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   Using Canvas

  • Help with your gradebook
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  Using Media

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  Summer 2025 Updates - see what's new in Canvas, Perusall, Poll Everywhere, and more

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Top Hat: How do I ask impromptu questions?

The Top Hat Presentation Tool allows faculty to ask impromptu questions.

1. In class: Create a Quick-Ask Question

With the Top Hat Presentation Tool open:

  • Click the Speech Bubble Icon at the top of the tool.
  • Choose optional settings as desired:
    • Enter a question title (the title defaults to "Quick Ask" followed by date and time)
    • Select whether to attach a screenshot
    • Select whether to disable the question after a set period of time
  • Select one of the three question type options (Multiple Choice, Word Answer, or Numeric Answer) by clicking Present
    • Select the number of possible answers for Multiple Choice questions
  • The question will automatically open and provide instructions for submitting responses.
  • Close or Pause the question using the controls at the top of the tool.

Quick-ask questions will appear in the Top Hat course structure, but the questions will not be placed in any Top Hat folders and will not, by default, be exportable to Canvas.

2. After class: Manage a Quick-Ask Question

After the class session has ended, instructors are able to edit question settings using the Top Hat browser interface (https://app.tophat.com). Correct answers and point assignments can be added, question and answer text can be updated by editing the question. Quick-ask questions may also be placed within an appropriate folder to enable the ability to sync grades with Canvas.

Top Hat: How do I ask impromptu questions?
What accessibility and inclusivity tools are available in Canvas?

Accessibility and Inclusivity tools in Canvas include Ally, Accessibility Check, and NameCoach.

  • Read the article about Ally in Canvas on this website
  • Read the article Accessibility Check in Canvas on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com
  • Read the article Use NameCoach to record name pronunciation and set preferred pronouns on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com
What accessibility and inclusivity tools are available in Canvas?
Top Hat: How can an instructor preview Top Hat questions as a student?

Instructors can use the preview question feature to confirm a question is formatted correctly. Please read details in the article: Educator: Previewing questions. 

Top Hat: How can an instructor preview Top Hat questions as a student?
What is Turnitin and how does it work?

Turnitin is a Web-based service that identifies passages in submitted papers that match passages in other sources, such as websites, articles in scholarly journals, and other student papers. TurnItIn then generates an Originality Report, which highlights passages of matching text. See more information on Turnitin here. Turnitin does not state outright whether or not plagiarism has occurred. Plagiarism is a large category that includes many different behaviors, ranging from poorly paraphrasing a cited source to purchasing a paper and submitting it as one’s own work. While no software can make a blanket statement about whether a paper contains plagiarism, Turnitin does provide originality reports that show which passages from submitted papers match other sources. To make a determination about whether a paper contains plagiarized material, analysis is required. Originality reports make analysis easier and more convenient.

What is Turnitin and how does it work?
Can I request a new feature or tool in Canvas?

Yes, you can submit a feature request in the Canvas Community. It’s a good idea to check the Canvas Community to see if any other users have requested the same or similar feature. You may also contact the Learn@OregonState team if you have questions about the process or would like to submit a request for a third-party integration or would like to know more about our evaluation process for integration requests.

Can I request a new feature or tool in Canvas?
Do I need to inform students that Turnitin is being used in my class

Yes, any course using this software should include a statement in the syllabus. You may use or adapt the following:

“Your instructor may ask you to submit one or more of your writing assignments to the Turnitin plagiarism prevention service via Canvas (do not submit directly to the Turnitin website). Your assignment content will be checked against Internet sources, academic journal articles, and the papers of other OSU students, for common or borrowed content.  Turnitin generates a report that highlights any potentially unoriginal text in your paper. Papers that you submit through Turnitin for this class or any class will be added to the OSU Turnitin database and may be checked against other OSU paper submissions.  You will retain all rights to your written work."

Do I need to inform students that Turnitin is being used in my class
What are merged and crosslisted course sites in Canvas?

When a course is listed under two different names, e.g. listed as both an undergraduate version and a graduate version OR listed under different designators, it is a crosslisted course. In other words, if the two versions of the course are taught at the same time and place, they should be crosslisted. In order for a course to be technically crosslisted, the crosslist designation must be set in Banner by the Registrar's Office. Once the courses are crosslisted in Banner, a crosslisted course site will appear in Canvas. The crosslisted course will have the same Canvas course code as one of the original sections with the exception of the addition of an "X" to the front of the section number.

If you are teaching or co-teaching multiple sections of the same course, you can use the Course Merge tool in Canvas to create a single merged Canvas course with the multiple sections contained within the course. The tool can be used to merge multiple Ecampus sections together, or to merge multiple on-campus sections together. Ecampus sections cannot be merged with on-campus sections.

What are merged and crosslisted course sites in Canvas?
Top Hat: What is the best way for students to create their account?

Creating an account through the Top Hat course menu item in Canvas is the preferred method for students to create and access their Top Hat account. If your instructor is using Top Hat and does not have a Top Hat menu item in their Canvas course, let us know at classroom.response@oregonstate.edu and we can reach out to the faculty member.

