Using Canvas with AI Companion and Zoom Virtual Agent
Once an admin configures and installs Canvas for Zoom, teachers and students can manage announcements, content, grades, and reports through conversational commands in the AI Companion panel, streamlining course administration while maintaining secure authentication. Additionally, admins can connect Canvas to Zoom Virtual Agent via the Zoom web portal, enabling voice or chat agents to access supported tools.
Requirements for using Canvas with AI Companion and Zoom Virtual Agent
AI Companion requirements
Zoom Virtual Agent requirements
How to connect Canvas within the AI Companion panel
- Sign in to the Zoom Workplace desktop app.
- Click the Home tab
or click the AI Companion icon 
from your active tab. - In the Write a message or type / for more field, click the add icon
. - Next to Apps, click Explore.
- On the Apps tab, search for Canvas for Zoom.
- Click View, then click Connect.
- Sign in to your Canvas account, then click Allow.
- Proceed with the authorization steps.
Once the app is added to AI Companion, you can complete Canvas tasks directly in the AI Companion panel.
How to use Canvas with AI Companion
- Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
- Click the Home tab or click the AI Companion icon from your active tab.
- In the Write a message or type / for more field, click the add icon .
- Click the Canvas for Zoom app.
Canvas will be shown below the prompt field. - Choose from the preset prompts or enter your own prompt and send it to AI Companion. For more information, review the various actions that you can take with Canvas in AI Companion.
Various actions you can perform with Canvas tools in the Zoom Connector
In the AI Companion panel, you can enter queries related to your courses in Canvas. The following table provides a list of example queries you can use.
| Action | Usage examples |
|---|
| Access course information |
These example queries help instructors access vital course information within the AI Companion panel:
- "I need to check which students are enrolled in my Biology 101 course to verify attendance"
- "Let me quickly pull up the course details for Chemistry 202 to share the syllabus link"
- "I want to see all my active courses this semester to schedule office hours"
|
| Create page |
This example query allows instructors to immediately capture and organize valuable content in the AI Companion panel:
- "Let's create a new page summarizing today's discussion"
|
| Manage assignments |
These example queries help instructors maintain workflow continuity while addressing student needs:
- "Let's create a new essay assignment based on today's discussion about Shakespeare"
- "I need to check if Sarah has submitted her research proposal yet"
- "Show me all upcoming assignments for my Statistics course so we can review deadlines"
|
| Discussions |
This integration helps extend valuable synchronous conversations into thoughtful asynchronous discussions and announcements.
- "Let's continue this debate about ethical AI by creating a discussion forum with our key points"
- "I want to check what topics students are currently discussing in our forum before today's lecture"
- "Show me the details of the 'Midterm Review' discussion to address common questions"
|
| Create and manage quizzes |
These example capabilities allow instructors to develop and adjust assessments:
- "Let's create a quick comprehension quiz based on today's lecture on cell biology"
- "Let's extend the deadline for the midterm quiz since we covered the material later than planned"
- "Show me how students performed on question #3 from yesterday's pop quiz"
|
How to enable Zoom Virtual Agent Canvas integration
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
- In the navigation menu, click AI Studio then Integrations.
- In the Marketplace section, click Canvas then Connect.
A new tab will open to begin the authentication process. - Enter your Canvas credentials and submit them.
- When Canvas requests access to your account, click Accept, then Confirm to complete the connection.
- Once authentication is successful, the integration will appear on your Integrations page.
- In the navigation menu, click AI Studio then Integrations.
You will see the Canvas application with an Active status.
How to use Canvas integration with ZVA Voice/Chat agents
- In the navigation menu, click AI Studio then Tool Templates.
- Click the Marketplace tab.
- Create a voice or chat agent and use the desired Canvas tools accordingly.
How your data is used
Zoom's Canvas Marketplace app allows Zoom Communications, Inc., access to your Canvas course information records.
- Course information (course list, course details, enrollments): Used to display your courses, verify course access permissions, and show enrollment information when managing course content.
- User profile (user ID, name, role): Used to authenticate your Canvas identity and determine your permissions (teacher, student, TA) for accessing and creating content.
- Assignment data (assignment list, submission details): Used to display assignments, check submission status, and create new assignments based on class discussions.
- Discussion topics (topic list, topic details, posts): Used to view existing discussions, create new discussion forums, and continue conversations from Zoom meetings.
- Quiz information (quiz list, quiz details, questions, submissions): Used to display quizzes, create new assessments, add questions, and review student performance data.
- Module content (module list, module items): Used to access course modules, display learning materials, and organize content within your courses.
- Page content: Used to create and display wiki pages that document class discussions and learning materials.
By authorizing this connection, the Canvas app maintains ongoing access to your information. Learn more about the API endpoints.