Embedding content in Canvas can be an easy way to make pages more interactive for students. The steps shown in this tutorial can be used to embed specific types of media in quizzes, discussions, assignments, and pages so they appear right in Canvas without having to click out to another source. This article discusses how to embed content from specific sources including Google Apps (like Docs and Slides), YouTube, TED, Prezi, and Google Drive. For more generic instructions, as well as instructions for embedding images, visit our article Adding Media to Canvas.
Don’t forget to publish your content so students can see it. You can check your content in student view.
Select and publish your Google Apps item
- Open the Google document, sheet, or slideshow you would like to embed.
- Click file, and then Publish to the web.
Get the embed code
- In the publishing options, click the embed tab
- Change options for slide size and auto-advance time if necessary
- Click Publish
- Copy the code in the box
Embed the content in Canvas
- Open the Canvas item you want to embed your content in
- In the content editor menu, choose the embed option, which looks like a cloud with <> superimposed on it. It may be found at the far right of the menu of icons, or might have to be accessed via the icon of three stacked dots, depending on your window size:
- Paste the copied embed code into the pop-up box and click “Submit”
- Your Google Drive content should be embedded in your Canvas item
Share the Google Drive video
- Locate the video in your Google Drive that you want to embed (if you are not the owner, you will need to have privileges to share)
- Right-click the video and click “Share”
- In the popup, find the link-sharing options and select “Anyone with the link,” then click “Done”
Get the embed code
- Open the video in Google Drive
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Open in new window”
- In the new window, click the three dots in the top right corner, which will give you a different menu (yes, this is counterintuitive), and select “Embed item…”
- Copy all the code in the box
Embed the video in Canvas
- Open the Canvas item you want to embed your video in
- In the content editor menu, choose the embed option, which looks like a cloud with <> superimposed on it. It may be found at the far right of the menu of icons, or might have to be accessed via the icon of three stacked dots, depending on your window size:
- Paste the copied embed code into the pop-up box and click “Submit”
- Your Google Drive video should be embedded in your Canvas item
Please note that this procedure has changed!
Two options are available for embedding YouTube videos in Canvas. The first is simply to paste a YouTube link into the Canvas item you’re editing. This will generate a mini-preview that appears after you click “Save.” It is very small, but will enlarge somewhat when the user clicks play.
Another option that creates a larger, more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing embed is to use an embed code. The following procedure describes the embed code option.
Get the YouTube embed code
- Navigate to the YouTube video you wish to embed
- Click the “Share” option below the video, and select “Embed”
- Copy the embed code that appears at right
Embed the code in Canvas
- Open the Canvas item you want to embed your content in
- In the content editor menu, choose the embed option, which looks like a cloud with <> superimposed on it. It may be found at the far right of the menu of icons, or might have to be accessed via the icon of three stacked dots, depending on your window size:
- Paste the copied embed code into the pop-up box and click “Submit”
- Your YouTube content should be embedded in your Canvas item
Get the Prezi embed code
- Find the Prezi presentation online that you would like to embed in Canvas
- On the presentation page, look at the player preview in the upper right and find the embed icon </>
- Copy all the code in the pop-up, adjusting the dimensions if needed
Embed the Prezi in Canvas
- Open the Canvas item you want to embed the Prezi in
- In the content editor menu, choose the embed option, which looks like a cloud with <> superimposed on it. It may be found at the far right of the menu of icons, or might have to be accessed via the icon of three stacked dots, depending on your window size:
- Paste the copied embed code into the pop-up box and click “Submit”
- Your Prezi should be embedded in your Canvas item
Get the TED Talk embed code
- Find the video you want to embed on the TED website
- Click the share button at the top right
- In the “Share” popup, choose “Embed”
- Copy all the code in the box
Embed the video in Canvas
- Open the Canvas item you want to embed your video in
- In the content editor menu, choose the embed option, which looks like a cloud with <> superimposed on it. It may be found at the far right of the menu of icons, or might have to be accessed via the icon of three stacked dots, depending on your window size:
- Paste the copied embed code into the pop-up box and click “Submit”
- Your TED video should be embedded in your Canvas item
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