Zoom (Canvas Integration) - Overview [UW-Madison]

This document outlines resources for instructors on how to get started with the Canvas-Zoom integration at UW-Madison.

Select this link to list all Zoom documents from the Learn@UW-Madison Knowledgebase at the bottom of this page.

Zoom logo

Zoom is an enterprise cloud platform for video, voice, online meetings, screen sharing, chat, and webinars. This enterprise web conferencing and distance learning application runs across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. This document focuses on Zoom and its integration with the Canvas Learning Management System. For information on how to access Zoom outside of Canvas, see UW-Madison Zoom Workplace - Getting started

For a comparison of your web conferencing options on campus, including Zoom, please see Which video conferencing or webinar tool should I use? (Google Meet, Cisco Webex , Microsoft Teams, Zoom).

Zoom and Canvas

The Canvas-Zoom integration allows Zoom to recognize the participants and loosely maps their roles in Canvas to the Zoom session (Instructor = Moderator, Student = Participant). Any recordings made using a Zoom Room associated with your Canvas Course will also show up in the integration for instructors and students.

Note: Students can also create Zoom sessions associated with the Course. Sessions created by students auto-populate all students as co-hosts, but not instructors. Similarly all Zoom sessions created by instructors auto-populate all instructors as co-hosts, but not students.

Scheduling a Meeting Through the Zoom/Canvas integration

  1. Click on Zoom in your course Navigation Bar
    Canvas nav bar is loaded with Zoom highlighted
  2. Click on the blue “Schedule a Meeting” button in the top right corner
    The Zoom-Canvas integration page is loaded, and "Schedule a new Meeting" is highlighted in orange in the upper right corner
  3. Fill out the date, time and length you want the meeting to last.
  4. Adjust the settings to your desired specifications. (For more information on what the each of the Settings does, please see Zoom - Meeting and Recording Settings for instructors [UW-Madison]. Please note that you can only adjust some Settings through the Zoom/Canvas integration. If you want to adjust all possible settings you will have to create the Zoom Meeting through the Web Portal; see UW-Madison Zoom Workplace - Getting started.)
  5. At the bottom of the page make sure you select “Save” to create the Meeting.
    The edit meeting page is open, with the "save" button highlighted in orange
  6. Your meeting will now show up when anyone in the course goes to the Zoom/Canvas front page.
    Zoom-Canvas integration is loaded, with new meeting now on homepage

Breakout Groups

Zoom offers several options for breakout rooms. For more information, please see Using Online Breakout Groups To Increase Student Engagement.

Support and training

Training

Learn@UW-Madison previously provided training sessions for instructors using Zoom in Canvas. You can view a previously recorded session here. For self-help resources, please reference the Learn@UW-Madison or Zoom KnowledgeBase sites.

Zoom frequently provides webinar trainings, including some focused specifically on teaching and learning. For a list of these resources, please go here.

Canvas Tech Modules

These modules, developed by DoIT Academic Technology's Learn@UW-Madison team, are designed to help instructors introduce centrally supported learning technologies to their students. For more information, see Canvas - Student Tech Modules in Canvas Commons [UW-Madison]

Support

If you have any technical questions or problems with Zoom or its integration with Canvas, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.

System requirements and supported browsers

Web Client

The Zoom web client allows joining a Zoom meeting or webinar without downloading any plugins or software. However, the web client has limited features and functions best on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Chromium Edge. See a detailed list of features available on the web client. Participants joining through the web client will need to be signed in to a Zoom account. Learn more.

Prerequisites

  • On Desktop:
    • Chrome (version 111 or higher)
    • Firefox (version 111 or higher)
    • Edge (version 111 or higher)
    • Safari (version 14 or higher)
      • Note: Safari is not available for Windows machines.
  • On Mobile:
    • Chrome 
      • (version 111 or higher for Android)
      • (version 109 or higher for iOS)
    • Firefox (version 111 or higher)
    • Edge (version 111 or higher)
    • Safari (version 14 or higher)
      • Note: Safari is only available on iOS mobile devices. 

Complete System requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Desktop Client

The Zoom desktop application allows users to create/start meetings/webinars and modify in-app settings such as Virtual Background, Audio/Video settings, and more.

Download desktop client.

Mobile Client

Additional resources

Client feature comparison
Launching Zoom from a web browser
System requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux


Keywords:
zoom getting started canvas learn@uw learn uw class course intro introduction 101 schedule meeting set up plan create
Doc ID:
108005
Owned by:
Learn@UW Madison in Learn@UW-Madison
Created:
2020-12-18
Updated:
2025-04-10
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk, Learn@UW-Madison, Zoom