NU Files

What is NU Files?

Built by TLT, NU Files shows which course files are downloaded and details on time and person. (Previous version of the app was available via the NU Canvas Dashboard, which was retired in January 2024.)

How do I get access to NU Files?

NU Files can be installed from the NU Learning Apps tab on the left-hand navigation of all Canvas courses.

  1. Click on NU Learning Apps to see the library of apps and scroll to the app you are interested in.
  2. Click on Install Now to install the app of your choice into your Canvas course.
  3. Once you install, the app will be visible to instructors in the left navigation of your course

How do I use NU Files?

screenshot of files dashboard labeled with numbers corresponding to the list below

  1. Time range selector: Allows you to change the time range by choosing one of the options in the time-range selection drop-down.
  2. Search box: Allows you to compare specific files or see if students downloaded a specific file. You can search for a specific file in the search bar or even search for multiple files and compare them.
  3. Overview numbers: Provides at-a-glance information for the given time range or given selection about how many unique downloads have occurred, how many unique files have been downloaded, and how many unique users have downloaded anything in your course.
  4. Files bar chart: By default, this graph shows the top 20 files downloaded by your students. The graph will update if you change the time range or search for specific files.
  5. Show details: Allows you to see a comprehensive list of all your students' interactions with files in your course and lets you export a spreadsheet.
  6. Unique downloads per user: Shows unique downloads for individuals via a pie chart. People are listed by their NetIDs.
  7. Daily downloads over time: Shows when students have been downloading files in your course.

NOTE: The data coming from Canvas only tells us if a students has downloaded the file to their computer, device, or browser. It does not tell us if a student previews the document in Canvas.

Highlighting Data and Zooming In

Data in NU Files is represented dynamically on the dashboard and can be manipulated.

Hovering

By hovering over specific areas you can highlight sections of the graph and reveal detailed information about that selection.

 

horizontal bar chart with one row highlighted in purple with detail text box floating next to it

 

Zooming In

In NU Files you can also zoom on data. To zoom in on a specific date range without resetting the graph, click and drag within the graph over the section you want to zoom in on (starting left to right). A grey box will appear to identify the section you are about to zoom in on. When you release, only the area specified will be visible. 

two charts with annotations for zooming function

 

  1. Reset Zoom button: To go back to the original view, click on the Reset Zoom button, which will appear in the top right corner of the graph when zoomed in. 

What other analytics tools are available in Canvas?

Canvas and Teaching and Learning Technologies-created apps can help you take a look at individual versus class performance, anticipate background knowledge, and more. Check out the analytics overview page to see an overview of the four main places where you can find data and analytics about your courses.

  1. Canvas New Analytics Links to an external site.- New Analytics is a tool built into Canvas that has interactive grade graphs, information about course averages, student activity summaries, and more.
  2. NU Submissions - Built by TLT, NU Submissions shows the pattern of students' quiz and assignment submissions in a course, and the due dates for all their assignments and quizes; not just in your course, but also in other courses. (Previous version of the app was available via the NU Canvas Dashboard, which was retired in January 2024.)
  3. NU Academics - Built by TLT, NU Academics shows data from CAESAR about student major, school, and academic year.