How Can I Link Pearson Plus Lessons Inside Canvas? | A Guide

Connecting your Pearson Plus resources with your Canvas course creates a unified learning experience for students. This integration streamlines access to essential course materials, assessments, and grade synchronization, centralizing academic activities within the familiar Canvas environment.

Understanding Pearson Plus and Canvas Integration

Pearson Plus serves as a gateway to a suite of educational content and tools, including widely used platforms like MyLab & Mastering and Revel. These platforms house interactive textbooks, practice exercises, quizzes, and multimedia resources tailored to specific disciplines. Canvas, as a learning management system (LMS), provides the organizational structure for delivering course content, facilitating communication, and managing student progress.

The integration between Pearson and Canvas is designed to create a cohesive educational ecosystem. Instead of navigating separate websites, students access all their required materials directly from their Canvas course shell. This approach reduces cognitive load and ensures a consistent user experience, allowing learners to focus more on the subject matter itself.

The Core Mechanism: LTI Integration

The technical foundation for linking Pearson Plus content within Canvas is Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI). LTI is a standard developed by the IMS Global Learning Consortium, enabling secure communication and data exchange between an LMS (like Canvas) and external learning applications (like Pearson’s platforms).

When an LTI link is established, Canvas acts as the “consumer” and the Pearson platform as the “provider.” This handshake allows for:

• Single Sign-On (SSO): Students log into Canvas once and can access Pearson content without re-entering credentials.
• Grade Synchronization: Scores from Pearson assignments can be automatically transferred to the Canvas gradebook, reducing manual entry for instructors.
• Deep Linking: Instructors can link directly to specific chapters, assignments, or activities within the Pearson platform, guiding students precisely to the required material.

The initial LTI configuration typically involves a “Consumer Key” and a “Shared Secret” provided by Pearson. These credentials authenticate the connection between the two systems, ensuring data privacy and security during the exchange of information.

How Can I Link Pearson Plus Lessons Inside Canvas? | Step-by-Step Configuration

The process for linking Pearson Plus content involves specific steps within both Canvas and your chosen Pearson platform. While the exact menu names might vary slightly based on updates, the underlying principles remain consistent.

Initial Setup in Canvas

Before linking individual lessons, you must establish the foundational connection between your Canvas course and Pearson’s system. This usually involves adding Pearson as an external tool within your course navigation or a module.

1. Navigate to your specific Canvas course.
2. Access the “Settings” menu, typically located at the bottom of the course navigation.
3. Select the “Navigation” tab to manage course menu items. Look for an option to add external tools or integrate Pearson.
4. Alternatively, within a Canvas module, you can add an “External Tool” item. This will prompt you to select the Pearson tool from a list of available integrations.
5. Upon first access, the Pearson tool will guide you through a registration or pairing process, connecting your Canvas course with a specific Pearson course ID.

Pairing Your Pearson Course

Once the initial LTI tool is established in Canvas, the next step is to link it to your specific Pearson course. This is a one-time process for each Canvas course section.

1. Click on the Pearson link you added in your Canvas course navigation or module.
2. You will be redirected to the Pearson platform. If you have an existing Pearson instructor account, you will sign in.
3. The system will then prompt you to either “Copy an existing course,” “Create a new course,” or “Enter a course ID.” Select the option that corresponds to your teaching scenario.
4. Confirm the course pairing. This action creates the essential link, allowing subsequent content deployment and grade synchronization.

Configuring Pearson MyLab & Mastering in Canvas

MyLab & Mastering products are designed for comprehensive course delivery, often featuring a dedicated course shell within Pearson’s environment. Integrating these into Canvas focuses on providing seamless access and gradebook synchronization.

Adding MyLab & Mastering Links

After your Canvas course is paired with your MyLab & Mastering course, you can begin adding specific links to content within Canvas modules.

1. Within your Canvas course, go to the “Modules” section.
2. Click the “+” button next to the module where you want to add content.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “External Tool.”
4. Choose the Pearson MyLab & Mastering tool.
5. You will then be presented with options to link to the MyLab & Mastering Course Home, specific assignments, or other course materials. Select the desired content.
6. Name the link clearly within Canvas (e.g., “Chapter 1 Homework – MyLab Math”).
7. Repeat this process for all relevant assignments and resources you wish to feature directly in Canvas.

