What is Canvas Commons?

Commons is a learning object repository that enables educators to find, import, and share resources. A digital library full of educational content, Commons allows Canvas users to share learning resources with other users as well as import learning resources into a Canvas course.

Getting Started with Commons

To enable Commons in your Canvas instance, please contact your Customer Success Manager. To access Commons, you need to have an email address associated with your Canvas account.

Notes:

  • Commons is available in all Free for Teacher (FFT) accounts. Free for Teacher users are limited to finding, importing, and sharing public resources.
  • Commons includes similar functionality with Blueprint Courses. To learn more about Blueprint Courses, see the Course Distribution Comparison resource document.

What can I do with Commons?

  • Create a personal learning object repository
  • Build a course from scratch with relevant materials shared by other Canvas users
  • Create a name for yourself and your institution as a subject matter expert

Find Resources in Commons

Find Resources in Commons

Find resources by searching for a specific keyword, author, institution, or title.

Import to Canvas

Import to Canvas

Import a resource into a Canvas course. Once the import to Canvas is complete, you can start using and customizing your resource.

Share to Commons

Share to Commons

Share resources you create in Canvas with other Canvas users, with colleagues and groups at your institution, or with only you.

Update Resources

Update Resources

If you modify a resource (learning activity) in Canvas that was previously shared to Commons, you can share the modified resource to Commons again. The existing resource will be updated in Commons.

Learn how to update resources previously shared to Commons.