Approved external digital tools (third party software) can be added to Canvas to add new features or functionality, such as publisher materials and specialized tools. CSU has a number of external tool integrations with Canvas. These integrations usually use an LTI (Learning Tool Interoperability) to connect these tools to Canvas.
Most approved external tools are added to a course module or an assignment in Canvas.
A few select external tools (Echo360, Pearson, Macmillan) can be added to the left course navigation.
Approved External Tools and Support
| Tool Name | Purpose | Who Pays Cost | Who Can Use | User Support: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aktiv | Chemistry homework tool | College of Natural Sciences | Aktiv Support | |
| ALEKS (Chemistry) | Chemistry homework tool | Student pay | College of Natural Sciences | Aleks Support |
| Anthology Ally | Accessibility Checker | Division of IT | All Campus | CSU Ally Support |
| Attendance (Roll Call) | Take classroom attendance | Included with Canvas | All Campus | Roll Call Guides |
| Banana Vision VR | VR access to Canvas quizzes | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | Certain Biomedical Sciences courses | Todd Clapp – CVMBS |
| Big Blue Button | Part of the Conferences tool | Included with Canvas | All Campus | |
| Canvas Credentials (formerly Badgr) | Assign badges for complete tasks | CSU Online | CSU Online | Canvas Credentials Support |
| Cengage | Homework platform | Student pay | All Campus | Cengage Support |
| ClioVis | Visualization tool for mind-mapping, timelines, and presentations | College of Liberal Arts | History Department | ClioVis Support |
| Codio | E-text and coding practice | Student Pay | By request | Codio Support |
| Course Reserve | Integrate Course Reserve | Library | All Campus | CSU Course Reserve Support |
| CVMBS Anatomy LTIs | Species specific interactive anatomy tool | Free | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | See College |
| Design Tools Cidilabs | Page design, images, multi tool | CSU Online | All Campus | CidiLabs Design Tools Support |
| Echo 360 | Lecture capture and video storage | Central IT | All Campus | CSU Echo360 help |
| ExamSoft | Digital assessment platform | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | ExamSoft Support |
| FlatWorld Homework | Flatworld Homework | Student pay | College of Business | |
| Goodheart Wilcox | e-text and homework platform | Student pay | All Campus | Goodheart Wilcox Support |
| GoReact | Video feedback | Student pay | All Campus | GoReact Support |
| Gradescope Tii | Grading tool that allows for handwritten submission digitalization and automatic grading | CSU | All Campus | Gradescope Support |
| Great River Publishing | e-texts | Student pay | All Campus | Great River Support |
| iClicker | Classroom response system | UTFAB paid for students | All Campus | iClicker Support |
| InteDashboard | Team-Based Learning Platform | CVMBS – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program | CVMBS – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program | InteDashboard Support |
| Kaltura | Video Content Platform | College of Business | College of Business | Kaltura Knowledge Base |
| LibApps Guides | Add CSU designed library guides | Library | All Campus | CSU Research Support |
| LinkedIn Learning | Business, technology-related, and creative skills training | CSU | All Campus | LinkedIn Learning Support |
| Lyryx | Assessment tool for Math, Economics and Business | College of Natural Sciences | Math Department | Lyryx Support |
| Macmillan Learn LaunchPad | Interactive e-text platform | Student pay | All Campus | Macmillan Learn Support |
| MATLAB Grader | Automated MATLAB code grading | College of Engineering | College of Engineering | MATAB Grader Support |
| McGraw Hill | Online content and assignments | Student pay | All Campus | McGraw Hill Support |
| Microsoft Office 365 | Collaboration tool | Central IT | All Campus | Canvas Collaboration Guide |
| Mobius | Pre-calculus testing | Student pay | Math Department | |
| MyOpenMath | Math assessment tool | Free | College of Natural Sciences | MyOpenMath Support |
| Norton (W.W. Norton) | Online homework system, used mostly by CHEM | Student pay | All Campus | Norton Support |
| PackBack | Inquiry based discussions | Student pay | All Campus | PackBack Support |
| Pearson MyLab & Reveal | Online content and assignments | Student pay | All Campus | Pearson Support |
| Perusall | Social annotation tool | Free | All Campus | Perusall Support |
| Piazza | Dynamic discussion tool | Student pay | All Campus | Piazza Support |
| ProgressIQ | Health education outcomes intelligence | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | Kayla Voelker – CVMBS |
| ReadSpeaker/docReader | Text-to-speech tool | ATRC | All Campus | CSU ReadSpeaker Support |
| Respondus | Exam integrity | Central IT | Campus RI courses | Respondus Support |
| Rubin Education | e-text Business communication skills | Student pay | All Campus | Rubin Canvas Support |
| Sage Vantage | e-text requested by College of Business | Student pay | All Campus | Sage Vantage Support |
| SIMNet McGraw Hill | Microsoft Office tutorial/training | Student pay | College of Business and upon request | SIMnet Overview |
| SmartEvals | Campus course survey software | Testing Center | All Campus | Course Survey Support |
| SmartSparrow CVMBS | Adaptive learning tool | Student pay | College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | SmartSparrow Resources |
| Terracotta | Assess pedagogical techniques | Free | By request | Terracotta Support |
| TRUE+WAY ASL | ASL Course curriculum | College of Liberal Arts | ASL Courses | TRUE+WAY Support |
| TurnitIn | Anti-plagiarism, learn how to cite properly | Central IT | All Campus | CSU TurnItIn Information |
| Tutor.com | Online tutoring assistance | CSU Online | CSU Online | In Tutor.com tool |
| U-Behavior | Quiz analytics | Free | By request | |
| UDoIt | Accessibility checker | CSU Online | All Campus | Canvas Accessibility at CSU |
| Verba VitalSource Bookstore | eResource management | Student pay – Option for students to opt out of purchase | All Campus | Inclusive Access Support |
| Vista Higher Learning | e-text platform | Student pay | College of Liberal Arts – LLC | Vista Higher Learning Support |
| WebAssign (Math Physics) | e-text and homework platform | Student pay | College of Natural Sciences | WebAssign Support |
| WeVideo (formerly PlayPosit) | Interactive content | College of Business | College of Business | WeVideo Support |
| WileyPlus | e-text platform | Student pay | All Campus | WileyPlus Support |
| Yellowdig | Interactive discussion tool | Student pay | All Campus | YellowDig Support |
| zyBooks | Homework platform for Computer Science courses | Student pay | All Campus | zyBooks Support |
Request External Tools and LTIs
If you are interested in having an external tool evaluated for inclusion in Canvas, please review and follow the steps for CSU’s external tool process with your College Canvas Coordinator.