Have you ever noticed the “External Tool” option in Canvas and wondered what that’s about? Instructors use external tools to extend the functionality of Canvas to deliver course content, facilitate student activities, assess student progress and connect to the Canvas gradebook – all without students needing a new login and password for each vendor.  What “External Tools” are sometimes called “third-party tools”, “Learning Tools” or LTIs (Learning Tool Interoperability). Common external tools integrated into Canvas include VoiceThread , ChimeIn 2 , Kaltura Video Quiz and textbook publishers such as McGraw-Hill and Pearson .  When When you wish to augment your course, check the full list of external learning tools already integrated into Canvas . If the tool you want is not on this list, beware of vendor claims of how easily and quickly you can integrate it with Canvas . All tools must first undergo a rigorous vetting for security, privacy, data retention, and operational sust...

Do you host office hours to answer questions and deepen student learning?  Are struggling students, who would really benefit from office hours, not attending?  Would you like to increase attendance and enhance participation?  Change the name Retitle 'Office Hours' to 'Student Hours' to increase attendance. Students have disclosed that they thought 'Office Hours' refers to when instructors are physically on campus and that the time is dedicated to their own research and class preparation. Students mistakenly assume stopping by is an interruption! Changing the name, or at least emphasizing to students that this time is set aside for them , may increase attendance.  Vary the Format Through Canvas you can set appointment blocks where students schedule one-on-ones or you can set open times for students to drop in. Read, Canvas: Use the Calendar to Schedule Office Hours for specifics. Consider dedicating time slots that are open to drop-ins and allow multiple studen...