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   Using Canvas

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

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  Using Media

  • Install Kaltura Capture
  • Share media in Canvas
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more Media resources ...

  Using Student Response

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  • 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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Frequently Asked Questions

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?
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?
Top Hat: Can I edit slides within Top Hat?

Yes, it is possible to edit slides within Top Hat!  Top Hat partners with Microsoft to allow for easy slide editing. Plesae see details in the article Educator: Slide Management

 

Top Hat: Can I edit slides within Top Hat?
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??
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?
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?
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: 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?
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?
How long does a Turnitin check take?
Originality Reports should usually be ready within 15 minutes. However it may take up to 24 hours during peak times such as the middle or the end of semesters when many papers are being submitted to Turnitin. Plan accordingly when working on a deadline. If an instructor allows multiple submissions on a Turnitin assignment there is a 24-hour waiting period between the each submission. This delay allows resubmissions to correctly generate without matching to a student's previous draft.
How long does a Turnitin check take?
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?
Top Hat: How do I give different versions of a formula question to each student?

For courses that require students to calculate numerical responses using formulas, Top Hat's Formula Question, exclusive to Pages and Test, allows instructors to offer a different number for students to use for calculating the formula so that no one gets the same question! Check out this Top Hat support article for instructions on setting up a Formula Question.

Top Hat: How do I give different versions of a formula question to each student?
What is NameCoach?

NameCoach is a tool that allows you to record your name pronunciation and set your pronouns. The recording and preferred pronouns will be available and visible to others in the course. 

Read the article Use NameCoach to record name pronunciation and set pronouns on oregonstate.teamdynamix.com

What is NameCoach?
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.

  • Kaltura Instructor Guide: Create a media assignment in Canvas
  • Kaltura Student Guide: Instructions for creating and submitting media to a Canvas assignment
How do I create a media (audio or video) assignment in 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?

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