Canvas - Getting Started with Piazza in Canvas (UW-Madison)

At UW-Madison, the Piazza product is integrated with the Canvas learning management system. This integration allows direct sign on to Piazza via a link from within Canvas. This document describes how to access Piazza from Canvas.

Adding Piazza to a Course (Instructors Only)

Students: See "Launching Piazza," below.

Before you launch Piazza for the first time, please make sure you review Piazza - Overview and know about the potential FERPA issues with Piazza.

To make the tool available you will have to add it to your Canvas course navigation bar.

  1. In your Canvas course, click Settings.
    Canvas Course Navigation


  2.  Click the Navigation tab. At the bottom of the page is a list of tools that are not in the navigation bar.
    Canvas Navigation Tab
  3. Locate Piazza and drag and drop it into the list of tools directly above.
    Add Piazza to Canvas Course
  4. Click the Save button to save your changes.

Launching Piazza (Students, instructors, and all other users)

  1. To launch Piazza, select the Piazza link in the Canvas course navigation bar. A login box will appear. It will identify you as either a student or instructor in the class. 
  2. Verify that the information is correct and continue as follows:
Students: 
  1. You are prompted to set and confirm a new password at this screen.
    • We recommend creating a password if you wish to use your account online at piazza.com or through the Android or iOS apps.
  2. If you've already created a Piazza account previously, you will see Account with email you provided already exists.
  3. Enter the password you used when setting up your Piazza account.
  4. Click the checkbox to agree to the terms of use, then click Continue.
    • UW-Madison has special, institutional-level terms of use in place with Piazza which supersede the on-screen terms of use. These institutional-level Terms of Use are designed to provide protection for student and faculty data and intellectual property
(NOTE: For FERPA reasons we encourage you to always join a Piazza class through the integration with Canvas rather than going through piazza.com)
Piazza login
Instructors: 
  1. Enter your estimated enrollment for the course, and click Create Class. This will take you to another course creation screen. 
  2. If you already have created an account with Piazza, simply enter your password.  
    • If not, it will walk you through creating an account. 
  3. After entering our password, click the checkbox to agree to the terms of use, then click Continue. 
    • UW-Madison has special, institutional-level terms of use in place with Piazza which supersede the on-screen terms of use. These institutional-level Terms of Use are designed to provide protection for student and faculty data and intellectual property.
launch

Instructors will see Piazza launch.
Note: You do not need to upload your course roster.
  • Students will automatically get added to the Piazza roster as they click on the link in your Canvas course.
  • Also, there is the possibility that a UW student not in your course will sign up for your Piazza course.
  • You should periodically go through the roster in Piazza and remove students who are not in your class in order to protect your students FERPA rights.
Students will see a screen asking for academic information. Entering your academic information is not required. Continue as follows:

Piazza
Note: Network is a different product offered by Piazza and it IS NOT REQUIRED that you sign up for it. 
  • In fact, researching the Network product is highly recommended prior to signing up, as it allows your profile to be viewed by outside organizations.
Piazza Network

See Also: