Canvas integration is an easy and useful method of adding feature-rich Accredible digital certificates and open badges to Canvas courses and modules. Automate the creation of digital certificates and badges based on course completion criteria in Canvas.
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a scalable learning management system serving in-person, online, and blended learning environments in schools and higher education. The Canvas LMS is designed as an open, always-on platform for managing digital learning and enables educators to:
- Create and present learning materials online
- Assess student learning and provide feedback
- Share course content as assignments, discussions, modules, and quizzes
- Encourage student engagement through collaborative learning
What is Canvas Integration?
Using Canvas Integration through Accredible enables Canvas teachers to award course completion certificates, micro-credentials, open badges, or blockchain credentials on their Canvas instance. Using Canvas integration, issuers can:
The benefits of using Canvas Integration
Canvas provides use of their default or traditional template certificate designs for Canvas Catalog Courses but issuers are restricted by:
- Inclusion of modules to identify courses as complete
- Custom templates that can only be uploaded in HTML/CSS
- Limited number of pre-made template designs
- Pre-set number of information fields
- Lack of easy sharing ability
Using Canvas integration to issue digital credentials benefits both Canvas teachers and students. Features of the Canvas integration include:
- Ability to issue across modules and courses
- Support for digital certificates and open badges
- Easy to use badge designer with freedom of design
- Dedicated credential page with space for course details and evidence
- One-click sharing to social media and embedding to email or webpage
This makes it easy to provide branded, feature-rich credentials that can be issued, managed, and revoked from the Canvas instance.
Verifiable Credentials
The default template certificate designs available through Canvas represent passing a course but offer little value after issuing. Digital certificates and digital badges issued using the Canvas integration can be easily verified, amended, revoked, and tracked. Engagement and open rates are available for assessing how digital credentials are being used and where students are sharing them. Additional useful features for digital credentials include:
Blockchain Security
Digital credentials using blockchain verification are cryptographically sealed on creation, meaning third-party verifiers are absolutely certain that a credential hasn’t been fraudulently created or amended. Spoofed credentials won’t verify against blockchain records, adding another level of fraud protection for credential issuers.
QR Code
Create high quality certificates that can be printed at home or professionally with the addition of a scannable QR code. The QR code links back to the live credential page. This means if the physical certificate is scanned and edited, the live credential page will always display the correct and up to date information.
Recipient Experience
For Canvas students, digital credentials issued through Canvas integration provide a variety of additional sharing and embedding capabilities. With a single click, students can share their new credential to their favourite social media platform, add badges directly to their LinkedIn profile or Digital Wallet Card, and embed on personal websites and in email signatures. Not only does this improve employability and provide verifiable skills for students, this increases visibility for the issuing brand.
How to set-up Canvas Integration
Detailed written instructions for Canvas integration are available in the Accredible Knowledge Base and on the EduAppCenter.
How to use Canvas Integration
The Accredible Canvas integration is easy to set-up and start issuing. Once installed, Canvas teachers can add an item to any module, select the relevant certificate or badge design, and start automatically issuing their credentials to students. More details are available here: How are Credentials Issued Through the Canvas Integration with Accredible?
Creating a Digital Badge or Certificate
Digital credential designs are created, updated, and managed from within the Accredible platform. Designs can be made and amended at any time, although digital credentials will not appear until a design has been allocated to the Canvas module or course as per the below instructions.
Helpful guidance for how to create digital credentials is available via our knowledgebase, view our help articles below:
Linking the Course to an Accredible Group
After installing the Canvas integration and creating a group within Accredible, issuers are ready to link a group to the intended course:
- Navigate to the course you wish to issue a credential for.
- Click on the 'Accredible' hyperlink on the left-hand panel.
- Click 'Configure'.
- Select a group from the dropdown menu. Narrow down the results by typing in the Group Identifier.
- Click 'Save'.
Adding the Accredible Item to the Course Module
- Click the '+' icon on the module.
- Select ‘External Tool’ from the drop-down menu.
- Click ‘Accredible’ to auto-populate the fields. (Ensure the URL is: https://integrations.api.accredible.com/v1/canvas/lti/launch)
- Click 'Add item'.
- Publish your item when ready.
Canvas Integration FAQs
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding the Canvas integration below:
Q: Where do I add course completion criteria that automates the process of issuing digital credentials?
A: Course/module completion criteria is set within the Canvas instance by updating the course module settings.
Q: I have allocated a digital credential design and implemented Canvas module course completion criteria, but the credential hasn’t been issued?
A: Students must satisfy all the course completion criteria first and then click the item within the module to generate their digital credential.
Q: Where do students find their new digital credentials and digital badges?
A: Canvas teachers must add a placement within student’s profiles from which the student can view and update their certificate or badge.
Q: I have added the Accredible Canvas integration and added the external tool ‘Accredible’ to my course but the credential is not appearing?
A: Before digital credentials can be automatically issued, a design for that course or module must be selected via the Accredible dashboard for the relevant course/module group.
Q: One of my teachers is not able to issue credentials although they have a Canvas instance with the Accredible Canvas integration?
A: All teachers and admins that are authorized to edit and update credentials must be added to the Accredible account via their email address.
In Summary
Accredible’s Canvas integration is a simple-to-use and robust plugin that offers teachers access to feature-rich digital credentials for recognizing course or module completion. Replace the restricted template certificates with secure, easy to verify digital credentials that students can share online or on-the-go using the Accredible digital credential management platform.
Book your Canvas integration demonstration by booking a platform demo with the Accredible sales team today.
Further Reading
Prepare to issue digital credentials with our Planning & Launching Your Digital Badging Initiative Guide. In this guide we cover:
- What digital credentials are
- Benefits of launching a digital credential initiative
- Five high-level steps to success
- Best practices and tips for planning and launching digital badges
