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Canvas Updates & Training Information - Summer/Fall 2024

Hello Colleagues,

The Digital Education team hopes your summer is going well.  As we approach the Fall 2024 semester, there are a number of updates we’d like to share with you.  The number of changes may be a bit overwhelming, but it’s actually a good thing that we are starting to see our vendor partners completing some long-standing projects, many of which were started years ago and delayed by the pandemic.

Upcoming Canvas Changes

The following changes are currently planned:

Happening now/soon:

  • The  is being updated.  This change is to accommodate a new feature coming this weekend, the ability to  in a Canvas course.
  • will be available as a faculty opt-in feature for all courses.
  • Canvas Inbox  and  options.
  • "" from Instructure will be available as a faculty opt-in feature for all courses.
  • "" from Instructure will be available as a faculty opt-in feature for all courses.
  • The MiVideo/Kaltura video player has been upgraded to the vendor's new standard version.  Some video content may need to be re-embedded to work properly.  A separate message about this update was sent out on Wednesday, July 17 2024.
  • Machine-generated Captions are now automatically generated and made available for newly created video content in the MiVideo/Kaltura system.

Happening before the start of the Fall 2024 semester:

  • U-M Maizey AI Assistant Canvas Connector will be upgraded to a new version, making enabling Maizey in Canvas slightly easier.  Maizey will continue to be a faculty opt-in feature
  • ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn will likely have a new plagiarism detection provider starting with the Fall 2024 semester.  More information on this change, along with instructions for faculty to use the new provider, will be sent out as soon as the RFP process has been completed and a contract is signed.
  • The pilot of Wiris Quizzes will be concluded.  Wiris Quizzes will be removed from Canvas after the conclusion of the Summer 2024 semester due to pilot feedback and low usage.

Happening later this academic year:

  • Canvas Classic Quizzes will no longer be available for ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn users starting in the Summer 2025 semester.  Quizzes imported into new courses after that point will be auto-migrated to the New Quizzes engine.  Faculty are encouraged to try this migration ahead of the Summer 2025 semester if possible to have time to correct any issues that may be encountered in the migration.  New Quizzes zoom training/info sessions will be available in August, and are listed below.
  • A renewed focus on Accessibility of Canvas courses due to changes to federal Title II regulations.  Look for communication around this to start during the Fall 2024 semester.

Canvas sites for non-Banner courses or programs

ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn's second Canvas instance, "Professional Development Canvas," is now available.  This second Canvas instance allows ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn to leverage Canvas for non-credit courses for industry partners, professional development, faculty/student training, programs for the public and more. In addition, this Canvas instance has a front end allowing users to self-register for courses and even optionally pay for the courses via credit card.  For more information about this Canvas instance or to request a course be created, please see the Professional Development Canvas page.

Canvas access extensions for I/X grades

As a quick reminder, Canvas course access can be extended for students who have received an X or I grade (with a completed and approved I contract).  If you would like to extend Canvas course access, please contact your unit Canvas support personnel and let them know which course and student needs an extension.  Once the details are verified, Canvas access for the student and instructor will be extended to the deadline for X grade completion or the date on the approved incomplete contract.  Please note that all student work and grading must be done by this date, there is not an option to have extra grading time in Canvas for these circumstances.

ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn Canvas Virtual Training

ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn's full Canvas training series will be offered in mid-August according to the schedule below.  Recordings of these sessions will be available on the .  Please use the Google Calendar button for each session to add the session to your calendar and receive the Zoom information.

  • Monday Aug 19 9am-10am: Canvas 101 - Introduction and Overview
    This session will focus on the following areas of Canvas:  the dashboard, user profile, notification preferences, conversations, course overview, and course settings.
     
  • Monday Aug 19 11am-Noon: Canvas 201 - Content Delivery
    This session will focus on the following areas of Canvas: announcements, pages, files, and conferences.
     
  • Monday Aug 19 1pm-2pm: Canvas 251 - Video
    This session will focus on delivering video content asynchronously through the MiVideo and MediaSite integrations with Canvas, delivering content synchronously through multiple conferencing integrations, and making videos accessible with closed-captions.
     
  • Monday Aug 20 3pm-4pm: Canvas 276 - AI-Powered Tools
    This session will focus on U-M's Maizey Canvas Connector, Instructure's Smart Search and Discussion Summary features, and other AI-powered tools available to faculty and students.
     
  • Tuesday Aug 20 9am-10am: Canvas 301 - Interactivity and Assessments
    This session will focus on the following areas of Canvas: discussions, assignments, and plagiarism detection.
     
  • Tuesday Aug 20 11am-Noon: Canvas 352 - Canvas New Quizzes
    This session will focus on the following areas of Canvas: new quizzes
     
  • Tuesday Aug 20 1pm-2pm: Canvas 401 - Grading and the Gradebook
    This session will focus on Assignment groups and weighing, rubrics, the gradebook, and SpeedGrader.

Canvas Support

If you or your students have any Canvas questions or support needs during regular business hours, it is best to reach out to your unit's Canvas support personnel via email or phone first, then arrange an in-person appointment if necessary.  For help with Canvas technical issues outside of regular business hours or during holiday breaks, 24/7 support from Canvas is also available to ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn faculty and students via phone or chat.  Information on 24/7 support is available from the Help menu within Canvas.

Please contact The Office of Digital Education ([email protected]) with any questions regarding items featured here.