Transform your Google Sheets question banks into Canvas quizzes with just a few clicks

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The Problem Every Instructor Faces

If you’re like me, you’ve spent countless hours copying and pasting questions from your carefully curated question banks into Canvas LMS. Click, copy, paste, format, set points, repeat… for every. single. question.

Last semester, I realized I was spending more time on quiz logistics than on actually crafting good questions. That’s when I decided to build a solution that would work for me—and now I’m sharing it with you, completely free.

Introducing Create Canvas Quiz from Google Sheets

I’ve created a Google Sheets that helps you automatically:

• Manage question banks in structured Google Sheets
• Randomly select questions based on configurable criteria
• Create quizzes directly in Canvas via the API
• Track question usage to avoid repetition
• Support multiple question types with custom point values

The best part? It’s completely free, open-source, and runs entirely in your own Google account—no third-party services, no subscriptions, no data sharing.

What Makes This Tool Special?

1. Smart Question Selection

Define rules like “Pick 5 questions from Chapter 3, but no more than 2 per topic” and let the tool do the work. It even tracks which questions you’ve used to avoid repetition.

2. Multiple Question Types

Supports True/False, Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, and Essay questions—all with customizable point values.

3. Educator-Friendly Design

No programming knowledge required! If you can use Google Sheets, you can use this tool.

4. Privacy-First Approach

Your questions never leave your Google Drive. The tool only connects directly to YOUR Canvas course using YOUR credentials.

Installation

Step 1: Copy the Template

I’ve created a ready-to-use Google Sheets template with all the code already installed. You just need to click on File → Make a copy.

Step 2: Generate Canvas API Token

1. In Canvas, go to Account → Settings
2. Scroll to “Approved Integrations”
3. Click “+ New Access Token”
4. Enter purpose: “Quiz Creator”
5. Generate and copy the token immediately

For more information on Canvas API, feel free to check out my other blog post: https://www.jlouisbru.com/guide-to-canvas-api/

Step 3: Configure the Sheets

1. Add your questions to the bank sheets (TF, MC, ES)
2. Set up SelectQuestions_Config with your selection rules
3. Configure CanvasQuiz_Config with your Canvas details

Usage

Question Type Detection

The script determines question types based on ID prefixes:

• TF: True/False question
• MC: Multiple Choice (or Multiple Answer if multiple correct answers)
• ES: Essay question

Creating a Quiz

1. Select Questions: Extra Menu → Select Questions
   • Reads configuration from SelectQuestions_Config
   • Randomly selects questions meeting criteria
   • Populates Selected Questions sheet
   • Optionally marks questions as used
2. Create Canvas Quiz: Extra Menu → Create Quiz on Canvas
   • Reads questions from Selected Questions sheet
   • Creates quiz via Canvas API
   • Sets appropriate question types and point values
   • Creates quiz as unpublished for review

Security & Privacy: What You Need to Know

Here’s how this tool maintains security:

✅ Your Data Stays Yours: Questions remain in your Google Drive
✅ Direct Connection: Communicates only with Canvas’s official API
✅ Transparent Code: Fully open-source on GitHub for inspection
✅ No External Servers: Runs entirely in Google’s infrastructure
✅ Minimal Permissions: Only accesses what’s necessary to function

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can multiple instructors collaborate?
A: Yes! Share the Google Sheet with colleagues, and everyone can contribute questions and create quizzes.

Q: What if I need help?
A: The tool includes detailed instructions, and there’s an active GitHub community for support or email me directly at bru@chapman.edu.

Q: Will my quizzes publish immediately?
A: No, quizzes are created as drafts so you can review before students see them.

Feedback

I’d love to hear your experiences with the tool and any suggestions for improvement:

• Email me directly at bru@chapman.edu
• Found a bug? Report an issue
• Have a feature idea? Request a feature

A Personal Note

As an instructor, I built this tool because I needed it. Every hour saved on quiz logistics is an hour I can spend on what really matters: helping students learn. If this tool saves you even half the time it’s saved me, it’ll be worth the effort of building it.

Happy quiz creating! 🎓

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Dr. Jean-Louis Bru is an Instructional Assistant Professor at Chapman University who believes in making education technology accessible to all educators.

P.S. If this tool helps you, consider buying me a coffee to support continued development. But please, use the tool first—it’s free and always will be!