Extension Overview
The Academica Chrome extension automatically syncs your assignments from Canvas LMS and Google Classroom to the web app. This guide explains what it does and how it works.
What the Extension Does#
The extension:
- Detects Your LMS - Knows when you're on a Canvas page or connects to Google Classroom
- Extracts Data - Reads your assignments, grades, and courses
- Syncs to Academica - Sends the data to your web app account
- Auto-Syncs in the Background - Syncs every 4 hours automatically via chrome.alarms, even when you're not browsing Canvas
How It Works#
Canvas LMS#
When you visit any Canvas website (*.instructure.com), the extension:
- Recognizes you're on Canvas
- Looks for assignment information
- Syncs automatically as you browse
In addition, the extension runs background auto-sync every 4 hours using chrome.alarms, so your data stays fresh even if you haven't visited Canvas recently.
Google Classroom#
For Google Classroom:
- Click "Connect Google Classroom" in the extension
- Sign in with your school Google account
- Click "Sync Google Classroom" to pull your data
- Uses secure OAuth - we never see your Google password
Data Extraction#
The extension reads:
- Assignment names and descriptions
- Due dates and times
- Point values
- Your grades (when available)
- Course names
- Submission status
Sync Process#
- Extension collects data from your LMS
- Data is sent to Academica servers
- Your assignments appear in the web app
- Sync status updates in the extension popup
The Extension Popup#
Click the Academica icon in your browser toolbar to see:
Connection Status#
- Signed In - Shows your account (Google or email)
- Not Signed In - Click to sign in
Sync Status#
- Last Synced - When data was last sent
- Next Auto-Sync - When the next background sync is scheduled
- Assignments - Number synced
- Sync Now - Manual sync button (for immediate sync)
Auto-Sync Indicator#
The popup shows whether background auto-sync is active. When enabled, the extension syncs your Canvas data every 4 hours automatically.
Quick Links#
- Open web app
- View assignments
- Settings
What Data Is Collected#
We Collect:#
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Assignment names | Display in app |
| Due dates | Planning features |
| Point values | Grade tracking |
| Your grades | Progress monitoring |
| Course names | Organization |
| Submission status | Status tracking |
We Don't Collect:#
- Your Canvas password
- Your Google password
- Other websites you visit
- Personal files or documents
- Information from non-Canvas sites
Privacy & Security#
How Your Data Is Protected#
- Encrypted transmission - Data is sent over HTTPS
- Secure storage - Stored in protected databases
- Account-specific - Only you can see your data
- No selling - We never sell your information
Permissions Explained#
The extension requests these permissions:
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
| Access Canvas websites | Read your assignments |
| Storage | Remember your login |
| Active tab | Detect Canvas pages |
| Alarms | Background auto-sync every 4 hours |
| Identity | Google sign-in support |
The extension cannot:
- Read other websites
- Access your files
- See your browsing history
- Modify Canvas data
Sync Frequency#
Background Auto-Sync#
- Runs automatically every 4 hours via chrome.alarms
- Works even when you're not on a Canvas page
- Keeps your data fresh without any effort from you
- Requires an active Canvas session (cookies) to work
Active Browsing Sync#
- Syncs instantly when you visit Canvas pages
- Updates when grades change
- Refreshes course list as you browse
Manual Sync#
- Click "Sync Now" in the popup for an immediate sync
- Useful if you need the very latest data right now
Signing In#
To use the extension:
- Click the Academica icon
- Click "Sign in with Google" (recommended)
- Select your Google account
- Wait for "Connected" status
Important: Use the same Google account in both the extension and the web app for seamless authentication.
Fallback: Email Sign-In#
If Google sign-in is not available:
- Click "Sign in with email"
- Enter your email and password
- Wait for "Connected" status
Extension States#
| Icon State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Normal | Signed in, ready |
| Blue dot | Recently synced |
| Gray | Not on Canvas |
| Red dot | Error - check popup |
Requirements#
- Google Chrome (version 88+)
- An Academica account (Google sign-in recommended)
- Access to Canvas LMS and/or Google Classroom
Note: The extension currently only works in Chrome. Other browsers coming soon.
Troubleshooting#
Common Issues#
Extension not showing
- Check if it's pinned to toolbar
- Look in the extensions menu (puzzle icon)
Not detecting Canvas
- Refresh the Canvas page
- Make sure URL contains ".instructure.com"
Google sign-in not working
- Make sure pop-ups are not blocked
- Try restarting Chrome
- Check that you have a Google account signed into Chrome
Auto-sync not running
- Check that you're signed in to the extension
- Make sure your Canvas session hasn't expired
- Try signing out and back in