Canvas: Embedding External Content in a Canvas Page

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It is possible to embed external web content in a Canvas page, including collaborative Google docs and web forms. Examples of content that can be embedded in a Canvas page, assignment, or discussion include:

Google docs, spreadsheets, and forms
PDFs that are housed in your Canvas files, a Google Drive folder, or elsewhere on the web where permissions are set as open to either Middlebury as an organization or as public to all
Video content that is stored in Panopto, YouTube, Vimeo, and elsewhere, as long as the video creator has permissions set to allow it to be embedded in another website (learn more about embedding Panopto videos in Canvas)
Lucid documents (learn more about embedding Lucid content in Canvas)
ThingLink content (learn more about embedding ThingLink content in Canvas)

NOTE: With the exception of Microsoft Forms, you cannot embed in Canvas any content created with Microsoft applications that use your Middlebury login. You can, however, provide a hyperlink to your shared Microsoft content.

General Steps to Embed Content in a Canvas Page

Navigate to the content you would like to embed and copy the link to its embed code. This is also commonly known as <iframe> code.
Make sure you first confirm that the sharing permissions for the document are set such that either anyone with link or anyone at Middlebury (the “organization”) has access.
Most video applications as well as Google and Microsoft forms, have an embed option. For Google Forms, first make sure your form is published, and then click the three vertical dots (the kebab) and choose Embed HTML.
Set the width and height for the content as you desire
Click copy to copy the embed code.
Navigate back to the Canvas page, assignment, or discussion in Canvas where you want the content embedded. Click Edit to edit the Canvas content.
Insert your cursor in the Canvas content editing area where you want your embedded content to be presented. Next, either click Insert > Embed in the rich content editor (RCE) menu or click the cloud icon in the RCE. You may need to click the three vertical dots (the kebab) to reveal this icon.

Canvas rich content editor with the Embed cloud icon highlighted

Paste your copied embed code into the form field indicated. Then click Submit to preview the page and return to the rich content editor.

Sample HTML code pasted into the Embed Code field

Click Save before navigating to a new page.

Details

Article ID: 792

Created

Wed 2/12/25 5:23 PM

Modified

Thu 2/13/25 11:23 AM

Related Services / Offerings

Related Services / Offerings (4)

Canvas

Canvas is Middlebury's enterprise learning management system. It provides tools to create online course sites that enable course communications, forums, assessments, file sharing, and other activities.

Lucid

Lucidchart and Lucidspark are external tools available from and within Canvas, Middlebury's learning management system.

Panopto Integration in Canvas

The Panopto video integration with Canvas allows instructors and students to choose, upload, or record videos from wherever the rich content editor is available in order to share with members of a Canvas site. The integration is available for all Canvas content types except new quizzes.

ThingLink

The platform enables instructors and students to create clickable hotspots to various media types including images, videos, 3D models, and augmented reality content. Elements can link to custom content, websites, or multimedia resources, allowing the creation of branching scenarios and interactive learning tasks.