Is there a new Rich Content Editor to enable?

[rpsimon]

I happened to be reading about new and upcoming changes in Canvas.  I came across the news for the new Rich Content Editor (see below).  Is there.some kind of change that I need to make as an admin?  Thanks.

[kmeeusen · Accepted solution]

Hi rpsimon

The enhanced RCE is currently only in your Beta instance, and yes, you need to enable it.

• Go to your beta instance,
• Go to your Admin area,
• Click Settings,
• Click the Feature Options tab,
• Scroll down to RCE Enhancements,
• Then Allow or turn on.

I hope that helps,

Kelley

[rpsimon]

Thanks!  I just enabled it..... just curious as to why it's only able to be enabled in the Beta instance.....so strange.

[kmeeusen]

Many new features are enabled in Beta first, before being enabled in production, rpsimon .

In this way, the production team can get user feedback, identify issues, and respond as appropriate before it goes to the production instance.

I think it is coming to Production in the next Release, but can't remember.

Make sense?

Kelley

[rpsimon]

Are there any other features that I should turn on in the Beta instance?

Sent from my iPhone

Rebecca Penina Simon

Director of Educational Technology

Magen David Yeshivah– Joe & Celia Esses High School

7801 Bay Parkway

Brooklyn, NY 11214

718-331-4002

rpsimon@mdyhs.net

magendavidyeshivah.org

[rpsimon]

 @kmeeusen ‌ - what about the New Gradebook options in Beta?  I had it set originally to "OFF" and then switched 

it to "ALLOW."  Should I keep it here or turn it "ON?"

[James]

rpsimon 

If you don't turn on the new gradebook, it will be forced on for you in January. This may help: Upcoming Canvas Changes 

Also, there are the Canvas Release Notes.  The latest one said that the new Rich Content Editor has been delayed. Here is a summary of the previous release notes: Canvas Release Feature Archive 

There is so much other useful information out there that I can't begin to make a complete list right now (my wife is saying it's time to leave).

[rpsimon]

We have been using the New Gradebook since September.  And it's turned on in my "regular" Canvas instance.  So I guess I am wondering what the difference is between this and yet.

[James]

Right now, in beta, you can turn off the new gradebook. As long as a course hasn't used features that require the new gradebook (like late policies) you can go back to the old one. The beta instance is for you to play around with so you can prepare yourself for what's coming up before it actually gets here. There are some other uses for it, but that's the principal one. The beta instance is mostly isolated from your production site (there may be some issues with LTIs in beta pulling data from the production site).

You don't have to turn on anything in beta. You don't have to go into beta at all. That is not to say it's not useful for testing and if you're doing any development or have custom CSS and JavaScript, then it's highly, highly, recommended. We normally turn new features on in beta for a few of our users to play with and then turn on the major ones between semesters after we've had a chance to prepare ourselves.

Think of beta as a Canvas sandbox or playground where you can try things out without worrying about messing the real thing up.

[rpsimon]

I’ve used the Beta instance as well as the Test instance on a number of occasions. Extremely helpful!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Rebecca Penina Simon

Director of Educational Technology

Magen David Yeshivah– Joe & Celia Esses High School

7801 Bay Parkway

Brooklyn, NY 11214

718-331-4002

rpsimon@mdyhs.net

magendavidyeshivah.org