There are two Canvas tools which allow instructors and students to participate in same-time lessons, study groups, and chats (synchronous discussion compared to the asynchronous discussion board).

These tools are:

Chat: The Chat tool in Canvas allows students and teachers to interact in real time. Chat makes it easy to share a YouTube video, launch a shared  whiteboard, or create a synchronous notepad for quickly outlining ideas. Chat also provides an audio and video chat for making communication more personable. It can be used classroom discussion in real time. It also can be used as online office house.

http://youtu.be/35WJdAKwxno

Conferences: Conferences makes it easy to conduct synchronous (real-time) lectures for all of the students in the course. Conferences allows instructor to broadcast real-time audio, video, demo applications on your desktop, share presentation slides, or demo any online resources. Currently, Instructure Canvas integrates with BigBlueButton.

http://youtu.be/IDAutzXpmHU

Collaborations:

There are two collaboration tools in Canvas can help students and teachers collaborating on a project.

Google Docs require that all participating learners have created and linked their Maricopa student Gmail account to their Profile.
Collaborations in EtherPad (hosted at titanpad.com) do not require students to set up any account. Students will be able to enter the document simply by clicking on the Collaboration link.

Students also can form their own study group.

How do I create a Student Group?

Learn more about the Collaborations in Canvas.