Learn@OregonState

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Can I create a column in the Canvas gradebook for an in-class assignment?

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.

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

How can I change which email I receive my Canvas notifications?

Each Canvas user at Oregon State has their ONID email address set as their default Canvas email address. Your ONID email address is created from your ONID username, i.e. ONIDusername@oregonstate.edu. The ONID email address cannot be removed from Canvas, however it is possible to add other email addresses to Canvas and turn off or adjust settings to prevent or minimize Canvas notifications to your ONID email address. If you are a faculty or staff employee at Oregon State, we highly recommend that you add your employee email address (e.g. firstname.lastname@oregonstate.edu) to Canvas.

Adding Alternative Email Addresses to Canvas

Click the Account button in the top left corner of the main Canvas menu
Click Settings from the fly-out menu that appears
Click + Email Address in the menu on the right side of the account settings page
Enter your alternative email address into the Email Address field
Click Register Email. A pop-out notification should appear directing you to check your alternative email inbox.
Open your alternative email inbox and locate the confirmation email from notifications@instructure.com
Open the email and click the link within the email with the text "Click here to confirm this registration"
Return to your Canvas account settings page and verify that your email address text color has changed from orange to black - this indicates your email address has been confirmed

Adjusting Which Email Receives Canvas Notifications

Click the Account button in the top left corner of the main Canvas menu
Click Notifications from the fly-out menu that appears
Adjust the frequency of notifications being sent to each confirmed email address in your Canvas account
- Turn notifications off for any email address that you do not want to receive notifications.
- Review additional information on Canvas notifications

How can I change which email I receive my Canvas notifications?

Can I get statistics/analytics for my media?

Yes, check out our Knowledge Base article on viewing statistics/analytics about your Kaltura videos.

Can I get statistics/analytics for my media?

Can I request my own Canvas studio site?

Yes, any person with ONID credentials can request a studio site.

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

Can I request my own Canvas studio site?

Can I contact students through Canvas based on their current grade in the course??

Yes, Canvas has built a Canvas Analytics tool that will allow an instructor to message students based on their current course grade. Be certain that you have entered zeros for any missing work and posted scores for any assignments that have been completed. This ensures that the current grade for the course is most accurate.

Read the article How do I send a message to all students based on specific course criteria in New Analytics?

Can I contact students through Canvas based on their current grade in the course??

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?

Gradescope: Can I create an instructor-submitted group assignment?

Yes. While Gradescope does not have an official instructor-submitted group assignment option, there is a way to achieve the same result with just a few steps. Read our article on instructor-submitted group assignments in Gradescope for details.

Gradescope: Can I create an instructor-submitted group assignment?

Can a Canvas visitor be added to an OSU Canvas Studio site?

Yes, a Canvas visitor (non-OSU individual) can be added to OSU Canvas Studio sites. They cannot be added to Canvas courses managed by the Registrar's Office.

Read the article Add a non-OSU individual to a Canvas Studio site on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com

Can a Canvas visitor be added to an OSU Canvas Studio site?

How do I create a media (audio or video) assignment in Canvas?

To create and successfully manage a media assignment in Canvas, use the following two documents. The first document is used by faculty to create the assignment, the second document should be added as a link in the assignment so students have the information they need to complete the assignment.

How do I create a media (audio or video) assignment in Canvas?

What are Kaltura specifications, retention & transfer policies, and reporting procedures?

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

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?

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?

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?

Learn@OregonState

Using Canvas

Using Media

Using Student Response

New to OSU or Teaching?

Training Opportunities

Other Tools in Canvas

News + Updates

Calendar of Events

Issues, Outages and Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding Alternative Email Addresses to Canvas

Adjusting Which Email Receives Canvas Notifications

Contact Info