Perusall is a social annotation tool that helps your students engage collectively with books, articles, web pages, images, video, and audio files. Instructors create assignments and students read or interact with the assigned material, asking questions and making comments, engaging in a focused discussion of the material. Assignments are often designed increase student engagement and preparation prior to coming to class.
Perusall integrates with Canvas. Assignments are graded automatically using weighted criteria that are based on educational research. These weighted criteria may be modified by each instructor, as well.
Instructors have access to a variety of analytics, such as heat maps that show student activity relative to due dates, as well as Confusion Reports that highlight the areas of the assignment that students struggled with.
Starting July 6, 2026, Perusall will ask instructors to set a student fee of at least $5.00. (Perusall "Course Choice" Student Fee)
Perusall is already integrated with Canvas. It may be hidden from view in your course. To make Persuall visible in your Course Navigation links, please follow the instructions in this Add, Remove or Move Tools in a Canvas Course Site article.
For detailed information on all of Perusall's capabilities, please visit Perusall's support site.
To get started using Perusall contact servicedesk@nd.edu, or call 1.8111, and they will put you in touch with the OIT's Teaching & Learning Technologies team.
ND Learning hosts workshops on Perusall. Recordings of past workshops are available at Past Workshops: Recordings & Materials.