Academic Technology Services

Canvas is a web-based learning management system, or LMS. It is used at CU Denver and CU Anschutz to access and manage online course learning materials, increase student engagement, and promote student success. 

Every course listed in CU-SIS is provided with a Canvas shell. Enrollments are provisioned automatically and will reflect official rosters.

Canvas Guides

Product Release Notes

System / Browser Requirements

Canvas Status Page

Knowmia is a video hosting solution which makes it easy to record lectures, share engaging videos, and make content accessible for all your students.

Note: The Knowmia product is being discontinued by our vendor, but will be available to faculty/students through August 31, 2022. We will be implementing Panopto during the summer.

Knowmia Guides

Zoom is web conferencing platform. The ability for chat, screen sharing, and groups makes it a strong alternative to in-person learning. 

Zoom Guides

Zoom Release Notes

Zoom Status Page

Proctorio is a remote proctoring service that is used with some classes for taking exams in Canvas. Proctorio requires the use of the Chrome browser. 

Proctorio Support (available 24/7)

 

Turnitin is a software application designed to uphold academic integrity and support the development of original thinking through a robust feedback system. Integrated directly into Canvas, Turnitin allows you to check student work for plagiarism, provide feedback, and improve writing skills. 

Using Turnitin with Canvas Guides

Blackboard Ally is a content accessibility tool built into Canvas. The tool can be used by faculty to improve the accessibility of their course, or made available to students for on-demand universal design options. 

Learn more about Accessibility and Universal Design

Ally Tutorials

Request Ally be installed in your course

 

Namecoach allows for accurate pronunciation to promote respect, inclusion, and belonging. Namecoach is available within Canvas for faculty and students. In addition, you can follow the directions below to add a Namebadge to your email signature. 

CU Denver | CU Anschutz Namecoach Login

Adding a Namebadge to your Email Signature

 

CU Denver and CU Anschutz has access to Hypothesis, a social annotation tool installed directly in Canvas. Adding Hypothesis to readings in Canvas supports student success by placing active discussion right on top of course readings, enabling students and teachers to add comments and start conversations in the margins of texts. 

The Hypothesis Success Team is happy to answer your questions. You can schedule a meeting here.

 

If you would like to get started now, here are some resources to implement Hypothesis in your Canvas courses immediately:

• How to set up Hypothesis readings through Canvas Modules

• How to set up Hypothesis readings through Canvas Assignments

• How to grade Hypothesis annotations in Canvas

• A student guide to Hypothesis in Canvas

Here are a few general Hypothesis resources, all of which could also be shared with students:

• Annotation etiquette for students

• An Illustrated Guide to Annotation Types

• Using images, links, and videos in annotations

Respondus Test Generator is a tool to easily manage and import textbook publisher created quizzes into your Canvas course. The test generator can also take formatted Word documents and import them directly into the Canvas quiz tool. 

Respondus Supporrt and Tutorials

 

Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of tools for graphic design, video editing, web development, image editing, and includes Adobe Acrobat. This is offered free for students and at a discounted rate for faculty/staff. More information regarding pricing and gaining access to your license can be found on the OIT Adobe Creative Cloud page. 

Creative Cloud Tutorials

Adobe Education Exchange

Become an Adobe Creative Educator (Levels 1 and 2)

External applications include a variety of add-in software or tools, that is integrated into Canvas and typically extends its functionality. These third-party applications and services are not maintained or supported by the university. 

These tools, often developed as Learning Tools Interoperability (LTIs), enable data to be delivered between Canvas and the tool. After a tool is integrated with Canvas, it generally appears as a link or a widget within a course, which allows a user to be logged in and recognized by the third-party's tool. In some cases, data (such as grades) passes back and forth between the vendor's tool and Canvas. 

Integration of an external application takes between 2-4 months. The extended time is for us to: 

• Evaluate the Tool. All integrations must meet minimum qualifications for security, accessibility, and privacy.
• Ensure Protections. It is our responsibility to make sure that the university and its students are protected. This includes end-user agreements, a review of security practices, and the development of support resources. 
• Test the Product. Depending on the complexity, these integrations often require back and forth with the vendor. The product needs to undergo testing before it is released.

A list of approved LTIs is coming soon.

To request a new LTI be added to Canvas, email our service desk.

Please fill out this form to request the creation of a co-curricular course. Co-­curricular courses in Canvas are used for delivery of non­credit courses for University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus students, faculty, and staff such as training courses and courses on university policies and procedures. Canvas is for university affiliated users only. No non CU email addresses are accepted. 

Here are some examples of how co-­curricular courses may be used:

• An online student orientation course
• A student safety course to supplement a face ­to ­face course with lab work
• A non­credit remedial education course
• A course for university faculty or students that address university policies and procedures
  

Here are some examples of how co-­curricular courses may not be used:

• A course that replaces any fee or credit­-bearing courses
• A record keeping system (All information in co-­curricular courses is transient.)
• A communication tool in lieu of email lists

Faculty wanting a sandbox course (for experiment or development purposes only) can choose "create sandbox" from their Canvas Profile page. 

 

Request a Co-curricular Course

Canvas provides customers a data portal with access to a broad range of data. The Academic Technology Applications and Design team is currently working on a Canvas Data Project to bring this data to the fingertips of schools/colleges in interactive and insightful dashboards. 

Current Estimated Timeline: October 2021

Learn more about the Data 2.0 release from Canvas

With our TechSmith Knowmia subscription, we have also been allocated site licenses for Camtasia and Snagit. Faculty or instructional staff can request access to these products through the Service Desk.

Techsmith Tutorials

 

CU Online Open is a second instance of Canvas used for non-matriculated users and continuing education students to participate in University sponsored online courses or trainings. You can request a CU Online Open course by completing the CU Online Open Course Request Form. 

Login to CUOnline Open