Canvas LMS Examples: Courses, Quizzes, Features, and Integrations
Formswrite Team
•
February 15, 2026
Canvas LMS Examples: Courses, Quizzes, Features, and Integrations
Looking for practical examples of how to use Canvas LMS effectively? This guide showcases real course structures, quiz configurations, grading setups, and integrations that educators use every day.
Canvas Course Examples
Example 1: University Course (Psychology 101)
Psychology 101 - Introduction to Psychology
├── Module 1: What is Psychology?
│ ├── Page: Welcome & Syllabus
│ ├── Page: Chapter 1 Reading Guide
│ ├── External URL: TED Talk on Psychology
│ ├── Discussion: "Why Study Psychology?"
│ └── Quiz: Chapter 1 Check-In (10 pts)
├── Module 2: Research Methods
│ ├── Page: Chapter 2 Notes
│ ├── File: Research Ethics PDF
│ ├── Assignment: Design a Study (50 pts)
│ └── Quiz: Chapter 2 Quiz (20 pts)
├── Module 3: Biological Psychology
│ ├── Page: Neuroscience Basics
│ ├── External Tool: Virtual Brain Lab (LTI)
│ ├── Quiz: Brain Anatomy (30 pts)
│ └── Discussion: "Nature vs Nurture"
├── ...
├── Midterm Exam (Quiz - 100 pts, timed, 1 attempt)
├── Research Paper (Assignment - 150 pts, rubric)
└── Final Exam (Quiz - 200 pts, timed, 1 attempt)
Grading:
├── Quizzes: 20%
├── Assignments: 30%
├── Discussions: 10%
├── Midterm: 15%
└── Final: 25%
Example 2: K-12 Classroom (8th Grade Science)
8th Grade Earth Science
├── Unit 1: Plate Tectonics
│ ├── Page: What Are Tectonic Plates?
│ ├── External URL: USGS Interactive Map
│ ├── Assignment: Plate Boundary Diagram (Drawing)
│ ├── Quiz: Plate Tectonics Vocabulary
│ └── Discussion: "Earthquake Preparedness Plan"
├── Unit 2: Rocks and Minerals
│ ├── Page: Types of Rocks
│ ├── File: Rock Identification Worksheet (PDF)
│ ├── Assignment: Rock Collection Photo Essay
│ └── Quiz: Rock Cycle Quiz
├── Unit 3: Weather and Climate
│ ├── Page: Atmosphere Layers
│ ├── Assignment: Weather Journal (1 week)
│ └── Quiz: Weather vs Climate
└── End of Year Project (Assignment - Group Presentation)
Example 3: Corporate Training
Cybersecurity Awareness Training
├── Module 1: Introduction
│ ├── Page: Welcome & Course Overview
│ ├── Canvas Studio Video: "Why Cybersecurity Matters"
│ └── Quiz: Pre-Assessment (ungraded)
├── Module 2: Password Security
│ ├── Page: Creating Strong Passwords
│ ├── Quiz: Password Best Practices (must score 80%)
│ └── Page: Password Manager Recommendations
├── Module 3: Phishing Awareness
│ ├── Page: How to Spot Phishing Emails
│ ├── Quiz: Identify the Phishing Email (interactive)
│ └── Assignment: Report a Suspicious Email
├── Module 4: Data Protection
│ ├── Page: Handling Sensitive Data
│ ├── Quiz: Data Classification (must score 100%)
│ └── Assignment: Compliance Acknowledgement
└── Certificate of Completion (Requirement: all modules complete)
Canvas Quiz Examples
Multiple Choice
Question: Which layer of the Earth is the thickest?
A) Crust
B) Mantle ✓
C) Outer Core
D) Inner Core
Points: 2
Correct feedback: "The mantle makes up about 84% of Earth's volume."
Multiple Answer (Select All)
Question: Which of the following are renewable energy sources?
(Select all that apply)
☑ Solar power ✓
☑ Wind power ✓
☐ Natural gas
☑ Hydroelectric ✓
☐ Coal
Points: 3 (partial credit available)
True/False
Question: The mitochondria is responsible for photosynthesis.
○ True
● False ✓
Points: 1
Fill in the Blank
Question: The process by which plants make food using sunlight
is called [photosynthesis].
Points: 2
Essay
Question: Explain Darwin's theory of natural selection.
Include at least three key mechanisms in your response.
