Turn new course outlines into Canvas modules
Start with the outline you already wrote and create the Canvas structure around it.
Trigger
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
Action
Create Module
Creates a new organizational module within a specified canvas lms course, with options for availability, sequencing, and prerequisites.
Why this helps
Course outlines are approved in Docs but still require manual module setup in Canvas.
- Reduce initial course setup
- Preserve planned sequence
- Create a usable structure sooner
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and Canvas in Notis once.
- 2Create an automation that creates a Canvas module from each new course outline and its headings.
- 3Pick New Document Created as the trigger.
- 4Choose a report channel and test with one outline document.
Questions about this workflow
Can it use headings as module details?
Yes. Ask Notis to use the outline headings and section order when creating the module.
Can availability be added?
Yes. Include the intended availability rules in your instruction when the course context supports them.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Docs to Canvas. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Docs 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.
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
Create an assignment
Creates a new assignment within a specified course in canvas lms.
Document Deleted
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is deleted (moved to trash). This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are trashed.
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.
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
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.
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
Create communication channel
Creates a new communication channel (e.g., email, sms, push) for an existing canvas user to receive notifications.
Document Structure Changed
Triggers when a Google Doc's structure changes (headers/footers added/removed, tables/images count changes). This trigger monitors a specific document for structural changes like: - Headers added or removed - Footers added or removed - Tables added or removed - Images (inline objects) added or removed - Positioned objects added or removed - Footnotes added or removed
Create content share
Shares a canvas content item to specified users, if the sender has necessary permissions and receiver ids are valid.
Document Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is updated or modified. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are updated.
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 Docs and Canvas, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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