Canvas Release Notes (2019-06-22)

[#1]

Upcoming Canvas Changes
Canvas Release Schedule Adjustments: July 15
Starting July 15, the Canvas Release Schedule will be adjusted to support two-week deploys and monthly releases every third Saturday of the month. For more information, please see Upcoming Canvas Changes‌.
                                    

In this Canvas release (June 22), when students are not allowed to edit or delete their own discussion posts, the Settings menu for a discussion shows those features have been disabled. Canvas and Instructure logos have been updated throughout the interface.

Third-party platform providers can create external tools using IMS Global LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage.

Feature Options

• For institutions using the New Gradebook, the View Filter and Student Name Secondary Info both include options to display student group data.

External Tools (LTI)

• For institutions using Commons, the Flickr image search has been replaced by Unsplash, and the empty page messages have been updated for consistency and clarity.
• For institutions using Quizzes.Next, instructors can give students extra time or attempts for an individual assessment, and the Question Navigator displays the assessment point total.

Release notes also include API updates and fixed bugs.

Release notes describe upcoming Canvas functionality and are subject to change. Follow the Canvas release notes space to be notified of updates For all release changes, view the Release Notes Change Log If you notice any contrary functionality compared to the outlined behavior in these notes, please file a Canvas support case according to your institution's support protocol Other questions? View the Canvas Release Notes FAQ

Feature Options The following feature options are addressed in this release: Course: New Gradebook

• Feature Options
• Updated Features
• Commons
• Unsplash Image Search
• New Gradebook
• Student Group Data
• Quizzes.Next
• Assessment-Level Accommodations
• Assessment Point Total
• Other Updates
• Canvas Interface
• Branding Update
• Commons
• Empty Page Message Update
• Discussions
• Reply Settings Interface Change
• Platform/Integration
• API
• API Change Log
• Users API
• Developer Keys
• LTI Advantage Framework
• Fixed Bugs
• Accessibility
• Calendar
• Conversations
• Files
• Rich Content Editor
• Rubrics
• Commons
• Languages and Commons Preview
• Course Settings
• Link Validator and Local Redirect Links
• Dashboard
• Inactive Roles and Group Events
• Global Navigation Menu
• Underlined Links
• Groups
• Long Group Name Wrapping
• New Gradebook
• Anonymous Grading and Text Entries
• Late Status and Grade Detail Tray
• Notifications
• Locked Modules and Updated Page Content

Release Notes Change Log

Updated Features

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Commons

Unsplash Image Search

This feature is used in conjunction with an external tool (LTI) in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about LTI tools, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                  

Location to Enable Feature	Commons LTI
Configuration Details	Commons LTI
Affected Canvas Areas	Commons LTI Any area with imported content
Beta/Test Environment Support	Functionality affects content in the beta environment only; New/updated features not available until production release
Permissions	Course Content - add / edit / delete Discussions - view Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors, Admins
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing Commons feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	Commons

Summary

The Flickr image search has been replaced by Unsplash.

Change Benefit

This change replaces Flickr with Unsplash, which offers high-quality, safe images for use as resource thumbnails in Commons.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Instructors and Admins

When instructors and admins share a new resource or edit an existing resource, they can select an image to display as a thumbnail for their resource using Unsplash. Unsplash image search replaces the existing Flickr search functionality. The Flickr logo has been removed from the interface. Existing images imported from Flickr will not be affected.

New Gradebook

Student Group Data

This feature is used in conjunction with an existing feature option in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about feature options, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                  

Location to Enable Feature	New Gradebook
Configuration Details	New Gradebook Feature Option
Affected Canvas Areas	New Gradebook
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing New Gradebook feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	gradebook_new
Feature Idea Contributions	https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/8059

Summary

The New Gradebook View Filter and Student Name Secondary Info both include options to display student group data.

Change Benefit

This change allows instructors to filter the New Gradebook by student groups and view student name secondary info by group name.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Instructors

When viewing the View menu in the New Gradebook, the Filter option includes a Student Groups link. Instructors can select this option to filter the New Gradebook by student groups. Groups are displayed hierarchically.  

