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Canvas

Canvas Releases and Deployment

The following is a highlight of recent feature releases and updates in Canvas that may be of interest to Canvas users. For more information, click the link in in the titles for a complete summary of all the updates to Canvas.

Fall 2024

SpeedGrader | Equation Editor Added to Rich Content Editor
  • This enables instructors to incorporate math equations into their comments on assignments.
Courses | Show Sections in Course Tray Setting
  • In the Root Account, a Show Sections in Course Tray Section setting is available. This account setting is enabled by default.
  • This feature enables administrators to manage the visibility of sections on the course tray for all users.
Discussions | Discussion Summaries
  • Discussion Summary is a new feature preview available in Canvas. Discussion Summarization uses a Generative AI model to give instructors summaries of the main points, questions, and ideas in a discussion thread.
Navigation | Smart Search
  • Smart Search is a new feature preview available in Canvas using advanced AI and semantic algorithms. This feature understands the context of queries, providing more accurate and relevant results without needing complex search operators or tools. 
  • Currently, the Smart Search feature is querying the following items within a course:
    • Content pages
    • Announcements
    • Discussion prompts
    • Assignment descriptions
Inbox | Pronouns Display
  • When personal pronouns are enabled for an institution and a user has set their pronouns in their profile, Inbox messages display the user’s pronouns.
  • Pronouns display in the drop-down menu when composing a message and the Inbox search field.
  • This update provides a more inclusive, respectful, and clear communication environment
Navigation | Analytics Hub
  • In Account Navigation, an Analytics Hub link is available. The Analytics Hub displays all data and analytics for the following features:
    • Admin Analytics: Usage overview, Student overview, Course overview
    • Impact Insights
    • LTI Usage Data
    • Intelligent Insights: Students in need of attention, Course readiness, LTI Usage Data, Ask Your Data
    • Standards overview
    • Formative assessments
    • Benchmark assessments
    • State and National Assessments
    • Canvas Data 2 services
    • DAP CLI & Client library
    • DAP Query API
  • Improves an admin’s workflow by consolidating all data and analytics capabilities in one page.
  • Note: Specific data and analytics solutions are based on feature option settings and individual users permissions.
Grading | Account Level Default Grading Scheme
  • On the Account Level Grading page, admins can set an account or sub-account default grading scheme.
  • Simplifies grading scheme setup by allowing institutions to set a default grading scheme at the account or sub-account level, ensuring consistency across all courses. 
  • Course-level default grading schemes can only be set after the Enable Course Grading Scheme option is enabled in the Course Settings of a course. Once enabled, instructors can select the grading scheme they want to use as the course default, which will override any account-level default grading schemes.
    • If the Enable Course Grading Scheme course setting is not enabled, the course will inherit the account-level default grading scheme.
New Quizzes | Add Time to Existing Quiz Sessions
  • While a New Quiz attempt is ongoing, instructors can moderate a quiz and extend the time allotted for the quiz. Additionally, the student course-level accommodation modal link is moved to the Student column, which was previously linked in the Accommodations column.
  • Note: Extending the time of an ongoing quiz does not affect the instructor's interface.
  • This feature allows instructors to accommodate students who may need extra time due to various circumstances by providing additional time during an active quiz session.
Navigation | Removal of Legacy Account Analytics
  • At the Account level, the legacy Analytics link is removed. For analytics, admins should refer to Admin Analytics and the Analytics Hub links.
  • This change reduces the number of areas that administrators need to check for analytics.
Developer Keys | Confirmation Model Update
  • On the Developer Key page, confirmation modals are updated to utilize InstUI when deleting or modifying the state of a developer key.
Assignments | Assignment Details Table Update
  • The Assignment and Quizzes details table displaying differentiated assignment due dates is updated to InstUI.
  • Note: Users may notice some minor interface updates that do not affect functionality.
Rubrics | Redesign Phase 1
  • The Rubrics page at the admin and course level is redesigned, allowing admin and instructors to search and sort rubrics, view the location rubrics are used, duplicate and archive rubrics, as well as more easily edit existing rubrics. Additionally, the rubrics create and edit interface is redesigned. 
Canvas React | Canvas React 18 Update
  • This update upgrades React 16 to React 18, including improved performance and scalability.
Inbox | Add Auto Response to Messages
  • When Enable Inbox Auto Response is enabled, users have the option to set an auto-response for messages.
    • Admins have the option to disable the Inbox Auto Response for students.
  • This feature streamlines communication and enhances the effectiveness and professional appeal of inbox messages.
  • Note: The Enable Inbox Auto Response setting is disabled by default.