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By Barb Stephens, October 18, 2021 3:22 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Navigation – Sticky Navigation Menus

The Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages. This change allows users to access the menus at any time. When a long page is scrolled, the respective menu is retained in the sidebar. If the navigation menu is longer than the height of the screen, the menu can also be scrolled to view all menu links.

SpeedGrader – Submission Status Label Edits

Submission status labels can be edited in SpeedGrader. This change allows graders to change the submission status for a student’s assignment directly in SpeedGrader. The SpeedGrader sidebar includes an Edit icon to be used for submission statuses. Statuses can be edited the same way as in the Gradebook. Additionally, adjusting a status in SpeedGrader also applies to the Gradebook.

Gradebook – Assignment Search

The Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field. This change allows assignments to be searched in addition to student names. The Gradebook includes two search fields: one for student names, and one for assignment names. Using the Assignment search field displays any search results that match an assignment in the course.

Notifications – Course Notification Customization

Course notification preferences can be customized in a user’s Notifications page. This change allows course notifications to be adjusted without having to access the course-level Notifications page for each course. The User Notifications page displays all notification options for a user’s entire account. However, if a user has any active course enrollments, the menu displays the name of each course.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: Oct. 16, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, August 23, 2021 8:16 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

New Analytics – Online Attendance

New Analytics includes an Attendance tab, which updates according to criteria set at the account level. This change allows criteria to update attendance information for individual courses and remove manual attendance tracking.

Rich Content Editor – Accessibility Checker Indicator

The Rich Content Editor indicates when accessibility concerns are detected in the Accessibility Checker. This behavior invites content creators to improve their content and ensure it is accessible to all Canvas users.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: August 21, 2021.

Mobile Apps

You can access BlueLine (aka Canvas) from any browser on your Android or iOS device. However, for the best user experience, you should access Canvas via the mobile app.

Download the desired app, Canvas Teacher or Canvas by Instructure, from your device’s app store. To access Canvas mobile apps, you need to know Creighton’s URL: blueline.instructure.com

Mobile Guides

The Canvas Teacher app provides quick access to grading, communicating, and updating – three of the most frequent course facilitation tasks for teachers through Announcements, Assignments, Discussions and Quizzes.

Canvas Teacher Android Guide

Canvas Teacher iOS Guide

The Canvas by Instructure app is the mobile version of Canvas that helps you stay current with your courses anywhere you go.

Canvas Student Android Guide

Canvas Student iOS Guide

You may access the latest release notes for all of the mobile apps, as well.

For assistance with any of these apps or documentation, please contact Canvas Support.

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By Barb Stephens, July 30, 2021 3:54 pm

For instructors only, Canvas is offering free 1:1 coaching called Panda Pros, from now into fall. This service is available to both new and experienced teachers who have a question about how to use a feature or component of Canvas. However, it is NOT a glorified Canvas Support venue. Each appointment lasts up to 25 minutes. Some ideas of topics might include:

• How do I create consistency in modules?
• How should I utilize rubrics?
• How do I run and use the Accessibility Checker?
• How do I integrate audio and video?
• How should I be thinking of Outcomes?
• How do I build reusable content?
• How do I use the HTML editor?
• How do Module prerequisites work?

These are just a sample of potential topics for which you might consider getting professional coaching. Go to the Panda Pros Page to sign up for a session. Then prepare your question(s) in advance to ensure focused instruction.

If you find you would prefer to consult with a local expert, remember the fine eLearning Team in the Teaching and Learning Center. You can also check out TLC’s Faculty Guide, available through the Help menu inside BlueLine.

And why Panda Pros? Early in Instructure’s inception, an employee had a stuffed panda at his workstation. The lovable toy was quickly adopted as the company mascot and became an anticipated element at many Canvas User Conferences.

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By Barb Stephens, July 19, 2021 9:26 pm

Canvas Release July 17, 2021

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

NEW Quizzes – Modules Workflow Improvement

In-module progression is available for New Quizzes. When a student navigates to a new quiz or resumes a new quiz from Modules, the quiz details page is displayed within the module. This allows the student to use the “Next” or “Previous” module buttons. When the quiz is started or resumed, the quiz opens to the full screen interface.

Notifications – SMS Notifications End of Life

Effective July 31, 2021, SMS Notifications for Announcements and Grading will be removed from Canvas. Additionally, the SMS column will be removed from the Notifications page.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: July 17, 2021.

