How do I create an OpenStax Assignable assignment in Canvas?

Creating an OpenStax Assignable Assignment in Canvas

To help you get started with creating an assignment in Canvas, we’ve prepared a short video guide and a step-by-step walkthrough. These instructions will walk you through setting up your first assignment in Assignable. Once you have created your first assignment, you will not need to log in to your OpenStax account again, and you can follow the same process to create any future assignments.

Watch the Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Prefer to follow along visually? The video below guides you through each step of the process in real time. You can watch the full walkthrough first, or pause and follow along in your own course. Detailed written instructions are also provided below for easy reference.

  1. Log in to your Canvas account and navigate to your course page.

    Log in to your Canvas account and navigate to your course page
  2. Select “Assignments,” and then click the blue “+Assignment” button.

    Select Assignments and click the +Assignment button
  3. Complete the “Assignment name.” Additional LMS assignment configurations can be set on this screen (for grading, access, etc.) as usual. Under “Submission Type,” select “External Tool.”

    Submission Type set to External Tool
  4. Next, click “Find.”

    Click Find
  5. In the pop-up modal that appears, select “OpenStax.” If you are unable to find OpenStax in the pop-up modal, please have your IT or LMS administrator confirm that Steps 9–12 in the Canvas integration help article (link) have been completed.

    Select OpenStax
  6. Next, you’ll be prompted to log in to your OpenStax account. Please note your OpenStax account will need to be instructor verified. If you are an educator and need a step-by-step guide, visit our help article: How to request instructor-only access to OpenStax resources.

    Log in or Sign up with your OpenStax Educator account

    Log in to OpenStax account screen
  7. Once your account has been linked, return to Canvas and select the OpenStax textbook you use for your course and from which you would like to make an assignment.

     
  8. Please note that students are now required to pay for Assignable. The ability to change books in a course will not be available without contacting Customer Support. 
  9. Optional: After you have selected your textbook, we encourage you to add “My Textbook” and “My Highlights” as resources to your course page. Click “Select” on both screens to do so. Selecting these resources will exit assignment creation and create a dedicated link on your course dashboard. After selecting these items, return to step #3 to proceed. Since your account is linked, you will not need to repeat steps #6–7.

    Select My Textbook and My Highlights

    Select OpenStax on Configure External Tool page
  10. Select the chapters, sections, or activities you want to include in your assignment, then click “Create.”

    Select chapters, sections, activities and create
  11. Ensure that the “Submission attempts” field is set to “Unlimited.” Setting a limited number of attempts may cause issues with grade submission. Note that Unlimited attempts does not allow students to redo the assignment after submission.

    Unlimited submission attempts
  12. Once you have completed all other desired details, click “Save & Publish.

    Save and Publish
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