Canvas for Elementary: Release Change Log
This document indicates feature updates in the Canvas for Elementary project. The release date indicates the date the features will be available in the production environment. All noted updates can be tested in the beta environment in advance of its announced release date.
Full details of this project can be viewed in the Canvas for Elementary Overview Document.
- 2021-11-10
- 2021-10-27
- 2021-10-13
- 2021-09-29
- 2021-09-15
- 2021-09-01
- 2021-08-18
- 2021-08-04
- 2021-07-28
- 2021-06-29
- 2021-06-04
2021-11-10 |
Updated Features
Dashboard Important Dates Parent Support
When an observer selects a specific student in the Dashboard, the Important Dates sidebar only displays dates relevant to the selected student.
Dashboard Schedule Parent Support
When an observer selects a specific student in the Dashboard, the Schedule tab only displays content relevant to the selected student in a read-only state.
Favorite Course Enrollments Logic
Students who have an additional enrollment type (such as a teacher enrollment) can favorite courses in the Dashboard.
Join This Course Button Terminology Update
For open enrollment courses, the Join This Course button has been updated to the Join this Subject button.
2021-10-27 |
Updated Features
Dashboard Parent Support
In the Dashboard, Observers can use a drop-down menu to switch between students. The Dashboard displays only subjects where the selected student is enrolled. Additionally, the Subjects link in the Global Navigation Menu displays the same subjects.
Dashboard Grades Parent Support
When an observer selects a specific student in the Dashboard, the Grades tab only displays the grades for the selected student.
Dashboard Observer Pairing Updates
If an observer’s Account Settings page includes the Observing link, the Dashboard student menu includes an option to add a new student via pairing code. The Observing link is generated when a user creates an Observer Canvas account and uses a pairing code from a student.
When an observer makes a new pairing with a student and returns to the Dashboard, the Dashboard displays the subjects for the newly paired student.
Subject Parent Support
In individual subjects, Observers can use a drop-down menu to switch between students. Each subject only displays the names of students they are observing who are enrolled in the course. Profile pictures are not displayed for a student unless the student is selected from the menu.
If an observer is only observing one student in the course, the drop-down menu is replaced with a label.
If an observer accesses the subject from the Dashboard, the student being viewed in the Dashboard automatically displays in the subject.
If an observer accesses the subject directly without selecting a specific student, the Subject list displays the first student listed in the course alphabetically.
2021-10-13 |
Updated Features
Subject Participation Dates and Homeroom Sync
In Course Settings, Sync Enrollments from Homeroom has been renamed as Sync Enrollments and Course Start/End Dates from Homeroom. If the Sync Enrollments and Course Start/End Dates from Homeroom is selected, the course participation section is synced with the homeroom participation.
If the homeroom participation option is set to course, the subject start_at and conclude_at dates will be synced with the ones in the homeroom, and if the participation is set to term, the same enrollment_term will be set in the subject as well.
2021-09-29 |
Updated Features
Conferences Event Links
If a calendar event description or location has a conference link for Microsoft Teams, WebEx, or Google Meet, the Join Conference button displays in the Schedule event for the duration of the event.
This change aligns additional conference providers in Canvas; previously only Zoom links were supported.
Home Announcements Navigation Support
Next and Previous buttons are displayed as part of the Announcements section. The most recent announcement always displays as the default announcement. If the Previous button is disabled, no previous announcements exist for the homeroom.
If no announcements have been posted within the last two weeks, the announcements section indicates the homeroom has no recent announcements. Instructors are able to create a new announcement from the announcements section.
Home Notification Settings Banner
Upon initial login, students enrolled in Canvas for Elementary courses do not view the Home banner inviting them to adjust their notification settings. However, all other user roles can view the banner.
Import/Export Canvas for Elementary Theme Support
Canvas for Elementary themes are retained in both course import and export packages.
Subject Announcements Navigation Support
Next and Previous buttons are displayed as part of the Announcements section. The most recent announcement always displays as the default announcement. If the Previous button is disabled, no previous announcements exist for the subject.
If no announcements have been posted within the last two weeks, the announcements section indicates the subject has no recent announcements. Instructors are able to create a new announcement from the announcements section.
Subject Friendly Name Access Adjustment
If teachers are not allowed to change the subject name and code in Course Settings, the friendly name can still be edited. A teacher can only edit the subject name and code if a Canvas admin has enabled the Don’t Let Teachers Rename their Courses option in Account Settings.
Subject Home Page Join/Drop Button
If the self-enrollment option is enabled at the account level, students can join and drop courses. When a subject’s visibility is set to public and a student views the subject, a Join this Course button displays in the Course Home Page. Once the student enrolls in the course, the Course Home Page displays the Drop this Course button.
If the subject is set for students to self-enroll and add via a join link, and a student views the link, the student will automatically be enrolled in the course. However, the student can view the Drop this Course button and drop the course at any time.
Subject Groups Tab
The Subject Home Page displays a Groups tab. This tab always displays for instructors and includes a button that links to the group management page. For students, the Groups tab displays if there is at least one active group in the subject.
Subject Notification Customization
Subject notification preferences can be customized in a user’s Notifications page. When a user has active subject enrollments, the menu displays the name of each subject. Users can navigate between their subjects and set specific notification options for each subject, if preferred.
Test Student Visibility
For teachers using Student View, grades for the Test Student can be viewed in the Grades tab.
