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Canvas Release Notes (2021-10-16)

Canvas Release Notes (2021-10-16)

In this Canvas release (October 16), the Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages. Additionally, course notification preferences can be customized in a user’s Notifications page.

For instructors, submission status labels can be edited in SpeedGrader, and the Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field.

Microsoft Immersive Reader can be managed for individual users within User Settings. Additionally, the Reader is supported in Assignments, the Course Home Page, and the Syllabus.

Feature Previews

  • The default setting for the Rich Content Editor Accessibility Checker has been changed to On and Unlocked. This change affects institutions where the feature preview has not yet been manually adjusted by a Canvas admin.

 

Screencast | View the New Feature Screencasts page for a compilation of all available videos in this release.

All Resources | Features in this release may be included in product blogs and other content areas. For all related links, view the 2021-10-16 Community tag.


Release Notes Change Log

 

New Features

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Navigation

Sticky Navigation Menus

 

Location to Enable Feature

N/A

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16

Affected Canvas Areas

Account Navigation Menu, Course Navigation Menu, User Navigation Menu

Affects User Interface

Yes

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-10-16 Courses (Sticky Navigation Menus)

Feature Video

Release Screencast: 2021-10-16 Courses (Sticky Navigation Menus)

Related Idea Conversations

Freeze top, left, and side banners of Canvas, Make Course Menu Sticky

  

Summary

The Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages.

Change Benefit

This change allows users to access the menus at any time.

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Workflow

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

 

Location to Enable Feature

N/A

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16

Affected Canvas Areas

SpeedGrader

Permissions

Grades - edit

Related APIs

Submissions API

Affects User Interface

Yes

Affected User Roles

Instructors

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-10-16 SpeedGrader Submission Status Label Edits

Feature Video

Release Screencast: 2021-10-16 SpeedGrader (Submission Status Label Edits)

Related Idea Conversations

Apply Status Missing Late Excused while in SpeedGrader

 

Summary

Submission status labels can be edited in SpeedGrader.

Change Benefit

This change allows graders to change the submission status for a student’s assignment directly in SpeedGrader.

Affected User Roles

Instructors

Feature Workflow

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.

  • Setting the status to Missing displays the Missing label.
  • If a late policy is enabled, setting the status to late displays the late label. Additionally, a text field allows the grader to enter a value for the days/hours late.
  • Setting the status to excused displays the Excused status, and the grade field displays as EX and is grayed out.
  • Setting the status to None removes any labels that were previously displayed for the assignment.

SpeedGrader Status Edit MenuSpeedGrader Status Edit Menu

 

The Edit Status icon is not displayed in the following assignment scenarios:

  • Previously submitted submissions (only the most recent submission is supported)
  • Concluded user enrollments
  • Inactive student enrollments
  • Assignments that require moderated grading
  • Assignments in a closed grading period

 

 

Updated Features

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Gradebook

Assignment Search

 

Location to Enable Feature

N/A

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16

Affected Canvas Areas

Gradebook

Permissions

Grades - edit

Affects User Interface

Yes

Affected User Roles

Instructors

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-10-16 Gradebook (Assignment Search)

Feature Video

Release Screencast: 2021-10-16 Gradebook (Assignment Search)

Related Idea Conversations

Add a search box to the Gradebook

 

Summary

The Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field.

Change Benefit

This change allows assignments to be searched in addition to student names.

Affected User Roles

Instructors

Feature Workflow

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.

Gradebook Assignment Names FieldGradebook Assignment Names Field 

Notifications

Course Notification Customization

 

Location to Enable Feature

N/A

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16

Affected Canvas Areas

Notifications

Affects User Interface

Yes   

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-10-16 Notifications (Course Customization)

Feature Video

Release Screencast: 2021-10-16 Notifications (Course Customization)

 

Summary

Course notification preferences can be customized in a user’s Notifications page.

Change Benefit

This change allows course notifications to be adjusted without having to access the course-level Notifications page for each course.

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Workflow

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. Users can navigate between their courses and set specific notification options for each course, if preferred.

Any updated notifications also sync to the course-level Notifications page.

Notifications PageNotifications Page

User Settings

Microsoft Immersive Reader

 

Location to Enable Feature

User Settings

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16

Affected Canvas Areas

Assignments, Course Home Page, Syllabus

Affects User Interface

Yes

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-10-16 User Settings (Microsoft Immersive Reader Additional Feature Areas)

Feature Video

Release Screencast: 2021-10-16 User Settings (Microsoft Immersive Reader Additional Feature Areas)

Related Idea Conversations

Add Immersive Reader to Home Page, Immersive Reader in Assignments, Teacher Read Aloud with Assignment

 

Summary

The Microsoft Immersive Reader button can be enabled in User Settings, if not already enabled by the institution. Additionally, the Reader is supported in Assignments, the Course Home Page, and the Syllabus.

Change Benefit

This change allows additional resources to be used with the Microsoft Immersive Reader.

Affected User Roles

All Users

In individual assignments, the Course Home Page, and the Syllabus, the Microsoft Immersive Reader button displays for users.

Feature Workflow

In each location, Microsoft Immersive Reader button is located in the page header. 

For instructors, the button displays next to the Student View button, when applicable.

Additional Details

This feature preview adjustment to include a User Setting was part of the 2021-09-29 Canvas Deploy Notes.

 

 

Feature Previews

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Feature previews allow institutions to preview Canvas functionality and participate in the Canvas development process using the Canvas environment of their choice (beta, production, or test, according to environment availability). Preview functionality is eventually incorporated into Canvas for all users at a future date.

Unless otherwise noted, feature previews are opt-in and do not require any action by a Canvas admin until a feature’s enforcement date is announced. Please reference the table below each feature heading for specific feature information. For general information about feature previews, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.

 

Rich Content Editor

Accessibility Checker Indicator Default Setting Adjustment

 

Name of Feature Preview

Accessibility Checker Notifications

Location to Enable Feature Preview

Account Settings

Beta Environment Availability

2021-09-20, On/Unlocked

Production Environment Availability

2021-10-16, On/Unlocked

Affected Canvas Areas

Rich Content Editor

Affects User Interface

Yes   

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Q&A

Releases Q&A: 2021-08-21 RCE Accessibility Checker Notifications

Feature Video

Release Screencast: Rich Content Editor (Accessibility Checker Indicator)

 

Summary

The default setting for the Rich Content Editor Accessibility Checker Indicator feature preview has been changed to On and Unlocked. This change affects institutions where the feature preview has not yet been manually adjusted by a Canvas admin.

Change Benefit

This change enables this feature by default and shows content creators when accessibility concerns are detected without needing to open the Accessibility Checker. 

Affected User Roles

All Users

Feature Workflow

When the Accessibility Checker Notification is enabled for a course, any accessibility issues detected within the Rich Content Editor display an indicator. 

Rich Content Editor Accessibility Checker IndicatorRich Content Editor Accessibility Checker Indicator

 

Additional Details

 

This feature was originally introduced in the 2021-08-21 Canvas Release Notes.

 

 

 

Release Notes Change Log

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Date  
2021-09-20 Published Release Notes

Change Log

2021-09-20

Published
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