Hi @nweaver,

As @Chris_Hofer suggested, I think what you're seeing is the app thats actually designed for iPad/iPhone devices (see screenshot here where is says "designed for iPad").

If your students are using a Macbook, I'd always advise using the web browser to access Canvas.  The app is great for providing notifications and doing some limited work on mobile/tablet devices, but it does not (and probably never will) have all the features of Canvas on the web.  Using Canvas through an updated web browser with an updated operating system will almost always yield the best experience on a laptop/desktop.

I hope this helps!

-Chris