Sharing links within Canvas, whether providing access to your course or integrating external resources as assignments, is a fundamental way to enhance student engagement and course material accessibility. There are two primary ways to approach sending a link related to a Canvas course: sharing the main URL of the course itself or embedding external links directly within your course content, such as an assignment.
Sharing Your Canvas Course's Main URL
To provide someone with direct access to your Canvas course's homepage, you'll need to share its unique web address. This is the most common method when inviting students or colleagues to access the course shell.
Steps to Find and Share Your Course URL:
- Navigate to the Course: Log in to Canvas and click on the specific course you wish to share from your Dashboard.
- Locate the URL: Once you are on the course's homepage (e.g., Modules, Syllabus, Home), look at your web browser's address bar. The URL displayed there is the direct link to your Canvas course. It typically starts with your institution's Canvas domain (e.g.,
https://[your-school].instructure.com/courses/[course-ID]). - Copy the URL: Select the entire URL in the address bar and copy it (Ctrl+C on Windows, Cmd+C on Mac).
- Share the Link: You can now paste this URL into an email, a messaging app, a document, or any platform where you want to share access to your course.
Important Considerations:
- User Access: Simply sharing the URL does not automatically grant access. Individuals must typically be enrolled in the course (as a student, teacher, TA, etc.) and logged into their institution's Canvas instance to view the content.
- Permissions: Ensure the recipient has the necessary permissions to view the course. For example, a student cannot access an unpublished course, even with the direct link.
For more detailed information on Canvas basics, you can often find helpful guides on the official Canvas Community website: Canvas Guides.
Embedding an External Link as an Assignment in Canvas
If your goal is to incorporate an external website, article, video, or any online resource as part of your course curriculum, especially as an interactive assignment, Canvas allows you to link directly to a URL from within an assignment. This method keeps students within the Canvas environment while directing them to the relevant external content.
Step-by-Step Guide to Linking a URL as an Assignment:
To integrate an external web link directly into your course content as an assignment:
- Access Your Course: Begin by logging into Canvas and selecting the specific course where you want to add the assignment link.
- Go to Assignments: From the course navigation menu on the left-hand side, click on Assignments.
- Add a New Assignment: In the top-right corner of the Assignments page, click the + Assignment button.
- Configure Assignment Details: Fill in the assignment name, due dates, points, and other relevant settings as you normally would.
- Link to URL Option: Within the rich content editor above the description box, locate and click the Link to URL button (often represented by a chain icon).
- Enter the URL: A pop-up window will appear where you can paste the exact URL of the external resource you wish to link. Provide a display name for the link that clearly indicates its content.
- Save and Publish: After adding the link, complete any remaining assignment configurations and Save & Publish the assignment so students can access it.
This method is ideal for directing students to external readings, interactive simulations, or online quizzes hosted outside Canvas, providing a seamless transition for their learning activities.
Why Share or Embed Links in Canvas?
Utilizing links effectively in Canvas offers numerous benefits:
- Centralized Resources: Provides students with a single, organized location to access all course materials, both internal and external.
- Enhanced Engagement: Links to interactive tools, multimedia content, or current events can make learning more dynamic and relevant.
- Streamlined Navigation: Reduces confusion by clearly guiding students to required readings or activities outside the Canvas platform.
- Flexibility: Allows instructors to incorporate a vast array of web-based resources without needing to upload them directly to Canvas, saving space and ensuring content is always up-to-date.
By understanding these methods, you can effectively manage and share information within your Canvas courses, whether it's providing course access or integrating valuable external learning tools.