Mobile Apps

You can access BlueLine (aka Canvas) from any browser on your Android or iOS device. However, for the best user experience, you should access Canvas via the mobile app.

Download the desired app, Canvas Teacher or Canvas by Instructure, from your device’s app store. To access Canvas mobile apps, you need to know Creighton’s URL: blueline.instructure.com

Mobile Guides

The Canvas Teacher app provides quick access to grading, communicating, and updating – three of the most frequent course facilitation tasks for teachers through Announcements, Assignments, Discussions and Quizzes.

Canvas Teacher Android Guide

Canvas Teacher iOS Guide

The Canvas by Instructure app is the mobile version of Canvas that helps you stay current with your courses anywhere you go.

Canvas Student Android Guide

Canvas Student iOS Guide

You may access the latest release notes for all of the mobile apps, as well.

For assistance with any of these apps or documentation, please contact Canvas Support.

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By Barb Stephens, June 23, 2021 1:40 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Global Navigation Menu – Release Notes Interface

Users can view feature release information directly in Canvas. The Canvas Help Menu displays an indicator when a release note has been published for the user’s role. Notes display a summary of a feature or multiple features available to the user and provides a link where the user can view more details. Around July 6, a decision will be made if this feature should remain available.

Discussions – Discussion Redesign

Discussion topics display an updated design with small usability enhancements. These changes ensure page responsiveness and prepare the interface for feature functionality improvements. For full details about the Discussions Redesign feature, please see the Canvas Release: Discussions Redesign document.

New Quizzes – Item Bank Management

Item banks can be shared with the entire account as well as one or more courses. Additionally, item banks can be shared as view only. This change allows item bank editors to increase collaboration and disseminate quiz content in an account or across multiple courses in either a view-only or edit permission state.

SpeedGrader – Comment Library

Comments can be added and saved for reuse within SpeedGrader. This change allows graders to save frequently used comments in SpeedGrader and be reused across multiple students and assignments.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: June 19, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, May 24, 2021 7:38 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Assignments – Student Annotation Submissions:

Instructors can use an annotated assignment type to upload a file for students to annotate and submit directly in Canvas. This change allows instructors to provide a file as an assignment and allow students to annotate the file directly in Canvas. Currently students have to either print the file and take a photo to submit, or use a third-party tool to complete the submission.

Courses – Course Templates:

A course ID can be designated as a course template for all new courses created in an account. This functionality is supported for both manually created courses and SIS import. This change provides a consistent user experience for students and will ensure all base materials are included with each new course by an institution’s admins and/or authors.

Course Settings – Course Availability Date Enhancements Enforcement:

The Participation menu on the Settings page, includes an option to select course dates by term or course. When an instructor views the Participation section on the Course Settings page, the Participation section displays a menu that defaults to Term dates for new courses. This option sets student course participation to the start and end dates defined for the term. If preferred, instructors can change course participation to the Course option, where course participation is limited to the course start and end dates, which can be added in the course.

NOTE: This feature availability may change. Please know that course information imported from Banner into Canvas, includes course start and end dates and you are encouraged to elect Course for the Participation item.

New Quizzes – Save and Build Button Workflow:

The New Quiz creation page includes both a Save button and a Build button. This change aligns the Save button behavior with other areas of Canvas. The Save button saves the content in the existing page and returns the user to the area where the quiz was accessed. The Build button saves the existing page and launches the New Quiz editor. Previously the page only included the Save button, which counterintuitively launched the New Quiz editor.

NOTE: In New Quizzes, Multiple Answer questions allow instructors to award students partial credit with penalty if a student selects an incorrect response. This grading option will be the default for new Multiple Answer questions with an option to use Exact Match instead.

User Settings – Auto-Show Closed Captioning:

Users can enable captions to show by default in all Canvas videos. This change allows users to view captions added to videos by default without having to manually enable captions for each individual video.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: May 15, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, April 20, 2021 8:15 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Course Settings – Course Availability Date Enhancements Enforcement:

The Participation menu on the Settings page, includes an option to select course dates by term or course. When an instructor views the Participation section on the Course Settings page, the Participation section displays a menu that defaults to Term dates for new courses. This option sets student course participation to the start and end dates defined for the term. If preferred, instructors can change course participation to the Course option, where course participation is limited to the course start and end dates, which can be added in the course.

