Canvas Deploy Notes (2025-03-12)

[#1]

Canvas deploys contain code changes that are intended to fix bugs, improve performance, and prepare for new features. These deploys take place every two weeks and can be tested in the beta environment before the production deploy date indicated in the title of this document. Institutions are responsible for conducting thorough evaluations of their custom CSS/JS with each release and deploy to assess potential impacts.

Fixed bugs are located in Known Issues. For related issues resolved in this deploy, view the 2025-03-12 Known Issues tag.

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For Canvas Platform Service changes (API, GraphQL, Canvas Data), please see the appropriate page in the Change Log

Other questions? Visit the Canvas Release FAQ

Looking to discuss the features in the Deploy Notes? Post a reply in the Features Q&A: Canvas Deploy Notes (2025-03-12)

Table of Contents

• Interface Updates
• Courses
• Public Course Search Interface Update
• Notifications
• Notification Tab Redesign
• People
• Updated Link to Students Modal
• Login Information Modal Interface Update [Added 2025-03-14]
• Other Updates
• Accessibility Updates
• Enhanced Structural Clarity
• Improved Error Feedback
• Feature Options
• New Quizzes
• Filter IP Addresses
• SpeedGrader
• Enhanced Usability for Discussion Checkpoints
• Feature Preview Change Log updates
• Canvas Apps
• Inherited Key is Highlighted in Manage Tab
• Discussion Summaries
• Enhanced User Experience[Added 2025-04-17]

Interface Updates

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Courses

Public Course Search Interface Update

All Users

Affected Feature Areas	Courses
Account Setting to Enable	Show a searchable list of courses in this root account with the "Include this course in the public course index" flag enabled. Include this course in the public course index
Permissions	Inherent to user
Related Ideas	None

Summary

When searching for public courses, an error state appears when no entries are found. Additionally, the User Interface is improved to better align with the Instructure brand and accessibility requirements.

Change Benefit

This update enhances user experience by providing clear feedback when no public courses match the search criteria, reducing confusion and improving usability. Additionally, aligning the UI with the Instructure brand ensures a consistent and visually cohesive experience across the platform.

Feature Workflow

Public Course Search Error Page

When searching for public courses, an error state appears when no entries are found.

Notifications

Notification Tab Redesign

Admin

Affected Feature Areas	Account Setting Notifications
Account Setting to Enable	None
Permissions	Account-level settings-manage
Related Ideas	None

Summary

The Notifications tab in Account Settings is redesigned. The Email From format is changed to a drop-down menu. The From Name field displays only when the Custom From Name option is selected. When Custom From Name is chosen, the name field is required.

Change Benefit

The redesign of the Notifications Settings tab aligns with accessibility and UI standards. It also improves future compatibility, enhances performance, and streamlines maintenance.

Feature Workflow

Notification Tab Email From Format Drop-Down Menu

 The Email From format is changed to a drop-down menu. 

Notification Tab From Name Field

The From Name field appears only when the Custom From Name option is selected and is required. 

People

Updated Link to Students Modal

Instructor

Affected Feature Areas	Courses, People
Account Setting to Enable	None
Permissions	Users-observers add/remove
Related Ideas	None

Summary

In the course People page, the Link to Students modal is updated using the latest version of InstUI, Instructure’s internal design language.

Note: Institutions with Custom JS and CSS should verify any changes.

Change Benefit

This update improves accessibility, consistency, and usability for an improved user experience.

Feature Workflow

Link to Student Modal

The Link to Students modal is updated with the latest InstUI.

Login Information Modal Interface Update [Added 2025-03-14]

Admin

Feature Option Name to Enable	None
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	N/A
Subaccount Configuration	N/A
Account/Course Setting to Enable	N/A
Permissions	Inherent to user role
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	People
Related Ideas	None

Summary

In the User Details page, the Add Login and Update Login modals are updated using the latest version of InstUI, Instructure’s internal design language.

Change Benefit

This update improves accessibility, consistency, and usability for an improved user experience.

Feature Workflow

Add Login Modal

The Add Login modal is updated with the latest InstUI.

