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Use an AI quiz tool to bring question banks into Canvas

Upload a PDF, slides or notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or open questions with explanations, ready to review and export.

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Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

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How the export fits a Canvas quiz workflow

Instructors who search for a canvas quiz external tool usually have a practical goal: get questions from lecture slides or a textbook chapter into a Canvas quiz without retyping them.

Free plan: 3 generations per month, study in the browser
Plus ($39/year or $7.99/month): unlimited generations, PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export
Pro ($14.99/month): QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export, plus bulk upload
Students get 40% off with a school email, and no credit card is needed to start

Example Canvas external tool practice questions

What does LTI stand for in the context of Canvas external tools?Learning Tools Interoperability. It is the standard that lets an outside tool launch inside Canvas.

In Canvas, which assignment submission type lets students complete work in an outside tool?External Tool. It sends students to the tool and can return results to the Canvas gradebook.

True or false: a plain external link and an LTI external tool work the same way in Canvas.False. An LTI tool launches inside Canvas with a secure handshake, while a plain link only opens a web page.

Why does an LTI 1.1 tool require a consumer key and shared secret?They sign launch requests so Canvas can verify that the request came from a trusted tool.

Why do many institutions restrict who can add external tools in Canvas?Tools receive student data and can affect grades, so administrators review them before they are enabled.

Generate the full set

Multiple choice, true/false and open questions

Each question comes with an explanation for the correct answer, so you can check the reasoning and not just the letter.

QTI 2.1 export on Pro

Pro exports QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML files for importing into Canvas or another QTI-compatible system.

Start free, no card needed

The Free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser. Exports are paid features.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file or photos of pages.

Generate and review

Get questions with explanations, then edit or remove any item that does not match your source.

Export and import

On Pro, export a QTI 2.1 file and import it into Canvas or your learning platform.

DeckOwl generates multiple-choice, true/false and open questions from PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or photographed pages, each with an explanation. QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML exports are available on Pro, so the file can be imported into a quiz system that accepts those formats.

Review every question before it reaches students. Generated items can be wrong or too easy, so check each answer key against your source material first.

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Frequently asked questions

What does LTI mean for Canvas external tools?

LTI, or Learning Tools Interoperability, is the standard that lets a tool launch inside Canvas and, for some tools, send scores back to the gradebook. A plain external link only opens a web page.

Where do you add an external tool in Canvas?

Admins and course owners usually add tools from the Apps area in account or course settings, where they enter the tool's configuration details. Your institution may limit who can do this.

Does DeckOwl export directly into Canvas?

The Pro plan exports QTI 2.1 files. Importing that file into Canvas is a separate step you complete in Canvas.

Are exports included in the free plan?

No. The Free plan covers 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, while PDF, DOCX, Anki, CSV, QTI and Moodle XML exports are paid features.

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