Canvas MCP Server
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANVAS_TOKEN | Yes | Your Canvas API access token. Generate at Canvas → Account → Settings → New Access Token. | |
| CANVAS_BASE_URL | Yes | Your Canvas institution's base URL, e.g., https://your-institution.instructure.com |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| prompts | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| resources | {
"subscribe": false,
"listChanged": false
} |
| experimental | {} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| get_my_coursesA | Get current semester courses (auto-detected as active). Returns: {"courses": [{id, name, code, term}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_todoA | Get Canvas-computed todo items (assignments needing action). Returns: {"items": [{type, assignment_name, course_id, due_at, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_all_upcomingA | Get upcoming assignments across all active courses. Args: days: How many days ahead to look (default 14) Returns: {"assignments": [{id, name, due_at, course_name, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_all_gradesA | Get grades for all active courses. Returns: {"grades": [{course_id, course_name, current_score, current_grade}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_courseB | Get full course details including syllabus. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {id, name, code, term, syllabus, description, start_at, end_at, ...} |
| get_assignmentsA | Get all assignments for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"assignments": [{id, name, due_at, points_possible, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_assignmentA | Get a single assignment with full description and attachments. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID assignment_id: Canvas assignment ID Returns: {id, name, description, due_at, points_possible, submission_types, attachments, ...} |
| get_announcementsB | Get announcements for a course (list view). Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"announcements": [{id, title, posted_at, author}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_announcementA | Get a single announcement with full body. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID announcement_id: Canvas announcement (discussion topic) ID Returns: {id, title, message, posted_at, author, attachments} |
| get_discussionsC | Get all discussion topics for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"discussions": [{id, title, posted_at, author, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_discussionA | Get a single discussion topic with full message body. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID discussion_id: Canvas discussion topic ID Returns: {id, title, message, posted_at, author, attachments, ...} |
| get_quizzesA | Get all quizzes for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"quizzes": [{id, title, due_at, points_possible, time_limit, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_quizA | Get a single quiz with full details. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID quiz_id: Canvas quiz ID Returns: {id, title, description, due_at, points_possible, time_limit, question_count, ...} |
| get_calendar_eventsC | Get calendar events for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"events": [{id, title, start_at, end_at, description, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_rubricsA | Get all rubrics for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"rubrics": [{id, title, points_possible, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_rubricA | Get a single rubric with full criteria. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID rubric_id: Canvas rubric ID Returns: {id, title, points_possible, criteria: [{description, points, ratings}, ...]} |
| get_filesA | List all files in a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"files": [{id, display_name, size, content_type, url}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_fileB | Get file metadata and download URL. Args: file_id: Canvas file ID Returns: {id, display_name, size, content_type, url, created_at, updated_at} |
| get_modulesA | Get module structure for a course. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {"modules": [{id, name, position, items_count, state}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_module_itemsB | Get items within a module. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID module_id: Canvas module ID Returns: {"items": [{id, title, type, content_id, html_url, ...}, ...], "count": N} |
| get_pageA | Get a wiki page's content with embedded file links. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID page_url: Page URL slug (e.g., "syllabus" or "week-1-notes") Returns: {title, body, created_at, updated_at} |
| get_submissionB | Get your submission for an assignment, including feedback and comments. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID assignment_id: Canvas assignment ID Returns: {id, score, grade, submitted_at, workflow_state, comments, attachments, ...} |
| get_full_course_contextA | Get EVERYTHING for a course in one call: details, syllabus, assignments, announcements, discussions, modules, files, and grades. Args: course_id: Canvas course ID Returns: {course, assignments, announcements, discussions, modules, files, grades} |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No prompts | |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No resources | |
TDQS
Scored across 23 tools
Most tools target distinct Canvas entities, but there is slight overlap between get_all_upcoming, get_todo, and get_calendar_events, which all deal with upcoming items. However, descriptions help clarify their differences.
All tools follow a consistent 'get_<entity>' pattern with singular/plural differentiation for single vs. list retrieval. The naming is predictable and uniform.
With 23 tools, the count is slightly above the typical range but each tool addresses a specific Canvas feature. The inclusion of get_full_course_context may be redundant, but overall the scope is reasonable.
The tool set is entirely read-only, lacking any create, update, or delete operations. For a Canvas server, this is a major gap that prevents agents from performing essential actions like submitting assignments or posting announcements.