Lucid for Education
Lucid for Education supports these learning types (see definitions):
Lucid for Education is a versatile suite of instructional tools soon to be integrated into Canvas. The suite includes Lucidspark, a collaborative digital whiteboard, and Lucidchart, an interactive diagramming tool. These tools support a wide range of learning activities, from brainstorming and class discussions to creating detailed diagrams and flowcharts. With real-time collaboration features and an extensive template library, Lucid helps create an engaging and interactive learning environment.
Lucid is activated by default in your course menu. If you don’t intend to use it for your course, follow these steps to disable it to reduce menu clutter.
- Navigate to your Canvas course.
- Click Settings in the course navigation menu.
- Select the Navigation tab.
- Drag Lucid (Whiteboard) from the visible items list to the hidden items.
- Click Save to apply the changes.
Getting started
Link your Lucid account with Canvas
First time users of Lucid for Education will need to link their Lucid account with Canvas.
Please note: These instructions are not guaranteed to work in privacy browsers (e.g., Brave) or privacy browser tabs (e.g., incognito window, privacy window). We recommend that you use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
- Open your Canvas course and select Lucid (Whiteboard) from the course navigation. The window may take a few seconds to load.
- Click Log in (Canvas will forward your name and staff email address to Lucid).
- The University has opted for staff and students to log in to Lucid through our UoA Google accounts, therefore you will need to link your Lucid account in Canvas to your UoA Google account.
Click Next.
- You will be redirected to a ‘Sign in with Google’ page.
- Enter your University of Auckland Google email address, e.g., username@aucklanduni.ac.nz.
- Click Next.
- Optional: If you have previously created a Lucid account through your UoA Google login, you may see the following screen. Click Link and log in.
- Otherwise, you will be redirected back to Canvas where you should see a message from Lucid asking you to link your UoA Google account. Click Connect to Lucid.
- The ‘success’ screen confirms that the link was made. Click Continue.
- Optional: You may see the following screen. This indicates that Lucid is asking permission for Canvas to have access to various functions on your behalf. Click Grant Access.
- Finally, when your Lucid connection is complete, the tool invites you to open Lucid in a new window. This is where you can create Lucid documents in ‘full screen’. Click Explore Lucid.
- Read the next section for how to embed a Lucid document into a Canvas page or assignment.
Embed a Lucid document into a Canvas page or assignment
Now that you have connected your Lucid account with your Canvas account, embedding a Lucid document is easily achieved through Canvas’ Rich Content Editor.
- From your Canvas course, navigate to Pages, or Assignment from the course navigation menu.
- Edit the page or assignment description so that you are viewing the Rich Content Editor. Click the Apps icon followed by View All.
- Click Embed Lucid Document.
- The Lucid app will appear, displaying any documents that you have created or are shared with you. Select the document that you want to embed within Canvas and click Continue.
- Review the permissions for how you want students to interact with the document and click Insert.
How-to guides
Watch the introduction to Lucid in Canvas video
(see how the tool can transform your teaching and learning experience).
Find out about upcoming webinars from the Lucid team
(and watch recordings from past webinars).
Explore the user cases and examples provided by the vendor to understand how to effectively integrate these tools into your curriculum.
Lucid in Canvas Resource Hub: Instructor and student guides/videos
Lucid Training Labs: Learn how to use Lucidspark and Lucidchart
- Lucid for Education 101: Recommended
Lucid Blog: Be inspired by learning how other instructors use Lucid
Why use Lucid in teaching?
Lucid enhances teaching and learning by fostering collaboration, discussion, and production. It provides a dynamic platform for real-time, interactive activities that promote active learning and deeper understanding.
Use it to:
- Facilitate collaboration with Lucidspark’s digital whiteboard for real-time brainstorming and project work.
- Enhance discussions by using Lucidspark to start lectures and class discussions with response prompt boards, allowing students to annotate and engage in dialogue.
- Support production with Lucidchart, enabling students to create diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps to visualise and organise complex concepts.
- Promote interactive learning with activities like PDF annotation and ready-made templates, keeping students engaged and improving retention.
- Streamline content creation with an extensive template library, helping instructors create visually engaging materials efficiently.
- Provide real-time feedback, allowing instructors to give immediate feedback on student work, facilitating continuous learning and improvement.
- Simplify your workflow by embedding Lucid documents and activities directly into Canvas courses, centralising all learning activities.
- Lucid for Education is a powerful addition to your teaching toolkit, enabling a more interactive, collaborative, and engaging learning environment.
Comparing Lucid with similar tools
You will retain your staff or student Gmail account for continued access to your email. However, all documents stored within your Google Drive account will be deleted. Make sure to move your documents to another storage provider within three months of leaving the University.
| Feature/Tool | Lucid for Education (Lucidspark & Lucidchart) | Miro | Padlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integration level with Canvas | Supported integration across the UoA | Supported mostly at faculty level | Supported mostly at faculty level |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital whiteboard | Lucidspark | Yes | Limited (Canvas-like boards) |
| Diagramming tools | Lucidchart | Yes | No |
| Template library | Extensive (Educational and Professional) | Extensive | Limited |
| Mind mapping | Yes | Yes | No |
| Flowcharts | Yes | Yes | No |
| Breakout boards | Yes (Lucidspark) | Yes | No |
| Text annotations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF annotation | Yes (Lucidspark) | No | No |
| Cost | Free and widely available | Depending on license agreements at faculty/school level | Depending on license agreements at faculty/school level |
Page updated 17/12/2024 (updated getting started instructions)