Update Login Modal

The Update Login modal is updated with the latest InstUI.

Other Updates

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Accessibility Updates

All Users

Over the coming months, a series of updates will be introduced to enhance Canvas's accessibility, intuitiveness, and equity, with a focus on improving usability for assistive technology users. These updates will include changes in the following areas:

Enhanced Structural Clarity 

Refined semantic markup in the user interface to improve communication of content relationships and hierarchy.

Improved Error Feedback

In the user interface, improved error messages in forms and interactive elements provide clearer and more accessible feedback. Error messages were added to required fields that previously lacked them, while existing error states were updated to follow a consistent pattern. Focused states for missing or incorrect fields ensure a uniform experience for all users, whether using a mouse, keyboard, or screen reader.

Feature Options

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New Quizzes

Filter IP Addresses

Instructor

Feature Option Name	New Quizzes
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled/Unlocked)
Beta Environment Availability	2025-02-26
Production Environment Availability	2025-03-13
Subaccount Configuration	Yes
Permissions	Manage Assignment and Quizzes-add/edit/delete
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	New Quizzes Settings
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not Available
Feature Option State	Production-ready
Related Ideas	[New Quizzes] Allow Instructors to Select from IP Filters Saved on the Account-Level When Creating N...

Summary

In New Quizzes Settings, instructors can filter IP addresses by entering custom group ranges or selecting from existing named group ranges.

Change Benefit

This feature allows instructors to enhance quiz security by restricting access to specific IP address ranges. Instructors can search for and select from pre-saved named IP address ranges. By filtering IP addresses, instructors can ensure that students take quizzes from approved locations, such as a school network or testing center, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or academic dishonesty.

Feature Workflow

New Quiz Settings Filter IP Addresses

Instructors can input custom group ranges [1] or select from existing named group ranges [2].

SpeedGrader

Enhanced Usability for Discussion Checkpoints

Instructor

Feature Option Name	Discussion Checkpoints
Enable Feature Option Location & Default Status	Account (Disabled) Contact Customer Success Manager
Beta Environment Availability	2025-02-26
Production Environment Availability	2025-03-12
Subaccount Configuration	No
Permissions	Discussions-create Discussions-moderate
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	SpeedGrader
Mobile App Support	Not available
Free-for-Teacher Availability	Not available
Feature Option State	Production-ready
Related Ideas	[Discussions] Checkpoints Does Not Play Nicely With Revised Speedgrader [Speedgrader] Track number of posts per student per discussion

Summary

When Discussion Checkpoints is enabled, several usability improvements are made to enhance the SpeedGrader experience:

• The header remains sticky.
• A link allows instructors to switch to individual posts.
• In SpeedGrader Options, instructors can set the default discussion view.
• Student navigation buttons include First, Last, Previous, and Next.
• Instructors can view the number of replies added compared to the required number of replies.

Note: The navigation buttons are disabled at the beginning and end of the student list.

Change Benefit

These updates improve usability and efficiency for instructors using SpeedGrader with Discussion Checkpoints.

Feature Workflow

SpeedGrader View of Discussion Checkpoints

When viewing discussions in SpeedGrader the header remains sticky [1], a link allows instructors to switch back to individual posts [2], student navigation buttons include First, Last, Previous, and Next [3] and instructors can view the number of replies added compared to the required number of replies [4].

Note: By default, replies display without discussion context.

SpeedGrader Options Default Discussion View

In SpeedGrader Options, instructors can set the Default Discussion View.

Feature Preview Change Log updates

A Feature Preview indicates a feature option in active development. Users who opt in to the feature and join the Community user group can help improve the feature through direct feedback. 

The following Feature Previews have updates related to this deploy available in the User Group change log. When this feature option is available for general use, the feature option will be announced in the Canvas Release Notes.

Canvas Apps

Inherited Key is Highlighted in Manage Tab

Admin

For more details related to this deploy, see the Canvas Apps Change Log. 

Discussion Summaries

Instructor

Enhanced User Experience [Added 2025-04-17]

For more details related to this deploy, see the Discussion Summaries Change Log.