How to export Google Meet attendance to Canvas
Run class on Google Meet, grade in Canvas LMS? Here is how to download your live Meet attendance as a Canvas-formatted gradebook CSV and import participation marks in a couple of clicks.
Student, ID, SIS User ID, SIS Login ID, Section, plus the required Points Possible row — with each student's school email in the SIS Login ID column, which is how most Canvas installs identify students.
Why put attendance in the Canvas gradebook?
- Participation grades: Attendance-weighted participation is standard in hybrid and online courses — the Canvas gradebook is where it counts.
- Student visibility: Students see their attendance mark alongside every other grade instead of asking you.
- Documentation: Per-session percentages with join/leave times behind them make attendance disputes short conversations.
Step-by-step setup
Step 1: Create your Class Roster
- Join your Google Meet class and open Attendance Tracker from the Activities panel.
- Open the Class Roster tab and click + New Class.
- Paste your student list — one per line as
Name <email>— or click Import from Google Classroom (guide).
Use each student's school email — the same address that is their Canvas login. That address goes into the CSV's SIS Login ID column, which Canvas uses to match rows to enrollments.
Step 2: Track the class
Press Start when class begins. Students are matched to your roster by email (or display name as a fallback), sorted live into Present / Late / Absent, with join times and attendance percentages computed for you.
Step 3: Download the Canvas gradebook CSV
In the Class Roster tab, click Canvas next to Export gradebook CSV:. The file looks like this:
| Student | ID | SIS User ID | SIS Login ID | Section | Biology 101 attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points Possible | 100 | ||||
| Alice Walker | alice@school.edu | 100 | |||
| Bob Jones | bob@school.edu | 45 | |||
| Carol Reyes | carol@school.edu | 0 |
- Attendees get their attendance percentage as a score out of 100.
- Unexcused absences get 0; students you marked Excused get a blank cell so nothing imports as a zero without your say-so.
Step 4: Import into Canvas
- In your Canvas course, open Grades and click Import.
- Choose the downloaded CSV and upload. Canvas will detect the new column and ask what to do with it — pick "A new assignment" (or map it onto an existing attendance assignment).
- Review the preview and click Save Changes.
Whole-semester attendance in one file
For recurring classes, open Meeting History → Series, expand your class, and click Canvas under Download gradebook CSV. You get one cumulative row per student — attendance percentage across every tracked session of the semester — ready to import as a single participation assignment at end of term.
Frequently asked questions
Does this need Canvas admin access or an LTI integration?
No. It is a plain CSV through Canvas's standard Grades → Import flow — any instructor can do it, no admin or IT ticket required.
Free vs Pro?
Per-session gradebook exports are free. The whole-semester cumulative export is part of Pro — a $14.99/year Educator Pass ($4.99–$7.99/year regional) or a one-time $29 Lifetime Pass ($9.99–$19 regional).
Export Google Meet attendance straight into Canvas
Free to start, Canvas-formatted columns, no LTI setup.
Install Attendance Tracker from Marketplace