The Student Names column can also display group names as secondary info. The Groups option is located in the Secondary Info option.

Quizzes.Next

Assessment-Level Accommodations

This feature is used in conjunction with an external tool (LTI) in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about feature options, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                  

Location to Enable Feature	Quizzes.Next Moderate Page
Configuration Details	Quizzes.Next
Affected Canvas Areas	Quizzes.Next
Beta/Test Environment Support	Yes (after production release)
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors, Students
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing quizzes.next feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	quizzes.next

Summary

Instructors can provide accommodations to students in an individual assessment.

Change Benefit

This change allows instructors to give students extra time or attempts for a specific assessment without applying the accommodation to all assessments in a course.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Instructors

Instructors can provide students with assessment-level accommodations of additional time or attempts. These features operate in addition to the existing course-level accommodation of giving extra time to a student. Assessment-level accommodations cannot reduce the effect of course-level accommodations.

Assessment-level accommodations can be managed by opening the Moderation panel for any student on the Moderate page. From the Moderation panel, instructors can enter the number of additional attempts, give the student additional time, or remove the time limit completely.

The course-level accommodations that were previously managed from the Moderation panel have been moved to the Accommodations column and can be accessed by clicking the Edit icon. The Accommodations column also displays the cumulative effect of course-level and assessment-level time accommodations that apply to a student.

Students

If an assessment-level accommodation has been applied to a student, the student will not see any type of notification about the accommodation. However, they can view the effect of the accommodation in their assessment time limit and/or attempt total.

Assessment Point Total

This feature is used in conjunction with an external app (LTI) in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about feature options, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
       

Location to Enable Feature	Assignments
Configuration Details	Quizzes.Next
Affected Canvas Areas	Quizzes.Next
Beta/Test Environment Support	Yes
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing quizzes.next feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	quizzes.next

Summary

The Question Navigator displays the assessment point total.

Change Benefit

This change allows instructors to view the point total for an assessment from the Build page.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Instructors

Instructors can view the point total for an assessment in the Question Navigator.

Other Updates

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Canvas Interface

Branding Update

Location to Enable Feature	N/A
Configuration Details	N/A
Affected Canvas Areas	Locations with default Canvas branding
Beta Environment Support	Yes
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	All Users

Summary

The Canvas and Instructure logos have been updated throughout the interface.

Change Benefit

This change promotes consistency with updated Canvas and Instructure branding.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

All Users

The Canvas web interface displays updated logos for Canvas and Instructure. These icons may display in the Canvas Login page and the Dashboard page footer.

Commons

Empty Page Message Update

This feature is used in conjunction with an external tool (LTI) in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about LTI tools, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                        

Location to Enable Feature	Commons LTI
Configuration Details	Commons LTI
Affected Canvas Areas	Commons LTI Any area with imported content
Beta/Test Environment Support	Functionality affects content in the beta environment only; New/updated features not available until production release
Permissions	Course Content - add / edit / delete Discussions - view Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors, Admins

Summary

The empty page messages have been updated in Commons for consistency and clarity. Empty page messages display when no search results are found or if a page in Commons has no content to display.

Change Benefit

This change improves the consistency of page messages throughout Commons.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Instructors and Admins

When users view pages in Commons that have no content to display, such as Shared, Imported, Updates, and Favorites, or if a user’s search yields no search results, the empty page messages and images is more consistent.

Discussions

Reply Settings Interface Change

Location to Enable Feature	Discussions
Configuration Details	N/A
Affected Canvas Areas	Discussions
Beta/Test Environment Support	Yes
Permissions	Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete Discussions - view Discussions - moderate Discussions - create Discussions - post
Related APIs	Discussion Topics API
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Students
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing Discussions feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	Discussions
Feature Idea Contributions	https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/12400

Summary

When students are not allowed to edit or delete their own discussion posts, the Settings menu for a discussion shows those functions have been disabled.

Change Benefit

This change more clearly informs students if they are allowed to edit or delete their own discussion posts. Previously when this feature was disabled, the Settings menu was removed, causing students to think there was a bug with being able to edit or delete their posts.

