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Reading Lists in Canvas

Information supporting the use of the Reading List app in Canvas.

Video - Setting up a Reading List

This video demonstrates the steps to setting up a Reading List in a Canvas course, including:

  • Adding the LTI to the Canvas course menu
  • Creating a list from scratch
  • Adding Collaborators
  • Adding the Cite it feature to capture resources from the internet

Reading Lists: 1. Setting up (5 mins), RMIT Library Teaching & Research, Microsoft Stream (RMIT login required)

Adding the Reading List LTI to Canvas

To install the Reading List LTI

  1. Login to your Canvas course. Select Settings at the bottom of your course navigation menu
    Screenshot of left side menu where the settings option is located
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  2.  At the top of the Settings screen, select NavigationScreenshot showing the navigation option in the top menu
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  3. Find the Reading List tool in the bottom list of disabled navigation items. You can drag and drop the Reading List tool into the enabled list. Alternatively, select the Edit icon next to Reading List, and select Enable. Position the Reading List tool directly below Assignments making it easily viewable to students
    Screenshot of enable reading list option
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  4. Select Save

Creating a Reading List in Canvas

Note: Reading Lists must NOT be created in DEV shells, only in course shells that have a SIS-ID. If there is not a provisioned shell please contact the Teaching Support team.
  1. Select Reading List from the Canvas navigation menu
  2. Select the Create new list option
    Note: DO NOT use the use the 'Select existing List' option. This is for rolling over a list from the previous offering of the same course code only.
    Screenshot showing the option to create new list
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  3. Add or edit the List name for the Reading List. The List name can be edited or changed after the Reading List has been created
  4. Add a List description (this is optional). The description can be edited or changed after the Reading List has been created
  5. Select Next
    Screenshot showing where to edit title and description and selecting next
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  6. Select Weeks to create weekly sections and edit the 'Default number of sections' required OR select Default to create a list and add sections after you 'Create list'
    Screenshot showing where to create sections and then where to select the create list function
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  7. Select Create list button
  8. The list is ready for you to add Collaborators and to add items

Adding Collaborators to a Reading List

Reading List Collaborators could be Library staff, sessional staff, learning designers, or teaching colleagues.

Note: It's important that Course Coordinators are added as Collaborators to the course Reading List and given "List owner" access. This will assist with the Reading List rollover process that happens for each new offering of the course.

To add a collaborator to a Reading List:

  1. Select List info in the menu at the top of the listScreenshot showing where the List info function is in the top menu
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  2. Select Manage collaborators in the section that list Instructors

    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  3. Select Add collaborators
    Screenshot showing the Add collaborators and save functions
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  4. Type the name of the collaborator in the 'Select from course instructors or search for other collaborators' box
  5. Select the name of the collaborator
  6. From options for the new collaborator, select whether they are able to edit the list or whether they will be a list owner
    Note: Collaborators can be assigned editing rights or can be made a 'List owner' or 'Can edit list':
    • Owner rights - allows the management of resources and to add or remove collaborators
    • Editing rights - allows the management of resources in the list, including adding items to a list
    screenshot showing option for either list owner or can edit list
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  7. Select Save

Using Cite it

Installing Cite it

Cite it is a function that allows you to add internet resources to your Reading List using an extension from your browser's toolbar.

To install:

  1. From a Reading List, go to Settings (cog wheel) and select Cite it!
    Leganto instructions for adding cite it. Go to cog in top right and select cite it
    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.
     
  2. There are two installation options: (a) Browser extension and (b) Bookmarklet. Choose Bookmarklet.
  3. A pop-up box provides the Cite it! button to drag and drop onto your toolbar, as well as further instructions.

    Image: Copyright © Ex Libris. Used under licence.

Using Cite it

  1. Locate the website or online resource you wish to add to your Reading List
  2. Select Cite it! from your bookmark toolbar
  3. From the pop-up box, change the Title (if needed, then select Item details to include missing referencing or citation information
  4. Select or search a list to add the reference to a particular Reading List, then Select or Search for a section
  5. Select Add

Note: If Cite it does not work properly, try clearing your cache or use another browser. Otherwise, use the Manual entry method.