Session Recap - Microsoft + Canvas Integrations: Better together!

[mjennings]

Tuesday, July 9, 2024 

During InstructureCon 2024, I was able to attend a great session titled “Microsoft + Canvas Integrations: Better together!”. The presenters, Andrea Tseng-Rioux and TJ Vering, from Microsoft, shared interesting information and demos on the current and future LTIs from Microsoft. Here’s a recap I made with the help of Co-Pilot for those who couldn’t make it.

Seamless Integration with Teams Assignments LTI

One of the standout features discussed was the Teams Assignments LTI. This integration is a game-changer, allowing educators to create, manage, and grade assignments directly within Microsoft Teams while seamlessly syncing with Canvas. Imagine the convenience of having quizzes, forms, and templates all in one place, with the added bonus of AI suggestions to help draft instructions and attach rubrics. This tool is designed to streamline our workflow and enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Here is the link that was shared if you are interested in the Teams Assignment LTI Preview - https://aka.ms/LMSPreview

AI-Powered Assistance

The integration doesn’t stop at just managing assignments. The AI capabilities embedded within the Teams Assignments LTI provide intelligent suggestions, making it easier to draft clear and effective instructions. This feature is particularly useful for those moments when writer’s block hits, ensuring that our assignments are always top-notch.

Flexible and Accessible

Another highlight is the flexibility of the integration. Whether you’re working in a production or development environment, the Teams Assignments LTI is available for preview. While setting up Canvas with Microsoft SSO isn’t a prerequisite, it’s recommended for a smoother experience. This means that regardless of your current setup, you can start leveraging these powerful tools without a hitch.

Root and Sub-Account Level Integrations

The session also covered the versatility of the integration, which can be implemented at both the root and sub-account levels. This ensures that grades and feedback flow seamlessly between Teams and the Canvas gradebook, providing a unified and efficient grading system. No more juggling between platforms – everything you need is right at your fingertips.

Major Tool Integrations

Here’s a list and summary of the other major tool integrations shared during the session:

1. OneDrive LTI: Allows embedding of M365 documents directly into Canvas assignments, announcements, and more. It supports seamless file permissions and integration with SharePoint for collaborative work.
2. Teams Meetings LTI: Integrates Teams meetings into Canvas, providing a personalized list of meetings relevant to each course. It supports one-click join, recording playback, and easy access to meeting details.
3. Class Teams: Automatically creates and syncs Teams with Canvas courses, ensuring that all class-related communications and collaborations are streamlined and easily accessible.
4. Reflect: A social-emotional learning tool that helps students and educators check in on their emotional well-being. It’s integrated into Canvas for quick and easy access.
5. Learning Accelerators:
• Reading Progress: Helps track and improve students’ reading fluency and comprehension.
• Search Progress: Teaches students how to conduct effective and trustworthy research.
• Math Progress: Provides tools for creating math assessments and quizzes, leveraging AI to generate distractors and solutions.
• Speaker Progress: Coaches students on their speaking skills, providing feedback on pace, pitch, filler words, and more.

Additional Resources

1. LTI Deployment & User Docs:
   
   • aka.ms/LTIAdminDocs
     
   • aka.ms/LTIUserDocs
     
2. Preview Sign-up!
   • aka.ms/LMSPreview
     
3. LTI Office Hours community call: 1st & 3rd Thursday of each Month (11AM EST / 8AM PST)
   
   • Join at: aka.ms/LTIOfficeHours

Final Thoughts

The “Microsoft + Canvas Integrations: Better together!” session was a treasure trove of information and inspiration. The integration of Microsoft Teams and Canvas through the Teams Assignments LTI promises to revolutionize the way we manage assignments, grade, and provide feedback. It’s an exciting time to be an educator, with technology continually evolving to support our mission of delivering high-quality education.

For those who couldn’t attend, I hope this recap helps give you some ideas of what to look forward to from Microsoft.

If you were able to attend the session, or would just like to contribute to the conversation, feel free to share your thoughts or experiences with [topic] in the comments below.