We’ve skipped a release because there weren’t any significant updates for end users in the last release, but we’ve combined last months updates into these release notes. Rest assured, the experts over at Canvas are still updating the system, you just can’t see most of last months updates on the front end.

In this months release, there have been some updates to both web and mobile versions of Canvas. In both the Teacher and Student mobile apps you are now able to add items from the visual text editor from your ‘user files’ area – it just makes sense! On the web platform, there’s a new ‘to do’ list area in your dashboard and there’s a smart new feature which stacks annotated comment replies for your assignments.

Canvas Updates

Grades – Non-Scoring Rubrics

Rubrics can be created without point values to create a non-scoring rubric. This feature promotes learning engagement by helping students focus on assignment feedback instead of point values. Additionally, improvements have been made to the Learning Mastery Gradebook and Student Learning Mastery Gradebook interfaces for a simplified user experience. For more information about non-scoring rubrics, please see the Canvas Release: Non-Scoring Rubrics document.

Dashboard View

Your dashboard now includes an option to view all tasks in a list format. This view is currently only available to students. In addition to displaying automatically populated graded To Do items, the List view allows tutors to add non-graded items to the To Do list and students to add their own items to the To Do items.

This change helps students manage all tasks across all their courses in a user-friendly format that also allows for user customisation. For full details, questions, or comments about the Dashboard List View, please see the Canvas Release: Student Dashboard List View document.

Feedback: Stackable Comment Replies

When providing feedback to students using the comment annotation tool in Speedgrader, comments with replies are now stacked together. This ensures that your marking window stays nice clean and both staff and students can clearly read annotations, and see who said what.

Google and Microsoft Office Assignment Submission Processing Notification

Students can navigate away from the assignment submission page without disrupting a file upload for Microsoft Office 365 or Google Drive file submissions. Canvas displays a message notifying students that their submission upload is processing.

Calendar – New Scheduler Appointments

Tutors can now create a Scheduler appointment group as a new tab in the Add Event window. However, instructors can only create appointment groups for courses that are displayed in the Calendar sidebar. Appropriate course calendar(s) should be selected in the sidebar before creating a calendar appointment group. Once an appointment group is created, the appointment dates and times display directly in the instructor’s calendar. Time slots that have been claimed are shown as a solid color; unclaimed time slots are slightly faded. However, please note that if an appointment group is added to more than one course, appointment slots only display in the calendar for the first course shown in the appointment group

Tutors can click each appointment to view individual signups, student comments, or remaining slots available. Tutors can also edit the number of users who can sign up for an individual appointment slot.

Students can find appointments with the Find Appointments button in the Calendar sidebar and display an appointments window. Any available appointment group in any calendar will be displayed for the students to select. Previously students could only view appointment groups for courses being displayed in their Calendar sidebar.  Once a student selects a course from the appointment window, all available appointments display in the student’s calendar. Faded time slots indicate the time slot has been reserved. The student can reserve any appointment slot by clicking a date and time. Once a time slot has been reserved, the student can close the appointment group view by clicking the Close button in the sidebar. Only the reserved time slot will display in the student’s calendar.

Accessibility Updates

Syllabus

In the Syllabus section of your course you can now use the down arrow key to read the table of contents, and the Enter key opens the link in the Details column.

Mobile App Updates

Canvas Teacher iOS v1.6 & Canvas Student iOS v6.3

Rich Content Editor

The Rich Content Editor supports attaching files from User Files. To select a file from User Files, tap the Image icon in the Rich Content Editor and select the My Files option.

 Canvas Teacher Android 1.6

Allow Users to Comment

Announcements supports allowing users to comment on course announcements. As part of this update, the Users must post before seeing replies option can only be managed if the Allow users to comment option is enabled.

Docviewer – Undo and Redo Annotations

DocViewer supports undoing and redoing annotations when marking student work.

DocViewer – Delete Annotations from Other Users

DocViewer supports deleting annotations and comments made by other users. In order to delete an annotation or comment, a user must have the appropriate permissions.

Copy File Links

Files supports copying links to course and user files.

Rich Content Editor – Insert Images

The Rich Content Editor supports inserting an image by taking a photo or selecting an image from your device. These options replace inserting an image by pasting a link.

Canvas Student Android 6.1

Course Invitations

The Dashboard supports course invitations. Course invitations can be accepted or declined.

External Tools – Access

External tools can be opened outside of the Student app by tapping the Open in Browser icon. Students can choose to open external tools in a mobile browser or, if applicable, another mobile application.

Notifications – Inbox Badge

The Inbox supports a notification badge for the number of unread messages in the Inbox.

Rich Content Editor

Students can use the Rich Content Editor when creating an announcement or announcement reply. The Rich Content Editor includes options to format text, add links, and attach images.

Conversations Redesign

The Conversations Inbox and pages for individual messages have been redesigned for improved usability and accessibility. The options for managing Conversations messages have been moved from the Inbox to the menu for individual messages. The option to forward a message has also been added. Students can no longer manage multiple Conversations messages from the Inbox.

Discussions Redesign

The Discussions page and pages for individual discussions have been redesigned for improved usability and accessibility. Students can now view the availability dates for course discussions.