Build a Canvas quiz from your own lecture slides
Upload slides, PDFs or notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or open questions with explanations, ready to review before they go into Canvas.
Why start your Canvas quiz from your own material
Most instructors spend more time writing questions than setting up the quiz itself, so a canvas quiz build works best when it starts from the lecture material you already have. DeckOwl reads your slides or notes and drafts questions with explanations, which you can edit before they go into Canvas.
- Start from slides, PDFs, DOCX files or notes instead of typing every question.
- Mix multiple-choice, true/false and open questions in one set.
- Read an explanation for each answer so you can check it before publishing.
- Export to PDF or DOCX on Plus, or to QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML on Pro.
Multiple-choice, true/false and open questions
Pick the question types that match your course, then review each one with its explanation before it goes into Canvas.
Upload slides, PDFs or notes
Works from PPTX, PDF, DOCX, plain text and photos of pages read with text recognition.
Export when you are ready
The Plus plan exports PDF and DOCX. The Pro plan adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML for importing into other systems.
How it works
Upload your material
Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or photos of pages.
Choose question types
Select multiple choice, true/false or open questions, then set how many you want.
Review and export
Check each question and explanation, then export in the formats your plan includes.
Each question should test one idea, and the wrong options should be plausible enough that a student has to know the material to rule them out. Review the generated set against what was actually covered in class, since you know your course better than any tool does.
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Frequently asked questions
How many questions should a Canvas quiz have?
Most quizzes work well with 10 to 20 questions, which covers the main ideas without making the time limit unfair. Shorter quizzes suit a single lecture, while longer ones fit a unit review.
What makes a good multiple-choice question for a quiz?
Write one clear question, one correct answer, and wrong options that match the mistakes students actually make. Avoid choices like all of the above, since they make guessing easier.
Can I export a quiz for Canvas from DeckOwl?
PDF and DOCX exports are on the Plus plan, and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML exports are on the Pro plan. Check which import formats your Canvas setup accepts before you export.
Is there a free way to try it?
The Free plan includes 3 generations per month and lets you study in the browser, but it does not include exports. No credit card is needed to start.
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