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Canvas Reading List tool

How to set up a course reading list in Canvas.

Publish your Reading List

When you are done adding resources to your reading list you need to publish it and send it to the library for review. Most resources will immediately be available to your students, some need the approval of the library first (i.e. print books, DVDs). To publish and send your list:

Click the My list is ready button at the top of your reading list; your reading list is now visible to your enrolled students.

 

 

Please note: Physical library items you place on your Reading List still need to be sent to the library to be placed on Course Reserves. Please complete the Course Reserves Submission form in addition to adding them to your Reading List.

If you are interested in requesting new material to place on Course Reserves, please contact your liaison librarian prior to submitting the Course Reserves Submission form.

This process can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks.

Linking your Reading List in Canvas Modules

You can direct your students to the Reading List in your Canvas Modules, allowing you to better track student engagement with your course readings. To do so...

1. Click the + to bring up the Add Item box.

2. Select External Tool and scroll down to Reading List.

 

3. or Select External URL to link to a specific Week in your Reading List.

  • Click Copy shareable link to section on a Reading List section and paste it in the External URL tool in Canvas.

 

 

4. Click Add Item. Your Reading List will now be directly linked within a Canvas module.

View your list as a student

Reading List offers a Student View mode that allows instructors to preview a Reading List.

1. Click the ellipsis menu on the top menu.

 

 

 

 

2. Click View list as a student.

  • If the Reading List is unpublished, you will see a Please note! message alerting you that it is a draft.

3. To exit Student View Mode, click Back to instructor view in the upper right-hand corner.

4. Don’t forget to publish your Reading List so students can view it. You can always add more or edit resources to your Reading List after publishing.

View student engagement with your Reading List

Instructors can see view engagement analytics through analysis mode.

View List Analysis Mode

1. Click the Lists Analysis icon on the right-hand menu.

2. You will then enter Analysis mode, where you can see the number of students that engaged with each resource and how they engaged with them.

  • You will not be able to see the names of the students who have engaged with each resource, you will only be able to see the total amount.

3. Click the X in the upper right corner of the screen to exit analysis mode.

Adding a Collaborator to your Reading List

TA/GAs, fellow faculty, or librarians can be added from the Collaborators Menu on the right side of your Canvas Reading List screen.

1. Click List info.

 

 

2. Select Manage collaborators, and then + Add collaborators.

3. Type the name of the person you want to add, and then click Save.

Cal State LA University Library
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8300
323-343-3988