In the past few months, Canvas has added a number of new and updated features that you may find useful. In this post, we will review the most salient features and explain how you can use them in your courses.
- View Word Count in SpeedGrader for Text Entry Assignments
- Split Student Names in the Gradebook
- Join a Zoom Meeting from List View in the Dashboard
- Use the Accessibility Checker Indicator to Find Accessibility Issues
- Further Resources and Getting Help
View Word Count in SpeedGrader for Text Entry Assignments
If a student submits a Canvas assignment via the Text Entry option, you can now see the number of words in the submission in SpeedGrader. This word count will be displayed under the Submission to view information at the top right in SpeedGrader.
Previously the word count was only visible to students, not to instructors. This feature can be handy for assignments with a minimum or maximum word count.
For more information, please see Assignment Text Entry Word Count in the November release notes.
Split Student Names in the Gradebook
You now have the ability to split your students’ names into Last and First Names in the Canvas Gradebook. To do this, simply go to the View menu in the Gradebook and choose Split Student Names.
After splitting student names, you retain the ability to sort by Last Name in the Gradebook if you wish. Split names will also be displayed as such in a CSV export from the Gradebook.
To learn more, please see Split Name Columns in the January 15 Release Notes.
Join a Zoom Meeting from List View in the Dashboard
In the List View of the Dashboard, any calendar event that contains a link for a Zoom meeting, whether in the Description or Location field, will display a Join Conference button. This button will be green if the meeting is currently in progress; otherwise it will be gray.
Using this feature, your students can join a scheduled meeting, such as a class meeting or Zoom office hours, directly from the List View in the Dashboard. They can aso view all upcoming meetings at a glance in List View, which can be helpful in schedule organization.
For more information, please see List View Dashboard Conference Links in the November release notes.
Use the Accessibility Checker Indicator to Find Accessibility Issues
Anywhere that the Rich Content Editor (RCE) toolbar appears in Canvas, you will see the Accessibility Checker icon. This icon displays an indicator of any accessibility issues that have been identified in the Canvas Page, Announcement, Assignment prompt, etc., on which you are working. The number displayed indicates the total number of issues identified by the Accessibility Checker.
When you click the icon, the Accessibility Checker will open. It will display each issue in turn and offer suggestions for remediation (e.g. changing the text color if the current color does not create sufficient contrast with the background).
For more information about this feature, please see Accessibility Checker Indicator Feature Enforcement in the January 15 release notes, as well as our What’s New in Canvas October 2021 blog post. You are also invited to contact the Center for Digital Accessibility with any questions you may have about making your course materials accessible.
Further Resources and Getting Help
If you have further questions about Canvas and its features, we invite you to attend one of our workshops. You can also stop by our Virtual Office Hours for one-on-one help and support.
For general (non-UChicago-specific) Canvas questions, you can reach Canvas Support 24/7/365 at 833.564.8137, or chat with a Canvas representative. The link for Canvas Chat is available under Help in the gray (global) Canvas menu.
FAQs
As part of the ongoing improvement to the Canvas Calendar, users now have the ability to create, edit, and duplicate events for different sections of a course. Instead of creating recurring events, this update focuses on duplicating single events to optimise scheduling and improve user workflows.
Which is better, blackboard or Canvas? ›
Blackboard displays assignment participation and grades, while Canvas analyzes interactions and predicts student engagement. Blackboard and Canvas also offer user and learner dashboards. Unlike Blackboard, which charges extra, Canvas is the winner for including analytics in its free account.
Can professors see word count on Canvas? ›
The word count for assignment text submissions is now displayed in SpeedGrader. This change allows instructors to view the word count in assignment text submissions while grading in SpeedGrader.
What is the new annotation in canvas? ›
Annotation Assignments in Canvas
This feature became available in 2021. This assignment type allows the teacher to upload a file to Canvas that the student can then, without leaving Canvas, mark up using the built-in annotation tools (highlight, make comments, draw marks, etc.) as their submission.
Why are schools moving to canvas? ›
Houser also cited Canvas's more advanced technology as a reason behind the switch. “Blackboard's user interface was developed some time ago and was falling behind modern web standards. More importantly, it was not as mobile-friendly as more modern interfaces are,” Houser said.
Does Harvard use Canvas or Blackboard? ›
Canvas is the learning management system used for course websites at Harvard.
Why did Canvas replace Blackboard? ›
Canvas, according to Azizi, should be easier to navigate for both students and staff. Uploading documents and the program's organization will be straightforward and easy to comprehend. The challenges faced on Blackboard that brought more time and effort will now be reduced with Canvas.
Why are schools moving from Blackboard to Canvas? ›
Canvas offers several enhancements over Blackboard, including a user interface designed for ease and efficiency of use, an open API that enables 3rd party apps, a vastly-improved mobile experience, and an integrated syllabus and calendar that helps students track pending / completed activities across courses.
Does Canvas automatically update? ›
Canvas course sites for all classes are automatically made available to instructors six months before a term's start date. Course sites are updated twice daily with M-Pathways enrollment data changes. By default, students can see a published course starting 4 weeks before the start of the term.
How do I access old Canvas? ›
On the All Courses page, scroll down to Past Enrollments. From here, you can access a previous course by clicking on its hyper-linked course name.
If a course has recently been added to your Canvas account and it fails to appear on the Course Dashboard, its more than likely because your browser is displaying an old version of the page.
How do teachers detect cheating on Canvas? ›
Through the Quiz Log function, the system will detect when the person taking the online test opens a new tab or browser, recording and reporting any suspicious action.
Can professors see if you click off Canvas? ›
This is what we can see when you take a quiz. That means. when you leave the canvas quiz taking page and go somewhere else to. To a Powerpoint, to Google to search for the answer, it tells the teacher when you stopped viewing the canvas page.
Can teachers see you switch tabs on Canvas? ›
While some sources insist that without webcam monitors students can switch tabs freely, viral videos on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram show teachers getting notified as soon as students leave the Canvas website during assessments.
What is modern canvas? ›
Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, or sometimes polyvinyl chloride (PVC), although historically it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavy cotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave.
Is canvas still in style? ›
Inspired by the past, designed for the future – the timeless look of our canvas prints is influenced by the design of classic oil paintings, but will integrate seamlessly into any modern home – in 2024 and beyond.
Where is recent feedback on canvas? ›
After clicking on the assignment, click “View Feedback” on the right to see any comments left on the assignment. Click on “Show Rubric” to see the breakdown of how the assignment was graded as well as any comments left on the rubric. the Dashboard, or from any Canvas Grade notification email or text.
Why did canvas stop working? ›
It is possible that the browser is not compatible with Canvas. If you have the same issue, try another computer. Sometimes your browser's Cache needs to be cleared, especially if you changed your password recently or if you bookmark the Canvas Login page.