NOTE: This feature availability may change. Please know that course information imported from Banner into Canvas, includes course start and end dates and you are encouraged to elect Course for the Participation item.

New Quizzes – Multiple Attempts First Score Option:

The Multiple Attempts menu includes an option to retain the first score for grading when multiple submission attempts are allowed. When instructors create a quiz using the New Quizzes engine, the Score to Keep menu includes a First option. Selecting this option retains the first score for a quiz, even if the quiz is retaken at a later time.

Upcoming Changes: New Quizzes & Classic Quizzes

July 2022:        New Quizzes will be enforced for all Canvas accounts

Dec. 2022:       end of life for Classic Quizzes

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: April 17, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, March 31, 2021 9:37 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Assignments – Webcam Submissions: For File Upload assignments, students have the option to use their webcam for file uploads from their web browser. The first time they use the feature, they will need to give permission to Canvas to access their computer webcam.

Modules – New Quizzes Support: When adding a quiz item to a module, the Create Quiz option displays both the New Quizzes and Classic Quizzes quiz engines. New Quizzes is the default, but instructors can switch to Classic Quizzes. Existing quizzes in the module are identified as a classic quiz if created with the Classic Quizzes quiz engine.

Course Availability Date Enhancements: In Course Settings, the Participation menu includes an option to select course dates by term or course start and end dates. New courses default to term dates. Changing the course dates override term dates; however, section dates that exist in the course override course dates.

Rich Content Editor – File Preview Enhancements: Files linked in the Rich Content Editor can be previewed in an overlay or inline. Previously all file previews opened in a new browser tab.

SpeedGrader – Submission Reassignments: For online assignments with a due date, instructors can ask a student to redo their submission using the Reassign button in SpeedGrader. Feedback must first be provided to enable the button and multiple submissions must be enabled. The reassignment does not change the original due date for the student.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: March 20, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, February 18, 2021 5:57 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

MathJax Equation Enhancements: LaTeX equations can be added in any text field in Canvas and are typeset or processed by MathJax. Equations can be added through manual entry, or through the Equation editor as supported in the Rich Content Editor. Equations can be added manually in any Canvas area that includes a text field, such as the title of an assignment or in a calendar event. Manual entries must be formatted according to LaTeX specifications. For help using the LaTeX Editor, please see the Canvas Equation Editor Advanced PDF.

Gradebook – View Ungraded as Zero: The Gradebook View menu includes the View Ungraded as 0 option, which is a visual change only and does not affect any grades. This change aligns parity with the Individual View Gradebook and provides instructors with a visual change in identifying grading calculations for ungraded assignments.

Rich Content Editor – Pretty HTML Editor: The Rich Content Editor includes a pretty HTML editor in addition to the raw HTML editor. This change provides an enhanced HTML experience for users. By default, the HTML editor displays an improved, pretty version of the HTML. Users can switch to the existing (raw) HTML editor by clicking the Raw HTML Editor link. Only the Raw HTML Editor is currently accessible to screen reader users.

Rich Content Editor – Content Auto-Save: When a user enters content in a Rich Content Editor window then navigates away from the page or refreshes the page, the user can return to the same page, and Canvas will notify the user if any saved content is different from the existing content. The user can preview the autosaved content and select the Yes button to load the autosaved content. Selecting the No button will discard the autosaved content. The New Rich Content Editor Auto-Save recovery period is 1 day.

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: Feb. 20, 2021.

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By Barb Stephens, January 29, 2021 10:14 pm

Canvas, the application better known as BlueLine, operates on a monthly release cycle through which features are added or updated. Some highlights from the most recent release notes follow. For further clarification, check out the full release notes site.

Bounced Emails: Admin Tools includes a Bounced Notifications tab for admins who can view notifications for the account. Users can request a Canvas Admin to view notifications about emails that have bounced for specific users.

New Rich Content Editor: The New Rich Content Editor includes an improved user experience across Canvas courses. This change brings an enhanced version of the Rich Content Editor to all Canvas users.

Push Notification Types End of Life: Multiple notification types are not supported for Push notifications. Additional notification types can be enabled through other communication channels. This change streamlines communication for all user roles. Additional details about supported notifications for Push notifications can be found in the Canvas Notifications PDF.

Feature Video

For a complete production release update, please see: Canvas Productions Release Notes: Jan. 16, 2021.