Integrating SchoolAI directly into your Canvas course allows students to engage with interactive Spaces without ever leaving their Learning Management System.
Follow these steps to link a Space to a Canvas assignment.
1. Log in to Canvas and navigate to the published course where you’d like to add the Space.
2. Click on Assignments in the left-hand menu. Then, click the blue “+ Assignment” button in the top right corner.
3. Enter a title in the Assignment Name field. You can also add instructions or a description in the text editor now or come back to refine later.
4. Scroll down the page until you reach the Submission Type section. Ensure the dropdown menu is set to External Tool. Click Find.
5. A "Configure External Tool" window will appear. Scroll through the list and select SchoolAI.
6. The SchoolAI interface will launch within a pop-up window. From here, you can choose to use a Sidekick, Find a Space from the library, or Create a Space from scratch.
7. Optional: If you want to use a Space you have already built or saved, click on “Organize” in the left-hand menu, then select the specific Space you would like to launch (e.g., Dolphin Discovery Quest).
8. Once you’ve selected your Space, click the “Preview and Add to Assignment” button.
9. A final configuration screen will appear. Tailor the specific session details to your needs:
Auto-grading: Toggle this on to automatically award points once a student has spent a set amount of time and sent a minimum number of messages.
Student lock-out: Toggle this on to limit access based on total time elapsed or idle time.
Session-specific prompt: Add any additional instructions for the AI guide here.
Once satisfied, click “Add to Assignment.”
11. Clicking "Add to Assignment" brings you back to the Canvas "Configure External Tool" list. Click Select. You will now see the unique SchoolAI link populated in the External Tool URL field.
12. Scroll to the bottom of the Canvas Assignment page and click Save (or Save & Publish). The Space will now load directly within the Canvas assignment frame.
Tip: Use the “View as Student” button in the top right of your Canvas course to test the interaction and ensure the Space loads exactly how you want your students to see it.
Quick Fixes If Your Space Isn't Loading
If students see a blank screen or a login error, try these steps in order:
Enable Third-Party Cookies: This is the #1 cause of LTI errors.
Chrome: Settings > Privacy > Third-party cookies > Allow.
Safari: Settings > Safari > Turn OFF "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking."
Check Publication Status: Ensure both the Canvas Course and the Specific Assignment are Published (Green checkmark).
Refresh or Re-login: If you see an "Invalid Token" error, refresh the page or log out and back into Canvas to reset the secure connection.
Try Chrome: If Safari or a mobile browser is acting up, switch to Google Chrome for the best stability.
Canvas Integration: LTI Flow vs. API Flow
SchoolAI offers two ways to bring interactive Spaces into Canvas. While both methods result in a seamless experience for students, the best "flow" depends on where you prefer to start your lesson planning and what functionality you want.
Feature | LTI Flow (Start in Canvas) | API Flow (Start in SchoolAI) |
Starting Point | Canvas Assignments Page | SchoolAI "My Space" Dashboard |
Best For | Building out a full module in Canvas. Additional functionality:
– Auto-grading – Lock-out | Pushing a single Space you just finished. |
Ease of Access | High (No need to leave Canvas). | High (Quick "Launch" button). |
Visibility | You see the full Canvas settings immediately. | You see the Space settings immediately. |