Points: 15
Grading: Rubric with categories:
- Scientific accuracy (5 pts)
- Completeness (5 pts)
- Writing quality (5 pts)
Matching
Match each scientist to their contribution:
Darwin → Natural Selection
Mendel → Genetics
Watson & Crick → DNA Structure
Pasteur → Germ Theory
Stimulus (New Quizzes)
Read the following passage about climate change...
[Passage text or image displayed]
Question 1: Based on the passage, what is the primary
cause of rising sea levels?
Question 2: The author's main argument is best
described as...
Question 3: Which evidence from the passage supports
the claim that...
Creating these quizzes faster: Instead of entering each question manually in Canvas, write them in a Google Doc and use Formswrite to convert them into a Canvas QTI package. Import via Settings → Import Course Content.
Canvas Grading Examples
Weighted Grade Setup
Assignment Groups:
├── Homework (20%)
│ ├── HW 1: 10 pts
│ ├── HW 2: 10 pts
│ └── HW 3: 10 pts
├── Quizzes (25%)
│ ├── Quiz 1: 20 pts
│ ├── Quiz 2: 20 pts
│ └── Quiz 3: 20 pts
├── Projects (25%)
│ ├── Midterm Project: 100 pts
│ └── Final Project: 100 pts
└── Exams (30%)
├── Midterm: 100 pts
└── Final: 200 pts
Late Policy Example
Late Policy:
- Deduction: 10% per day
- Lowest grade: 50%
- Missing submissions: 0 points
Grading Scheme
A 94-100%
A- 90-93%
B+ 87-89%
B 84-86%
B- 80-83%
C+ 77-79%
C 74-76%
C- 70-73%
D 60-69%
F 0-59%
Canvas Integrations (LTI Apps)
Canvas supports thousands of integrations through LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability):
Most Popular Integrations
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Video | Zoom, Panopto, Canvas Studio, Kaltura |
| Plagiarism | Turnitin, Unicheck, Copyleaks |
| Collaboration | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Padlet |
| Assessment | Respondus LockDown Browser, Proctorio, Honorlock |
| Content | McGraw-Hill, Pearson, Cengage, OpenStax |
| Communication | Slack, Microsoft Teams |
| Accessibility | Ally, SensusAccess |
| Analytics | IntelliBoard, Impact by Instructure |
| ePortfolios | Portfolium, Pathbrite |
Adding an LTI Integration
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Click "View App Configurations"
- Click "+ App"
- Enter the LTI configuration (Client ID, URL, or paste XML)
- Save — the tool appears in your course navigation or modules
Canvas vs Moodle: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Canvas | Moodle |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz engine | Classic + New Quizzes | 15+ question types built-in |
| Grading | SpeedGrader (inline) | Standard grading |
| Mobile app | Excellent (3 apps) | Good (1 app) |
| Video | Canvas Studio | Plugin-based (BigBlueButton, etc.) |
| Plugins | LTI-based | 2,000+ native plugins |
| Interface | Modern, clean | Functional, dated |
| Cost | Paid (institutional) | Free (open source) |
| API | REST (comprehensive) | Web Services (comprehensive) |
| Hosting | Cloud (SaaS) | Self-hosted or MoodleCloud |
Creating Canvas Content with Formswrite
The most time-intensive part of Canvas course design is creating assessments. Formswrite dramatically speeds this up:
- Write your quiz in a Google Doc — questions, answer choices, correct answers
- Convert to Canvas QTI — Formswrite's AI generates a valid QTI package
- Import into Canvas — Settings → Import Course Content → QTI .zip file
- Add to your quiz — questions appear in your Question Bank
Formswrite supports all Canvas-compatible question types and also converts to 25+ other formats (Moodle, Kahoot, Google Forms, etc.) from the same document.
For bulk conversion, the Formswrite API lets you automate this process programmatically.
FAQ
What integrations does Canvas support?
Canvas supports thousands of LTI-compatible tools. Popular integrations include Zoom, Turnitin, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Panopto, and content publishers like McGraw-Hill and Pearson.
Can I copy a Canvas course?
Yes. Go to Settings → Import Course Content → Copy a Canvas Course. This copies all modules, assignments, quizzes, and pages to a new course shell.
What quiz types does Canvas support?
Canvas offers multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, essay, matching, multiple answer, numerical, formula, and file upload questions. New Quizzes adds stimulus questions, hotspot, categorization, and ordering.
How do I share a Canvas course template?
Export your course as a Canvas course package or Common Cartridge file (Settings → Export Course Content), then share the file with other instructors to import.
Get Started
Build better Canvas courses with Formswrite. Convert your Google Docs into Canvas-ready quiz packages — import in seconds instead of entering questions manually.