Canvas Integration

Introduction

Welcome to the TradeSchool Canvas Integration Guide. This feature allows you to import data from your Canvas classes into your TradeSchool classes, making it easy to manage student rosters and grades in one place. The integration streamlines the administrative process and ensures that data between the two platforms is up to date.

This guide will take you through each step, from connecting your TradeSchool class to a Canvas to importing scores into specific Grades.

1. Canvas API Setup

Before linking Canvas with TradeSchool, there are a few crucial steps you need to take from your Canvas Admin account. Specifically, TradeSchool requires API keys from Canvas.

For detailed instructions on obtaining API keys for third-party software, please contact Canvas support directly.

• Canvas website
• Adding an API Key

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. To start, click on the Settings Module. Next, go to the Training > Custom tabs.

Canvas Integration
To enable Canvas integration, you will need to fill in two specific fields from your Canvas Admin account. Without these fields properly configured, TradeSchool will not be able to retrieve data from your Canvas account.

2. Fill in the required fields with your Canvas Access Token (API Key) and Canvas Base URL.

Once these fields are set up, you can now integrate a Canvas course into TradeSchool.

By completing these steps, TradeSchool will be able to communicate with Canvas, allowing seamless data and information transfer.

2. Link a TradeSchool Class → Canvas Course

Once you’ve set up a class in TradeSchool, you can link it to a Canvas course. This will allow you to import students directly from Canvas.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In the Training Module, find the class you would like to link to Canvas.
   Tip: Ensure the class name in TradeSchool matches the course in Canvas as closely as possible. This will make syncing and managing data much easier.
   Reference Article: Creating A New Class
2. Click on the Setup > Students > Canvas LMS tab to begin importing your roster from Canvas.
3. Select the Specify Button, which will open the Canvas Picker tool.

3. Select the Specify Canvas Course button, which will open the Canvas Picker tool.
4. The Canvas Picker will use the Canvas API to fetch a list of courses available in Canvas. From this list:
   • Select the relevant Canvas course that matches the TradeSchool class.
   • This action pulls all the students enrolled in the Canvas course into TradeSchool.

3. Skip or Substitute

Substitute Option

Automatic Substitution: This is almost always the option you will want to choose.

What it does: Copies all assignment groups from Canvas and creates matching grade categories in TradeSchool with the same names and weights.

Why it helps: Reduces manual data entry and mistakes.

How to Exclude an Assignment Group:
If you don't want a Canvas assignment group to show up in TradeSchool, find the row for that group and click the clear button.

Additional Information: It’s okay if TradeSchool grade categories are empty at first. Clicking Substitute will auto-fill them to match Canvas.

Skip Option

What it does: Nothing is pulled automatically from Canvas; you can manually select categories to pull.

Why it helps: Useful if you have hybrid classes with unique TradeSchool-only grades.

Additional Information: Most people will use Substitute. Skip is for manual cases.

Unbind & Clear

Unbind: Clears Canvas course data but never deletes TradeSchool data. Safe/non-destructive.

Clear: Clears Canvas info for a row. To change TradeSchool data, use Grades or Class Tests tabs.

4. Link Students

1. System attempts to match students automatically by email.
2. Unmatched students can be manually linked using the Match button.

Linked to this Class Tab

Shows students who:

• Have a TradeSchool user record with a main email
• Are added to the class roster
• Have matching Canvas emails

Remaining Students Tab

Reasons students may appear here:

• Not a Student: They exist in TradeSchool but aren’t on this class roster.

• Not a User: Highlighted in red, means no TradeSchool record or mismatched email.

5. Mapping Grade Categories Between TradeSchool and Canvas

Map TradeSchool grade categories to Canvas categories to sync grades properly.

1. Go to the Grades tab in the class.
2. Click Select next to each category to map it to Canvas categories.
3. Assign weights to each category (e.g., Quizzes = 35%).

Note: Adjust weights in TradeSchool to reflect your grading scheme.

6. Synchronizing Grades Between TradeSchool and Canvas

1. Navigate to the Grades tab in TradeSchool.
2. Click Import Scores.
3. The system checks for updates, imports grades, and updates student records.

Best Practice: Sync weekly or after big assessments.

7. Managing Student Data and Overrides

Unmatched Students: Use the Edit (Pencil) icon to link/unlink manually.

Archiving Students: Archive inactive students to remove them from reports while keeping their data intact.

8. Automating Grade Imports and Syncing

Tip: Schedule automatic syncs to reduce manual effort. Contact support@tradeschoolinc.com to set this up.

FAQs

• What if a grade group doesn’t match?
  It will be skipped. Manually entered grades remain unchanged in TradeSchool.
• What if a student was removed from Canvas?
  Refreshing the student list will unlink them from Canvas but keep their TradeSchool record and grades intact.
• How do I remove a student from TradeSchool?
  Go to Edit Students Tab and archive them.
• What if a student is in TradeSchool but not Canvas?
  They’ll be ignored, and their grades won’t change.
• What does Import Scores Found Set do?
  Imports all grades for the classes in the found set.

Additional Features

Attendance Tracking (Future Feature)

Future updates may include attendance tracking integration.

Mobile Access

TradeSchool’s mobile app lets you access rosters and grades. Contact your rep if you need Canvas data on mobile.

Conclusion

The Canvas integration in TradeSchool simplifies managing student data and grades across two platforms. By following this guide, you will be able to:

• Set up and link classes between TradeSchool and Canvas.
• Import student rosters and grades.
• Automate synchronization to save time.

For additional support or to customize features further, please contact your TradeSchool customer success representative.