diff --git a/lib/lti/variable_expander.rb b/lib/lti/variable_expander.rb
index 2e5e807fd9c..d9b10e5f255 100644
--- a/lib/lti/variable_expander.rb
+++ b/lib/lti/variable_expander.rb
@@ -1346,16 +1346,16 @@ module Lti
                        -> { @request.parameters['com_instructure_course_allow_canvas_resource_selection'] },
                        default_name: 'com_instructure_course_allow_canvas_resource_selection'
 
-    # Returns a list of content groups which can be selected, providing ID and name of each group,
+    # Returns a JSON-encoded list of content groups which can be selected, providing ID and name of each group,
     # forwarded from the request.
     # Empty value if com.instructure.Course.allow_canvas_resource_selection is false.
     #
     # @example
     #   ```
-    #   [{"id": "3", name: "First Module"}, {"id": "5", name: "Second Module"]
+    #   [{"id":"3","name":"First Module"},{"id":"5","name":"Second Module"}]
     #   ```
     register_expansion 'com.instructure.Course.available_canvas_resources', [],
-                       -> { @request.parameters['com_instructure_course_available_canvas_resources'] },
+                       -> { @request.parameters['com_instructure_course_available_canvas_resources']&.to_json },
                        default_name: 'com_instructure_course_available_canvas_resources'
 
     private
diff --git a/spec/lib/lti/variable_expander_spec.rb b/spec/lib/lti/variable_expander_spec.rb
index 0a89dec3a0f..28dca22d497 100644
--- a/spec/lib/lti/variable_expander_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/lti/variable_expander_spec.rb
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ module Lti
       it 'has substitution for $com.instructure.Course.available_canvas_resources' do
         exp_hash = {test: '$com.instructure.Course.available_canvas_resources'}
         variable_expander.expand_variables!(exp_hash)
-        expect(exp_hash[:test]).to eq [{"id"=>"1", "name"=>"item 1"}, {"id"=>"2", "name"=>"item 2"}]
+        expect(JSON.parse(exp_hash[:test])).to eq [{"id"=>"1", "name"=>"item 1"}, {"id"=>"2", "name"=>"item 2"}]
       end
 
       context 'context is a group' do