Affected User Roles & Behaviors

Students

When the option to edit or delete a discussion post has been disabled for a course, students can view the Settings menu for the discussion and see that editing and deleting the discussion has been disabled.

The option to edit or delete a discussion post can be disabled at either the account or course level.

Platform/Integration

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

API

API Change Log

Adjustments have been made to the following APIs as noted in the API Documentation change log:

• Users API

Developer Keys

LTI Advantage Framework

Location to Enable Feature	Account Settings, Feature Options
Configuration Details	LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage Feature Option
Affected Canvas Areas	Developer Keys External Apps
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Admins, Instructors
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing Developer Keys feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	Developer Token

Third-party platform providers can create external tools using IMS Global LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage. When supported by a tool provider, this framework allows admins to manage all LTI tool configuration data directly in the Developer Keys page. The LTI can then be added to an account or course External Apps page via an associated client ID.

This feature option should only be enabled by Canvas admins to configure tools that include LTI Advantage services. Specific questions about a provider’s integration or potential integration with the LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage framework should be sent directly to the tool provider.

For more information about LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage, please see the Canvas Release: LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage document.

Fixed Bugs

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Accessibility

Calendar

Agenda view list items do not include the default focus indication.

Conversations

The Conversations modal is supported for keyboard users.

The Reply and Message icons include the body of the message for screen readers to indicate which message is being referenced.

Files

Files are read as a button to screen readers.

Rich Content Editor

For linked text to external sites, the external site message is only read to screen readers once.

In the Accessibility Checker, the Apply button is read to screen readers.

Rubrics

Edit icons are displayed in rubrics for aligned outcomes.

Commons

Languages and Commons Preview

When previewing a resource in Commons, DocViewer uses the user’s language settings from Canvas.

Explanation: When a user previewed a resource, Commons was not using the user’s Canvas language setting to display the preview. Commons code has been updated to use the user’s Canvas language settings when previewing resources in DocViewer.

Course Settings

Link Validator and Local Redirect Links

Local redirect links are not identified as broken links in the Link Validator.

Explanation: When an absolute link for a local object was added to another course object that was redirected, the Link Validator indicated that the link was a broken link. Canvas code has been updated to not identify local redirect links as broken links.

Dashboard

Inactive Roles and Group Events

Group events are not displayed to inactive students in their Dashboard List View and To Do list.

Explanation: When a student’s role was changed to inactive in a course, group events in the course were not hidden to the student in their Dashboard List View and To Do list. Canvas code has been updated to hide group events from inactive student roles.

Global Navigation Menu

Underlined Links

Canvas links are only underlined if enabled in the User Settings page.

Explanation: When a user opened Canvas and viewed menus within Global Navigation, all links were underlined regardless of whether the User Settings feature option was set to display underlined links. Canvas code has been updated to respect the Underlined Links option in User Settings.

Groups

Long Group Name Wrapping

Long group names within the Groups Index Page wrap correctly in narrow browser windows.

Explanation: When a student viewed the Groups Index Page in a course using a narrow browser window, the group name would not wrap and pushed the group links outside the group area. Canvas code has been updated to wrap long group names in narrow browser views.

New Gradebook

Anonymous Grading and Text Entries

Text entries downloaded form an anonymously graded assignment do not include the name of the student.

Explanation: When a text entry submission was downloaded from an assignment with anonymous grading enabled, the name of the student who made the text entry submission was shown when the file was opened. Canvas code has been updated to anonymize text entry submissions.

Late Status and Grade Detail Tray

When a Late status is applied to an assignment, the Days text field displays next to the status.

Explanation: When a late status was manually applied to an assignment, the Days text field did not initially display in the Grade Detail Tray. However, the text field displayed the next time the Grade Detail Tray was opened. Canvas code has been updated to display the Days text field when a Late status is immediately applied.

Notifications

Locked Modules and Updated Page Content

Content published within locked modules are not included in Updated Page notifications.

Explanation: When a page was published in a published, locked module, users who received Updated Page notifications were able to view the content of the page. Canvas code has been updated to respect content updated within locked modules.

