Deep Links in Canvas

12 steps

Vhlcentral

Canvas

Instructure

Deep Links

**Alert:** Deep links are **shortcuts** or **entry points** into vhlcentral. Activities and assessments must still be assigned in vhlcentral. Deep links help direct students to specific activities or assessments.

In **Modules**, go to the module where you want to create the **"Deep Link."** Click the **"+"** on the gray module bar.

Screenshot of the Canvas Modules page with a red circle around the + button in a module.

Select the **"External Tool"** option.

Screenshot of the Add Item pop-up in Canvas with a red circle around the External Tool option.

Click **"Launch vhlcentral"**.

Screenshot of the Add External Tool pop-up with a red circle around Launch vhlcentral.

You will see the following options: - **Link to Current Assignments** — takes students to a modified dashboard showing assigned activities within a seven-day period - **Link to a Specific Activity** — takes students directly to a specific activity - **Link to a Specific Assessment** — takes students directly to a specific assessment - **Link to vhlcentral Home** — takes students to the vhlcentral homepage; this is usually unnecessary because **Launch vhlcentral** is already available in Canvas navigation

Screenshot of the Link Resource from External Tool pop-up showing the options for Link to Current Assignments, Link to a Specific Activity, Link to a Specific Assessment, and Link to vhlcentral Home.

Click **"Link to Current Assignments"**.

Screenshot of the Link Resource from External Tool pop-up with a red circle around Link to Current Assignments.

In the **"Page Name"** field, you can keep **"Current Assignments"** or rename it. For example, you could use **L1 Current Assignments** or add a lesson, unit, or due date. Click **"Add Item".**

Screenshot of the Add Item pop-up showing the URL and Page Name fields, with a red circle around the Add Item button.

This is the student view of **"Current Assignments".**\ Students can click **"Start"** to work through their assignments in order.

For **"Specific Activity"** or **"Specific Assessment,"** repeat the initial process of clicking the **"+"** on the gray module bar where you want to add the **"Deep Link."**

Screenshot of the Link Resource from External Tool pop-up with a red rectangle highlighting the Specific Activity and Specific Assessment options.

**Alert:** For grade passback to work properly, activities and assessments must be assigned in vhlcentral. Deep links do not assign activities or assessments. If you link to a specific activity or assessment that has not been assigned, students may still complete it, but the grade will appear in the student’s unassigned grades rather than in the assigned course gradebook.

Click **"Link"**.

Screenshot of the activity list with a red circle around Link for a selected activity.

After selecting the appropriate **"Link,"** click **"Create."**

Screenshot of the Create Link pop-up with a red circle around the Create button.

Click **"Add Item."**

Screenshot of the Add Item pop-up with a red circle around the Add Item button.

These are examples of both **"Current Assignments"** and a **"Specific Activity"** under **Modules**. **Current Assignments** takes students to a modified dashboard, while a **Specific Activity** link takes students directly to that activity.

Screenshot of the Canvas Modules page showing both a Current Assignments link and a Specific Activity link created in previous steps.