2021-09-15 |
Updated Features
Dashboard Favorites Limitation (Students/Observers)
For students and observers, favoriting a subject is not supported in Home. All active subjects are displayed.
However, any subjects that were favorited from the Classic View Dashboard are retained as favorites and display appropriately if a student or observer switches to the Classic View Dashboard.
Dashboard To Do List SpeedGrader Links (Teachers)
The Grade Assignment links in the To Do list open SpeedGrader in a new window.
Subject Creation Workflow Consistency
For teachers who can create subjects, creating a subject from the All Subjects page displays the same window and workflow for adding students as shown in Home. Previously the window displayed from the All Subjects page differed from the Home workflow.
When subjects are manually created by an admin, the admin is enrolled as a teacher in the subject. The list of subaccounts that displays in the create subjects window is scoped to only display subaccounts where the admin has an enrollment as a teacher.
Subject Name Display (Teachers)
When a teacher is managing a subject, the name of the subject displays at the top of the page centered between the Back to Subject and the Student View button. The name persists until the Back to Subject button is selected.
If a friendly name exists for the subject, the friendly name displays in place of the subject name.
Subject Schedule Display (Teachers)
For Teachers, the Schedule tab within a subject only displays content for the subject instead of items across multiple subjects as shown in the Dashboard.
Subject Setting SIS Import Enrollment Sync Limitation
If a subject and any of its enrollments were added vis SIS imports, the Sync enrollments from homeroom checkbox does not display in Course Settings.
Zoom Calendar Event Links
If a calendar event description or location has a Zoom link, the Join Zoom button displays in the Schedule event for the duration of the event.
If the Join Zoom button is green with a video icon, the conference is currently active. If the button is gray with a crossed-out video icon, the conference is not currently active.
2021-09-01 |
Updated Features
Announcement Dates
Homeroom announcements include the date the announcement was posted.
Course Settings Friendly Name
In Course Settings, teachers can set a friendly name, or nickname, for course subjects. Friendly names display for all users enrolled in the course and display in the Home page, homeroom announcement, calendar, subject header, global navigation, and notifications.
Grades Page Labels
The Grades tab for individual subjects displays Graded and Feedback labels when they exist for an assignment.
Terminology Updates
The Homeroom link in the Global Navigation Menu has been renamed to Home.
2021-08-18 |
New Features
Important Date Assignments
Assignments can be marked as an important date from the Calendar.
Subject Banners
Course Settings includes a Subject Banner Image. This image can be used on the home page for the subject.
Updated Features
Grading Periods
If the option to display totals for all grading periods is disabled for an account, the Grading Periods drop-down menu displays dashes instead of the total for all grading periods.
Manage Settings
The Manage Settings button can be viewed by teachers in concluded courses.
Student View
When a teacher clicks the Student View button, student view mode is loaded in the same tab where it was enabled.
View All Pages Button
The View All Pages button has been hidden in Canvas for Elementary subjects.
2021-08-04 |
Updated Features
Resources Tab Visibility
The Resources tab will always be displayed in the Dashboard. However, the Important Info section only displays if the homeroom has content in the Important Info page. Moreover, the Student Applications section only displays if the homeroom includes External Tools.
For the Resources tab in individual subjects, the Important Info section only displays if the subject has content in the Important Info page. Moreover, the Student Applications section only displays if the subject includes External Tools. If both sections are empty, the Resources tab will not display at all for the subject.
Student Grades Summary
If the option to hide totals in the student grades summary is enabled in course settings for a subject, the grade for that subject will display dashes instead of the total grade.
Terminology Updates
From the Dashboard, the Elementary View button has been renamed to Homeroom View.
2021-07-28 |
New Features
Important Dates
In the Dashboard, the sidebar displays Important Dates as determined by the teacher.
Updated Features
Announcements Title Link
For the latest announcement in the Homeroom and in the Home tab for each subject, the announcement title links to the announcement in the Announcements page.
Canvas for Student Dashboard Visibility
Only students with active K5 enrollments can view the K5 Dashboard.
Dashboard Grades Tab
In the Dashboard, the Grades tab is hidden if the Grades Course Navigation Menu in all Subjects are hidden. The Grades tab is also hidden if there are no active Subject enrollments.
Instructor To Do List
To Do list has been added as a new tab in the Dashboard for teachers with active teacher enrollments.
Terminology Updates
From the Dashboard, the Create Course button has been renamed to Create Subject.
2021-06-29 |
New Features
Dashboard Options
Admins and teachers can switch between the Classic Dashboard and the Elementary Dashboard.
Updated Features
Announcements Setting
Course Settings X Number of Announcements Show on the Homepage checkbox is only supported in individual subjects, not in the Dashboard.
Create Course Window
The Create Course window includes the Sync to Homeroom checkbox.
Course Files Link
The Files link is available in the homeroom Course Navigation Menu.
Pages
When a subject does not have a home page, the page displays a Manage Home button to add or select a home page as the Subject Home.
Terminology Updates
Front Page renamed to Subject Home.
2021-06-04 |
New Features
Enrollment Sync
Enrollments can be synced from subjects to the homeroom course.
Updated Features
Course Navigation Menu Access
Access to the Course Navigation Menu has been updated for teachers.
Important Info Display
Important Info displays in the Homeroom Resources tab and in individual subjects.
Terminology Updates
In the Global Navigation Menu, Dashboard renamed to Homeroom; Courses renamed to Subjects.
The Syllabus renamed to Important Info.