What are the setup requirements for using Canvas?
Set Up a New Admin User in Canvas
Create a new admin user in Canvas to be used by Sentral for sending data to the Canvas API. This ensures the integration is not dependent on a specific person, which could cause issues if that person's account is removed (e.g., if they leave the institution).- Email Address: Use a separate email address for this user. If you have a generic email address for IT administrative purposes, it may be suitable. Otherwise, create a new email address, such as canvas-sentral@yourschool, to track all actions performed by this user. Alternatively, you can use a temporary email service like EmailOnDeck to create the account.
Here are the guides for creating a new user and making them an Account Admin in Canvas:
Once the new admin user has been created and granted Admin permissions, they will need to generate an API token in Canvas. This token will be used in the Canvas configuration screen in Sentral, allowing Sentral to communicate with the Canvas API using the permissions of the newly created Admin user.
Here is the guide for generating a user API token in Canvas: How do I manage API access tokens as an admin?
When setting up the token, ensure you do not include an expiry date, as this would cause the integration to stop working on that date. Name the token something identifiable, like "Sentral API Token," so you know its purpose. Once the token is generated, copy it to a secure location, as you will need it for the Canvas integration configuration in Sentral.