Setting Up Grade Synchronization

Grade synchronization ensures that student scores from MyLab & Mastering flow directly into your Canvas gradebook. This typically occurs automatically for assignments linked from Canvas.

1. Access the Pearson MyLab & Mastering tool from your Canvas course navigation.
2. Within the MyLab & Mastering platform, locate the “Grade Sync” or “Gradebook Settings” area.
3. Confirm that synchronization is enabled for the assignments you want to transfer to Canvas.
4. Ensure that assignment names and point values in MyLab & Mastering align with your expectations for the Canvas gradebook.
5. Periodically perform a manual grade sync from the Pearson tool in Canvas to ensure all grades are up-to-date.

Integrating Pearson Revel Content

Revel offers an interactive, media-rich learning experience, often presenting content in a more integrated, chapter-by-chapter format. The integration with Canvas emphasizes direct access to specific Revel sections.

Linking Revel Chapters and Assignments

Similar to MyLab & Mastering, Revel content is linked into Canvas modules as external tools.

1. Navigate to the “Modules” section in your Canvas course.
2. Add an “External Tool” item to a module.
3. Select the Pearson Revel tool from the list.
4. You will be presented with an option to link to the Revel Table of Contents, specific chapters, or individual assignments/activities.
5. Choose the precise Revel content you want students to access from that Canvas link.
6. Provide a descriptive name for the link in Canvas (e.g., “Revel Chapter 3: The Human Brain”).

This granular linking allows instructors to curate the student learning path within Canvas, directing them to specific readings or activities at the appropriate time.

Feature	MyLab & Mastering Integration	Revel Integration
Primary Link Type	Course Home, Assignment Links	Chapter Links, Assignment Links
Grade Synchronization	Comprehensive, detailed assignments	Chapter-level completion, specific activities
Content Structure	Often external course shell, deep linking	Often embedded within Canvas modules

Best Practices for Content Deployment

Effective integration extends beyond technical setup; it involves thoughtful organization and clear communication to students. A well-structured Canvas course enhances the learning experience significantly.

• Module Organization: Group Pearson links logically within Canvas modules, perhaps by week, topic, or unit. This provides a clear roadmap for students.
• Clear Naming Conventions: Use consistent and descriptive names for all Pearson links in Canvas. For example, “Read: Chapter 4 – Photosynthesis (Revel)” or “Homework: Quadratic Equations (MyMathLab).”
• Provide Instructions: Include a brief introductory page or announcement in Canvas explaining how students should access Pearson content, emphasizing the single sign-on aspect.
• Regular Link Checks: Periodically click through your Pearson links from the student view in Canvas to ensure they are functioning correctly and directing students to the intended content.
• Gradebook Alignment: Verify that the assignment weights and categories in your Canvas gradebook accurately reflect how Pearson grades will contribute to the overall course grade.

Issue	Potential Cause	Resolution
“Access Denied”	Pop-up blockers, incorrect account linking	Disable pop-up blockers, verify Pearson account
Grade Sync Failure	Incorrect gradebook setup, API issues	Review gradebook settings, re-sync grades
Broken Links	Course copy issues, LTI tool not configured	Re-establish LTI link, verify tool configuration

Troubleshooting Common Integration Issues

Even with careful setup, occasional issues can arise. Understanding common problems and their solutions helps maintain a smooth learning environment.

• Pop-up Blockers: Many Pearson platforms open in new tabs or windows. Advise students to disable pop-up blockers for Canvas and Pearson domains.
• Browser Compatibility: Ensure students are using supported web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) and that their browser is updated. Clearing browser cache and cookies can resolve many access issues.
• Account Linking Problems: If a student cannot access content, their Canvas and Pearson accounts might not be correctly linked. They may need to sign out of both platforms and try accessing a Pearson link from Canvas again to re-establish the connection.
• Grade Sync Delays: Grade synchronization is not always instantaneous. Allow some time for grades to transfer. If grades still do not appear, initiate a manual grade sync from the Pearson tool in Canvas.
• Missing Assignments in Gradebook: Confirm that the assignments were correctly linked from Canvas and that their settings in Pearson allow for grade transfer. Check if the assignment is hidden or excluded in either system.

When troubleshooting, always begin by checking the most basic elements: internet connection, browser settings, and ensuring the student is accessing the content through the Canvas link, not directly from the Pearson website.