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Keep course discussion themes visible

Let Notis turn new discussion messages into a concise Paper brief so useful questions and follow-ups do not disappear in a busy course feed.

Trigger

New Canvas Discussion Message

Polls Canvas discussion topics for new messages.

Action

Create paper document

Creates a new dropbox paper document at the specified path using html or markdown content.

Why this helps

Important questions and recurring themes are easy to miss across active course discussions.

  • Bring new discussion activity into a concise reviewable brief.
  • Spot questions that may need a response.
  • Keep course context available in Dropbox Paper.

Setup

Build it in a few focused steps.

  • 1Connect Canvas and Dropbox once in the Notis portal.
  • 2Create an automation in Automations, New Automation, or tell Notis what you want from any channel.
  • 3Ask Notis to summarize each new discussion message, highlight questions and themes, and save the brief in Dropbox Paper.
  • 4Pick the New Canvas Discussion Message trigger and choose where run reports should go.
  • 5Test with one real discussion message.

Questions about this workflow

Can Notis identify themes across a whole discussion history?

This trigger covers new messages. A longer historical baseline must be supplied separately if you want comparisons over time.

Can I specify what counts as a follow-up?

Yes. State your criteria in the plain-language automation instruction.

When this happens · Trigger

Do this · Action

Supported Triggers and Actions

Notis builds workflows that link Canvas to Dropbox. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.

Canvas triggers

Dropbox actions

Recurring trigger

Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.

TriggerScheduled

Create file request

Tool to create a new file request in dropbox. use when you need to request files from others by generating a unique link for uploads to a specified dropbox folder, optionally with a deadline.

ActionInstant

Webhook trigger

Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.

TriggerInstant

Create folder

Tool to create a new folder at a specified path in dropbox. use when you need to organize files by creating a new directory. requires the 'files.content.write' scope.

ActionInstant

Canvas Assignment Graded

Polls Canvas for newly graded submissions for a specific assignment.

TriggerPolling

Create paper document

Creates a new dropbox paper document at the specified path using html or markdown content.

ActionInstant

New Canvas Assignment Submission

Polls Canvas for new submissions to a specific assignment.

TriggerPolling

Delete file or folder

Permanently deletes the file or folder at the specified path in dropbox. use when you need to remove a specific file or folder. requires the `files.content.write` scope.

ActionInstant

New Canvas Discussion Message

Polls Canvas discussion topics for new messages.

TriggerPolling

Get about me

Tool to get information about the current user's dropbox account. use when you need to retrieve account details like email, name, or account type.

ActionInstant

New Canvas Discussion Topic

Polls a Canvas course for new discussion topics.

TriggerPolling

List files in folder

Tool to list files and folders in a specified dropbox directory. use when you need to see the contents of a folder, including subfolders if recursive is true.

ActionInstant

New Course Created for User

Polls Canvas for newly created courses for a specific user.

TriggerPolling

List folder contents

Retrieves a list of folders, files, and deleted entries from a specified dropbox path.

ActionInstant

New Canvas File Upload

Polls a Canvas course for new file uploads.

TriggerPolling

Move file or folder

Move file or folder

ActionInstant

Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.

Canvas and Dropbox, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.

When this happens · Trigger

Do this · Action

Save your first hour today.

7-day trial of any paid plan, with 20$ of usage included.
No card. Works with personal or business Dropbox.