaboration”

4) Under “Start a New Collaboration” Google Docs is not the only method to setup a collaboration

5) Document name: suggest group name here assignment.

6) Description: Use this area to give students the information they will need to proceed with the assignment.

7) In the lower left screen under Collaborate With, click the students to be added to this collaboration on the left side moving them to the right side. If you have groups setup you can toggle between Groups and People.

8) If you need to delete the collaboration, find the file in Collaborations and click the trashcan. You have the option to delete from just Canvas or in both places.

Your setting should now look something like the settings in the image below. Do not forget to press “Start Collaborating” once your settings are in place. You can add up to 50 users per collaboration, all can view and edit the same document.

9) When you press “Start Collaborating,” Canvas will redirect you to the new Google Docs group assignment on Google Drive.

When your students login they can reach the collaborations area by: clicking Collaborations on the left side menu or their group name in the drop-down list under Courses if it is assigned to a Group. Google Docs will automatically open for them at this point.