Peer Collaboration in Canvas

Question

Collaboration is a key part of the learning experience, especially in higher education.

How do you use Canvas to promote peer-to-peer interaction on projects or assignments? What tools or strategies help students work together effectively?

Share what’s working in your courses—we’d love to learn from you! 💬✨

AshleyTeacher · Answer

I like using collaborative Lucid whiteboards.  Sticky notes, pen tools, shapes, emojis, images: so many fun ways to get students actively sharing their ideas together as a group.  Best part is it's included in a Canvas teacher or student account.  Yay!

DrTerriC · Answer

My last school was a webex school and I miss the chat features of Webex.. all students had an account and we could easily make groups for projects. Since I made the groups, I was a defacto member of the group, so I could see the questions they had etc..  It was a good tool for that..

jaiyoung · Answer

I use several Canvas features and integrated tools in my courses to promote peer-to-peer interaction and collaboration. Group assignments and group discussions allow students to work closely together, while required discussion responses ensure that students engage meaningfully with their peers’ ideas. I also use peer reviews with clear rubrics to guide students in giving constructive feedback on drafts and projects. External tools like Harmonize enhance discussions by allowing multimedia responses, making peer interaction more dynamic and personal. Additionally, I encourage students to use Zoom for group meetings and project planning, offering a convenient platform for real-time collaboration and recording. Combining these strategies has helped foster a more connected and engaging learning environment where students feel supported and challenged by one another.