On-Demand Training Portal Quarterly News & Updates (Q2 - 2025)

[Inst-TSP-team]

On-Demand Training Portal Blog

Updates for Quarter 2, 2025

What’s Included in This Post?
• The latest news on the On-Demand Training Portal
• What's New? Check out the latest updated courses, offerings, and webinars
• What's Next? Learn about what we have on deck for the next quarter

It is hard to believe that we are at the halfway point of 2025! Looking back on quarter 2, we are excited to highlight our updates to the portal. This quarter, we’ve focused on creating 2 new courses, adding new partnership courses, updated content to reflect product updates, and overhauling 2 courses. Let’s dive into the details of what’s new and what you can expect in the coming months.

About our Services

If you’re unfamiliar with the On-Demand Training Portal, don’t worry! This interactive resource highlights key features and resources to help maximize Canvas usage at your institution. Select the icons next to each topic on the ThingLink to learn more about the On-Demand Training Portal. If you prefer to interact with the ThingLink using accessibility features, navigate to the Accessibility Viewer. Alternatively, refer to the On-Demand Training Portal Information outlining the essential features and resources that will help you to maximize Canvas usage at your institution. It includes the offerings of each subscription level, as well as a link to a video explaining what to expect from an On-Demand Training Course. 

What’s New?

Courses

We are excited to share the following NEW courses! 

• Business & Government Admins: Getting Started with Canvas: This course is specifically designed for our business and government users and is your essential guide to navigating Canvas as an administrator. In this course you will gain fundamental skills covering account setup, personnel management, communication tools, course building for professional learning, data and analytics, and more.

• Fundamentals of Accessible Digital Content in Canvas: Simplify digital accessibility and demonstrate its practical application to your work through your learning in this course. You'll delve into the foundational principles of accessible design, learn practical techniques for identifying accessibility issues in Canvas, and acquire actionable best practices for your images, files, and course materials. You'll also gain awareness of common accessibility mistakes and discover where to access ongoing support and valuable resources to continuously improve your content's accessibility.

• New Partnership Courses: At the beginning of June we added two new partnership courses to the On-Demand Training Portal. Both courses are available to users with an Essential, Standard, or Premium Subscription Package. These Partnership courses highlight how the tool can be leveraged in Canvas to improve the educational experience. 
  • Lincoln Learning: Innovative Tool, Empowered Educators: Lincoln Learning Solutions is an award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit, dedicated to maximizing student potential. For nearly two decades, Lincoln Learning partnered with educators, providing innovative EK-14 digital solutions and personalized learning opportunities to diverse schools nationwide. This course highlights how the Lincoln Learning Solutions create unique experiences for students and teachers. 
  • Packback: Education faces critical challenges: reduced funding, achievement gaps, teacher burnout, and limited technology. Packback helps navigate this by providing a full-stack, pedagogy-based AI solution to improve student writing and critical thinking while supporting educators. The course highlights the functionality of the tool and how to leverage the tool inside of Canvas courses.  

• Studio Academy Course: On May 15th we released the new and improved Studio Academy course! Please note that the legacy Studio course was archived on June 15, 2025. Learners who had enrolled but did not complete the legacy course before this date are no longer eligible to earn this badge. Users now can access the new and improved Studio Academy Course, which highlights the value add of Studio and how to maximize its capabilities in Canvas. 

• New Quizzes Essentials: On June 30th we released the new and improved New Quizzes Essentials course. To better reflect the numerous updates to New Quizzes, the On-Demand team has developed a newly updated course. This new course mirrors the structure of the current version but includes updated content, images, new functionalities, and enhanced accessibility. Previously earned badges will remain valid, and learners have the opportunity to gain a new badge upon completion of the updated course. If you have previously enrolled in the legacy course, it will remain visible in your portal dashboard until July 30, 2025.

• Canvas Discussions and Canvas Apps: Several courses in the Portal received updated content to reflect the product updates around Canvas Discussions, as well as the release of Canvas Apps. The updated courses are: Account Structure, Settings, & Customization (K12 & HED), Canvas Basics, Getting Started with Assignments and Assessments (K12 and HED), and Best Practices for Performance Based Teaching.

What’s Next?

Future Updates 

We have some exciting projects in the works! Here is a look at what we have on deck for Quarter 3, 2025: 

All Training Portal Users

• The Portal will release updates to the learner experience, aiming to enhance the user experience. Learners will be able to see their subscription level in the top right corner and have an improved search functionality across the portal. 

Mastery Connect Online PD Course 

• The Mastery Connect Online PD Course will be updated to reflect the various updates made to Mastery Connect. The On-Demand team will be working hard to get the course updates out for the start of the school year! On August 1st we will release the new and improved Getting Started with Mastery Connect course. This new course mirrors the structure of the current version but includes updated content, images, new functionalities, and enhanced accessibility. Previously earned badges will remain valid, and learners have the opportunity to gain a new badge upon completion of the updated course. If you have previously enrolled in what will become the legacy course, it will remain visible in your portal Dashboard until August 29, 2025.

Instructure Live Event

• In August the On-Demand team will host an Instructure Live event to showcase some exciting changes to the Mastery Connect Online PD options. Keep your eyes on the Instructure Community page for the announcement and date! 

Mobile Updates

• We are prepared to put a fresh coat of paint on our Mobile Application content. All courses that mention accessing the Canvas Mobile Applications will be updated to reflect the current user experience.  

Passport to Canvas

• The Passport to Canvas Course is a great resource for institutions looking to support their learners. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to Canvas who are using the LMS for the first time. This course is going to get a refresh to reflect recent product updates.

For Premium Subscribers of the Portal Only

Live Webinars

• To better support customers with the various Canvas updates, users with a Premium Subscription can join the What’s New in Canvas? webinar. This webinar is offered twice a week and allows Canvas users to get a better understanding of the product updates.

Feature Drop

• Stay in the know, even on the go! Starting July 7, 2025, Premium subscribers will have access to our new Feature Drop Course which will house both live and recorded "What's New in Canvas" webinars, giving you the flexibility to learn about the latest features and updates whenever it works for you.

Live Playback + 

• We heard the ask! You want to catch those live webinars but your schedule just won't allow it. Good news! On July 7th, Premium subscribers will get access to Live Playback+! We'll be recording select monthly Live Webinars and making them available in a dedicated course within the On-Demand Training Portal, so you can still access that valuable content, even if you can't attend live.

Ask a Training Expert 

• Do you have a question about Canvas or Mastery Connect and want to ask an expert? Well, never fear, Ask a Training Expert is here! These 60-minute group sessions are perfect for instructors, course designers, coaches, or Canvas/MC Admins who want guidance on tool tips, product usage, and best practices for course and assessment design.

Mastery Connect Premium Subscription offering 

• Mastery Connect customers with a Premium Online PD subscription will have access to the asynchronous training course AND live webinar trainings! The development of the Mastery Connect On-Demand Portal will be live on August 1, 2025. Access this resource for more details.

Final Thoughts

We'd love to hear how you are using the On-Demand Training Portal! Share your experience in the comments. Until next time, be well and keep learning!