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Turn course notes into quiz questions you can import into Canvas

Upload a PDF, slide deck, DOCX or photo of a page. Get multiple-choice, true/false or open questions with explanations, ready to review before they reach your students.

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Getting questions from your notes into Canvas

Moving a quiz into Canvas usually starts with a canvas quiz import, and the file has to be in a format Canvas reads. Most of the work is in the question writing and the answer keys, which is where a generator saves time.

Keep answer keys in the file so the LMS can score multiple-choice and true/false items automatically.
Preview the imported quiz in Canvas and check formatting, images and math notation.
Import into a test or sandbox course first, then move the quiz once it looks right.
Review every explanation, since a wrong rationale is harder to spot after students have seen the quiz.

Example Canvas import checks for instructors

What file type does Canvas expect when you import a QTI quiz package?A .zip archive containing the QTI package, because Canvas reads the question data and manifest from inside the archive rather than from a loose PDF or DOCX.

Which setting should you confirm before importing questions into a Canvas course?The target course and quiz or question bank, because imported content lands in the location you choose and can be harder to move later.

Why should the correct answer stay in the file when importing multiple-choice questions?The LMS needs the marked correct choice to score the item automatically, and a missing key forces manual grading.

What is the main risk of importing a quiz without previewing it in Canvas?Formatting or image errors and wrong answer keys can carry over, so students may see mistakes that you could have caught in a preview.

Why run a test import into a sandbox course before using the real one?A sandbox lets you catch broken questions and scoring problems without students seeing an unfinished quiz in a live course.

Generate the full set

Questions from your own material

Upload your lecture slides, reading PDFs or typed notes and get questions written from that exact content.

Explanations on every item

Each question includes a short explanation of why the correct answer is right, so you can check the key before importing.

Export formats for your LMS

Download PDF or DOCX on Plus. QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are available on Pro for institutions that use those formats.

How it works

Upload your material

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

Choose question types

Pick multiple choice, true/false, open questions or a mix, and set how many you want.

Review, then export

Edit any wording, confirm each answer key, and export in the format your Canvas course needs.

Start with the topic you are teaching this week, not with the file format. Upload the readings or slides, generate a batch, and cut anything that does not match your learning goals. Then export and run a test import into a sandbox course, so problems show up before students see the quiz.

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should a weekly Canvas quiz have?

Many instructors use 5 to 10 questions for a single week's topic, but the right number depends on the time limit and what you want students to recall. Start with a short quiz and adjust after you see results.

How do I check an imported quiz before students see it?

Open the quiz in Canvas as a preview and check every answer key and explanation against your source material. Fix any wording or formatting that did not carry over before you publish.

Which export formats are included on each plan?

The free plan has no exports and runs in the browser. Plus at $39 per year or $7.99 per month includes PDF and DOCX export, and Pro at $14.99 per month adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML.

Do I need a credit card to try DeckOwl?

No, you can start without a credit card, and the free plan includes 3 generations per month. Students get 40% off with a school email.

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Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.