Send a Canvas reminder before class or a course event
A short reminder can help people arrive prepared. Notis can use an upcoming calendar event to send a Canvas conversation to the recipients you specify.
Trigger
Event Starting Soon
Triggers when a calendar event is within a configured number of minutes from starting. Returns event details, time remaining, attendees, and join links when available.
Action
Create conversation
Use to send messages in canvas by creating a new conversation or adding to an existing one; an existing conversation with the same recipients (and matching scope/filter, if specified) may be reused unless `force new` is true.
Why this helps
Important class and course events are easy to overlook when reminders live in a separate calendar.
- Put event reminders in a course communication channel.
- Include available event details and join links in the message.
- Reduce last minute follow-up and context switching.
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Calendar and Canvas once in the Notis portal.
- 2Create an automation in Automations, New Automation, and give it a name and prompt.
- 3Tell Notis which upcoming events merit a Canvas conversation, who should receive it, and what available event details to include.
- 4Pick the Event Starting Soon trigger and configure its minutes-before-start setting, choose where run reports should go, and test with one real example.
Questions about this workflow
Who receives the Canvas conversation?
Specify the intended recipients in your instruction. The trigger supplies event attendees when available, but you should describe how to select recipients.
Can a reminder include a join link?
The trigger returns join links when available. Ask Notis to include one in the message when the event data contains it.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Calendar to Canvas. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Calendar triggers
Canvas actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Create account notification
Creates a global notification within a canvas account, ensuring `end at` is after `start at` and any specified `notification roles` are valid.
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Create appointment group
Creates a new appointment group in canvas for schedulable time slots within specified course or group contexts.
Attendee Response Changed
Polling trigger that fires when any attendee's RSVP changes to accepted, declined, or tentative. Returns attendee info and current status.
Create an assignment
Creates a new assignment within a specified course in canvas lms.
Event Canceled or Deleted
Triggers when a Google Calendar event is cancelled or deleted. Returns minimal data: event_id, summary (if available), and cancellation timestamp.
Create assignment override
Creates an assignment override to adjust due/unlock/lock dates for an assignment in a course, targeting specific students (requires `title`), a group, or a course section; at least one target (`student ids`, `group id`, or `course section id`) is required.
Event Starting Soon
Triggers when a calendar event is within a configured number of minutes from starting. Returns event details, time remaining, attendees, and join links when available.
Create Calendar Event
Creates a calendar event with options for recurrence (finite `rrule` series only), section-specific timings, and blackout dates within a specified context.
Calendar Event Changes
**SOON TO BE DEPRECATED** - Use Calendar Event Sync (polling trigger) instead. Real-time webhook trigger for calendar event changes. Returns event metadata only. For full event data, use Calendar Event Sync (polling trigger).
Create communication channel
Creates a new communication channel (e.g., email, sms, push) for an existing canvas user to receive notifications.
Event Created
Polling trigger that fires when a new calendar event is created. Returns event ID, summary, start/end times, and organizer info.
Create content share
Shares a canvas content item to specified users, if the sender has necessary permissions and receiver ids are valid.
Calendar Event Sync
Polling trigger that returns full event data including details, attendees, and metadata. For real-time notifications with basic info, use Calendar Event Changes (webhook).
Create conversation
Use to send messages in canvas by creating a new conversation or adding to an existing one; an existing conversation with the same recipients (and matching scope/filter, if specified) may be reused unless `force new` is true.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Google Calendar and Canvas, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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