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   Using Canvas

  • Help with your gradebook
  • Add a teaching assistant
  • Plagiarism checking on assignments

more Canvas resources ...

  Using Media

  • Install Kaltura Capture
  • Share media in Canvas
  • Upload media

more Media resources ...

  Using Student Response

  • Poll Everywhere Overview
  • Poll Everywhere FAQ

more Student Response resources...

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Other Tools in Canvas

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other tool resources ...

News + Updates

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

 

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Issues, Outages and Updates

  • Current and Past Issues
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Frequently Asked Questions

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?
In analyzing an originality report, I believe I have uncovered plagiarism in a student paper. What are the next steps?

Please refer to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards . You may also wish to consult with your department head. 

In analyzing an originality report, I believe I have uncovered plagiarism in a student paper. What are the next steps?
Once I create or upload media to Kaltura, what edit options are available?

You have the ability to edit the video file directly, and you have options for modifying player features. Check out some of the articles below for ideas:

Edit video file

  • Use the Kaltura Editor

  • Create or edit an interactive video quiz

Edit other video options

  • Add captions to a video
  • Insert slides into a video
  • Add chapters to a video
  • Attach a file to media
  • Replace a video with another video
Once I create or upload media to Kaltura, what edit options are available?
I'm having trouble with Kaltura. How can I get help?

The OSU Service Desk can help resolve a majority of Kaltura issues. Give them a call, submit a ticket, or get help in person!

I'm having trouble with Kaltura. How can I get help?
Top Hat: How do instructors see their course from the students' view?

Instructors can see how changes you make to your course affect the student view by creating a Test Student account.  Read instructions in this article on the Top Hat website for creating a Test Student account or watch this recorded webinar to walk through the steps

Note: you can avoid the student paywall--just send an email to support@tophat.com from your ONID email address and request an 'access key' to use for setting up a Test Student account.

Top Hat: How do instructors see their course from the students' view?
Who can use Canvas?

OSU students are automatically enrolled in Canvas sites when they register for their classes (note that some instructors choose not to activate their Canvas course sites).

Groups and departments who want to use Canvas for training and collaboration may request a Canvas Studio site and enroll anyone with an ONID account.

Read the article Request a Canvas studio site on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com

Who can use Canvas?
What type of support do students have?

All OSU Canvas users may access Canvas tech support 24 x 7 x 365 by clicking the Help button in the left-side gray navigation menu. Support is available via phone (844-329-3084 toll free), live chat, and email form through the Help button. Additionally, students can browse the Canvas Student Guides for help documents.

What type of support do students have?
Top Hat: If students experience connectivity issues, is there something I can do to help?

Here are some tips that may help students with connection issues: 

  • Advice students to connect to OSU Secure WIFI before answering Top Hat questions. 
  • Advice students to keep their browsers up-to-date and check to make sure their systems meet the Top Hat system requirements
  • Encourage students to report connection issues to Top Hat 
Top Hat: If students experience connectivity issues, is there something I can do to help?
Why did OSU select Canvas?

From 2012-2014 OSU investigated our options and needs for instructional innovation and technology. Over the course of our campus-wide inquiry, Canvas was preferred by students and instructors alike as the system and technology partner that is in the best position to help us meet our goals. Learn more about the decision for Canvas at OSU.

Why did OSU select Canvas?
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?
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?
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?
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 options are available for sharing my Kaltura media with others?

You have several options for sharing your media with others. Which one(s) you choose will depend on what restrictions you want on who can view the media. Start learning about the different options by reviewing our documentation on sharing your Kaltura videos with others. Alternatively, you may be looking for instructions to share or transfer ownership or permissions of your media.

What options are available for sharing my Kaltura media with others?
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?

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