In this guide, we'll explain the role mapping between Canvas and Yellowdig and detail the permissions users will receive when they access integrated Yellowdig communities from their Canvas course.
Only those assigned as Owners/Facilitators in a Yellowdig community have the ability to create and manage communities. Members, on the other hand, can engage within the community without administrative privileges.
Most institutions keep the default settings, but Canvas also provides an option to create custom roles. We have included information on this feature in the guide for those who find it helpful to optimize how Canvas roles transition into Yellowdig and ensure your integration aligns with your institution's structure and needs.
Role Mapping Table
| Canvas Role | Yellowdig Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Owner/Facilitator | Can create communities upon LMS launch. The creator becomes the community owner, and subsequent users launching to that community with this role default to facilitators. |
| Teaching Assistant (TA) | Owner/Facilitator | Can create communities upon LMS launch. The creator becomes the community owner, and subsequent users launching to that community with this role default to facilitators. |
| Designer | Member | Defaults to a community member in Yellowdig. |
| Observer | Member | Defaults to a community member in Yellowdig. |
| Student | Member | Defaults to a community member in Yellowdig. |
| Custom Role (e.g., "Consultant") | Varies (Canvas Admin-Defined) | Custom roles are mapped according to the admin's selection of the above Canvas roles. |
| Account-Level Admins/Teachers | Owner/Facilitator | These roles are highly customizable in Canvas but typically translate to an Owner/Facilitator in Yellowdig. |
Screenshot of Standard Canvas Roles
Custom Canvas Roles
In addition to the default mappings, there are some flexible options to tailor the role mapping:
- Custom Role Mapping: Custom roles in Canvas, like "Coach" or "Consultant," can be mapped by an admin to either the Owner/Facilitator or member role in Yellowdig based on the role's configuration in Canvas. For example, if you created Custom role "Consultant" in Canvas and gave it the permissions of a Teacher or Teacher Assistant in Canvas then the Yellowdig permission would be the one corresponding to those roles, Owner/Facilitator. Read more.