  1. Navigate to the OSU Beaver Store to purchase your Top Hat subscription code and choose a 1-term or 1-year subscription. 
  2. Go to one of your Canvas courses that is using Top Hat, click on Top Hat in the course menu on the left.
  3. Click on Sign up to create a Top Hat account. Make sure to use your OSU ONID email when creating your Top Hat account. 
  4. Agree with the Terms and Conditions and click Next to proceed.
  5. Click Continue to and enter the subscription code you purchased previously at the OSU Beaver Store (see step #1 above).
  6. Complete the purchase and click on Go to my Lobby to see any Top Hat course(s) in which you are a student.

NOTE:  It is very important that students register their Top Hat account using their OSU ONID email address. Creating a Top Hat account using a non-ONID email will prevent student Top Hat scores from synchronizing with their grades in Canvas. Using the steps above will automatically link your Top Hat account to your ONID email address, as long as you have not changed your default email in Canvas. If you used a non-ONID email address for your Top Hat account, use these instructions to change your Top Hat account setting.

Top Hat: What is the best way for students to create their account?
What are Kaltura specifications, retention & transfer policies, and reporting procedures?

Click any of the following links for more information on any of these topics:

  • Kaltura specifications
  • Kaltura retention and transfer policies
  • Reporting offensive or infringing content
What are Kaltura specifications, retention & transfer policies, and reporting procedures?
What is the best way to use Turnitin?
Turnitin originality reports are especially effective in helping students diagnose problematic passages in their own papers and in helping guide revision of early drafts. By providing clearly marked reports that identify passages that match other sources, originality reports guide students through a careful step by step analysis of their own work.
What is the best way to use Turnitin?
Why don't I see my course in Canvas?

On a student's Canvas Dashboard, by default, current term, published courses should display. On an instructor's Canvas Dashboard, by default, current or future term, published or unpublished courses should display.

Read the article Course Not Showing in Canvas on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com

Why don't I see my course in Canvas?
Top Hat: Can I sync Top Hat grades to Canvas?

Before you can sync grades from Top Hat to Canvas, you must first pair your Top Hat course with your Canvas course.

Pair Top Hat Course with Canvas Course

If you are using a combined, crosslisted, or merged Canvas course, please connect with our Classroom Response team before pairing Top Hat with Canvas.

  1. In Top Hat, open the course you want to pair with Canvas
  2. Click on your name in the upper right corner of the screen
  3. Select Course Settings from the menu that appears
  4. Click the LMS Setup & Sync tab
  5. Click the blue Enable LMS Sync button
  6. Click the Authorize Top Hat with your LMS button
    • You may be prompted to log in to Canvas. Use your ONID credentials to login.
  7. Select the appropriate Canvas course from the list of courses
  8. Click Next
  9. You will be prompted to select the appropriate Canvas course section(s) to pair with the Top Hat course.
    • At this time, we generally recommend that only one Canvas section be paired with a Top Hat course. Please connect with our Classroom Response team to talk about the impacts of selecting one vs. more sections in a combined, crosslisted, or merged Canvas course. We can help you determine the best approach for your specific course(s).
  10. Click Connect. You should see a LMS Sync Configured success screen once the courses are paired.

Review the full pairing instructions with images in Top Hat's support documentation.

Sync Top Hat Grades to Canvas

  1. In Top Hat, open the course in which you want to sync grades
  2. Click on your name in the upper right corner of the screen
  3. Select Course Settings from the menu that appears
  4. Click the LMS Setup & Sync tab
  5. Select whether you want a General Sync or a Roster Sync
    • A general sync allows you to sync folders, i.e. folder grade totals, and the roster
  6. Review sync options by clicking Edit to the right of the various options listed in the bottom box.
    • Grade Export Options:
      • Course: Export an aggregated Top Hat 'course' grade - will create one Canvas assignment
      • All top-level folders: Export top-level folder subtotals - will create a Canvas assignment for each top-level folder
      • Specified (top-level) folders only: Export selected (top-level) folder subtotals - will create a Canvas assignment for each selected folder
    • Attendance Options: Select whether to include or exclude Attendance in the sync
    • Points or Percentage Options: Select whether to send scores to Canvas as points or percentages
    • Roster Options: Select whether to keep or remove students who are no longer enrolled in the Canvas course
    • Grade Availability Options: Select whether Canvas assignments should be muted (grades unavailable to students) or unmuted (grades available) upon sync
  7. Click Run LMS sync
    • If "Course" or "All top-level folders" was selected for Grade Export Options, the sync will begin immediately
    • If "Specified folders only" was selected for Grade Export Options, you will be prompted to select the folder(s) to sync prior to the sync beginning.
Top Hat: Can I sync Top Hat grades to Canvas?
Is Turnitin compliant with FERPA?

Yes. Data is kept secure at all times and is only used for purposes of assisting the instructor in assessing the assignment. Students always maintain ownership of any work submitted to Turnitin.

Is Turnitin compliant with FERPA?
Can I create a column in the Canvas gradebook for an in-class assignment?

Columns in the Canvas gradebook are directly linked to graded activities in the course. Creation of a graded assignment, graded discussion, graded quiz or a graded survey will result in the creation of an associated gradebook column in the course.

Read more about creating an assignment column for an in-class assignment.

Can I create a column in the Canvas gradebook for an in-class assignment?
Can I enter assignment grades in Turnitin, and if so, do they appear in the Canvas gradebook?

A. Yes, although not with a mobile device at this time. 

Can I enter assignment grades in Turnitin, and if so, do they appear in the Canvas gradebook?

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