Release Notes Change Log

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Date
2019-06-10	Release Notes Published

[mjennings]

I am super excited about the grade book filtering by groups! My faculty have been wanting this for several years. 

Also, I think it is great to see the new Canvas logo capitalizing on the new Instructure branding. 

[Maeve_McCooey]

 @mjennings  Yes all the new filters look like they will allow better organisation of the gradebook. How good would it be if Instructure could work their magic and bring the new gradebook filter and sort functionality into #speedgrader This would help so much in the grading workflows i.e. the subdivision and allocation submissions for grading. The new logo looks good, though I think there is going to be a lot of updating of content and marketing material on our side to replace the old logo with new!

[jlgathright]

Any ideas on where I can get the new Canvas logo? I'd like to start updating the materials I have made while I have a little time....

[Chris_Hofer]

Underlined Links
Canvas links are only underlined if enabled in the User Settings page.

Explanation: When a user opened Canvas and viewed menus within Global Navigation, all links were underlined regardless of whether the User Settings feature option was set to display underlined links. Canvas code has been updated to respect the Underlined Links option in User Settings.

Thank you for fixing this.

I'm not sure if this is related, but I have also noticed that the gray font type displayed under course names within the global navigation "Courses" menu looks different than the gray descriptive text under items in our "Help" menu.  The gray text in the "Help" menu is easier to read, and it would be my personal preference to use that font type instead of what is showing in the "Courses" menu...so that it is consistent in both menus.  I've submitted a Canvas Help Desk ticket about this issue: Case #04395255.

Courses Menu

Help Menu

[Maeve_McCooey]

Hi jlgathright‌, I had a look on the website and emailed instructure but to no avail. If I do get anything I'll post it up here - that is if one of our lovely Canvas Community Coaches doesn't beat me to it!

In the meantime here is a link to the new Canvas Brand Guidelines - note there appears to be a missing link to the library where I presume the logos will live.

https://www.instructure.com/canvas/download/Canvas-Brand-Guidelines.pdf 

Thanks,

 @Maeve_McCooey ‌

[jlgathright]

Thanks  @Maeve_McCooey ‌! 

[RebeccaMoulder]

Hooray for extra attempts to individual students in Quizzes.Next and group filtering in the New Gradebook!

[p_b_rothwell]

Hi Maeve, I couldn't agree more. The ability to filter by group is helpful to a point, but unless the filtering process is reflected inspeedgrader  as well as grades the utility of the feature to enable Anonymous marking groups is somewhat diminished.

[RobDitto]

Seconded. I just tested Gradebook filtering and secondary info by group; both appear to work perfectly for our course-group scenarios and, surprisingly, even with the specialized Student Groups category (the kind that doesn't work with group submissions). If released as planned, this will be an answer to a long-running prayer for business schools and any other institutions with group projects in the curriculum. Hallelujah!

[sphinney]

Has anyone noticed distorted images on their course cards in Beta? In checking our Beta Site this morning, I see that the course card images appear to be larger and quite blurry in beta. I'm attaching screen shots of both beta and production sites taken on the same day in the same browser. The browser's zoom level is set at none in both instances.

[Chris_Hofer]

Yup.  

[erinhmcmillan]

Hi, Sarah,

Our engineers are on it. They made an optimization change and will get that reverted soon.

Thanks!

Erin

[cjr201]

Great to see the quizzes.next changes. this will make it much easier to adopt.

[b_w_reid]

I second this, it may become confusing to staff if group filters do not carry through to speedgrader for anonymous submissions. Will this be resolved in time for the upgrade?

[lezonl2]

Have you received any updates on this issue? I am seeing the same and am wondering if I should also open a ticket.

[erinhmcmillan]

Hi, Chris,

Our engineers need to create another ticket to address this issue. Thanks for reporting it!

Erin

[erinhmcmillan]

Hi, Maeve,

The team is hopeful they can incorporate that change into SpeedGrader at some point—it's just a matter of juggling everything! Make sure you vote on https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/13319-apply-status-while-in-speedgrader so our product team is aware of how many people this change would impact so they could possibly prioritize it sooner than later.

Thanks,

Erin

[Chris_Hofer]

 @lezonl2  ...

Nope...but I see that erinhallmark has replied right below here...so it's in good hands!

[jayde_colquhoun]

It appears that in the release on the weekend, the Javascript loading order was changed in Canvas.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue? Was it an expected change and we have missed something in the notes? 

[mjennings]

We had some issues with our custom JavaScript in with this update that made SpeedGrader not work properly. I left a comment here to look for help figuring out what was causing the issue since I figured it was something in my file causing the problem. Not sure if that is related or not.

[Sylvia_Ami]

Thanks for reporting this  @Chris_Hofer ‌. I just noticed that in the Production Instance. I was going to report this but since erinhallmark‌ said the engineers are aware of this, I'll just be patient.

[milesl]

Hi Jayde, we're seeing that too. We hd a few sub-accounts adding jquery tabs and accordions via custom js, and beginning on Saturday, those courses were unable to post new announcements, view the course settings page, or submit assignments until I ripped out the offending javascript.

Those courses make extensive use of those design elements, so hopefully we can find a solution that allows us to continue using those elements.

[mjennings]

I am having issue with our accordian JS as well, particularly in the SpeedGrader. Please keep us posted if you find a solution and I will report if we do.

[erinhmcmillan]

Hi, Jayde,

Canvas release notes don't indicate any changes to backend processes that affect custom JS/CSS. Your institution's beta environment is the place where you can test out your custom resources and anticipate if there will be any problems with coding that has been created. Another good place to ask for help with changes is the Canvas Developers group in the Community. 

Thanks!

Erin

[jayde_colquhoun]

Thanks, Erin. We will put some measures in place to test this moving forward, are all backend processes that may affect custom JS/CSS put into Beta? And if so, are they put in at the same time as the other releases? 

If possible - it would be great to consider communicating changes like this in release notes (processes that will affect custom JS/CC), so we are all prepared and can act accordingly, especially knowing the number of users sharing here that they were adversely affected by this change? I imagine support must have had a world of inquiries from students and teachers wondering what has gone wrong? 

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi  @jayde_colquhoun ...

A note about custom JS and CSS is found at the bottom of the document About Canvas Release Notes (FAQ).  (This document is also linked in the gray box at the top of these Release Notes).

[jayde_colquhoun]

 @milesl ‌ and  @mjennings ‌ we realised that the JavaScript loading order was changed which has caused all of custom JS to fail as it's dependencies were missing. We are still working on this from our side too, as there are a few customisations at different levels in our accounts. One area added a solution to monitor all dependencies to determine if they loaded or not. If all dependencies are loaded, then it will run the custom JavaScript code. If the dependencies aren't loaded, it will check again up to 20 times before skipping the customised JavaScript code. Hope that helps in any way. 

[dkpatton]

Hi Jayde,

My js functions that depended on selecting custom css classes broke. My workaround was to delay loading my page load function for 500 ms. Not sure if it helps.

-Dave

[jayde_colquhoun]

Thanks for that Chris, we will then plan to run our check each release into Beta. I still would ask the question if there would ever be a consideration to communicate when changes are made that would knowingly affect most 'Advanced JS/ CSS' users (such as changing the JavaScript loading order). 

[jack_dunstan]

We've been using accordions in a few courses levering root js technologies and they've stopped working too. We'll have to retrofit courses now. Thanks for highlighting this issue.

[learningsystems]

Was there a sneaky update that was made to the inbox that pulls the links in a message into action items?

I've noticed when there are long links in the inbox, it completely breaks the interface of the .message-info > .message-metadata > .actions

[jayde_colquhoun]

For those interested, I have posted a question re JavaScript to the Canvas Developers‌ group here How to adapt to the undocumented JavaScript loading sequence changes? 

[erinhmcmillan]

Hi, any updates not specifically mentioned in the release notes (like this one) should be reported to Canvas support for investigation.

Thanks!

Erin

[david_turk]

Most of our custom JS has died as well.  

[JACOBSEN_C]

The extra spacing is also not needed.