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2023 - 2024 Updates: Nov 16 Oct 19 Sep 21 Aug 17

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Academic Technology Update

Nov 16, 2024

CANVAS: Improved SpeedGrader Experience Enhanced Rubrics

ZOOM

PANOPTO

MICROSOFT

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY CENTER

Canvas Updates

Release Notes - 11/16/2024

Grading - Account Level Default Grading Scheme
Assignments - Preserve Group Set During Assignment Copy

SpeedGrader

More details - Improved SpeedGrader Experience; see Blog post

SpeedGrader is updated for faster load times and enhanced stability. Additional interface updates include:

A streamlined interface for the Section drop-down menu
A clearer and more prominent No Submission alert
An improved interface for courses without content
The Submission Status is updated to a drop-down menu
Rubrics are automatically displayed in the traditional view
Media attachments and submission comments are moved and the delete icon is changed.

The Sections drop-down menu is redesigned for a more streamlined and user-friendly interface.

SpeedGrader Sections Drop-Down Menu
SpeedGrader Sections Drop-Down Menu

Instructors can edit the submission status using the updated Status drop-down menu.

Submission Status Drop-Down Menu
Submission Status Drop-Down Menu

Enhanced Rubrics - Allow Importing of Rubrics from csv Format and Share using 'Copy To' and 'Send To'

- You can 'Enable' Enhanced Rubrics under Settings > Feature Options
- Enhanced Rubrics in Canvas: Phase 1 Released and Future Enhancements

Deploy Notes

Announcements - Notification Option for Announcements in Blueprint Courses and Announcements Timestamp
Assignments - Preserve Group Category Name During Assignment Copy and Assign To Interface Update* and Assignment Details Table Update
Discussions - @mentions in Discussions uses Display Name and Edit button added to Discussions Index Page
New Quizzes - Submitted Date Displays in Moderate Log and Attempt Log Stopped Viewing the Canvas Quiz Page

The Product Blog

Digital Accessibility Center

New email! digital.accessibility@austin.utexas.edu

The Digital Accessibility Team will be available to provide support services and full course remediation as needed. Do you know an instructor who wants a full course remediated (Ex. A Spring 2024 course they plan to use for Spring 2025)? Please email allyplatform@utlists.utexas.edu.

Oct 19, 2024

CANVAS

Release Notes (10-19-2024)

- Grading - Account/Sub-account Level Default Grading Scheme

- New Quizzes - Add Time to Existing Quiz Sessions and Manage Student Result View

Deploy Notes for 9/25, & 9/11

- SpeedGrader - Rich Content Editor Features Available and Equation Editor Added to RCE
- 10/23 Deploy Notes
  - Assignments - 'Assign To' Interface Update
  - Announcements - Announcements Timestamp
  - Discussions - @mentions in Discussions uses Display Name and Edit button added to Discussions Index Page
  - New Quizzes - Removal of old Quiz and Item Analysis

The Product Blog – Microsoft Teams Assignment LTI now available in Canvas; Discussions: Help Us Improve; The Latest on the Known Issue Related to Course Files in Item Banks; Discussion Checkpoints - Sneak Peek Video

Zoom

AI Companion Updates: It is now available
Zoom Minimum Client Version – 6.1.6* enforced on 8/13 for all platforms
Release Notes for Zoom Rooms, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Web

Panopto

Staff Panopto Creator access requests – Please request a My Folder and/or Department folder by logging into https://utexas.hosted.panopto.com/ and emailing Panopto@utlists.utexas.edu
Panopto + Canvas Open Hours – Book with Alex!

Microsoft 365

Copilot base tool continues to be available to everyone at no additional cost https://copilot.microsoft.com/
Interested in Automation and Power Automate – Join our Team
M365 Training, including Forms and SharePoint – Sign up on UTLearn
Teams and SharePoint consultations, please contact tlc-training@austin.utexas.edu
Join the UT M365 Team to Learn about Tips and Tricks – Join Now!
Instructors can use TEAMS to communicate electronic grades!

Qualtrics

Scoring Summaries are now compatible with the Simple Layout.

Product Release Notes can be subscribed to in the Qualtrics Community.

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Sept 21, 2024

CANVAS: Deploy Notes Product Blogs Smart Search
DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY: Full Course Remediation Assistance Available
ZOOM: Minimum Client Version 6.1.1
PANOPTO: Panopto 15.0 Release
MICROSOFT 365: Microsoft Updates

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

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Aug 17, 2024

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

Top of Page

July 20, 2024

CANVAS: 'Assign To' Comes to Modules Rubrics Redesign Phase 1 Inbox Updates Deploy Notes Product Blogs Smart Search
DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY: Full Course Remediation Assistance Available
ZOOM: Minimum Client Version 6.1.1
PANOPTO: Panopto 15.0 Release
MICROSOFT 365: Microsoft Updates

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

This is NEW for Modules; however, the new 'Assign To' UI (user interface) will ripple throughout other elements in Canvas. Most notably, Assignments; Discussions; and Pages

Summary: On the Modules page, instructors can assign students to an entire module and individual module items from the Modules page. Additionally, the Add Module and Edit Module Settings pages are redesigned as trays.

Notes:

If a student is assigned only a specific item within a module and not the entire module, they will see only that item in the feature area, such as an assignment on the assignment page, and not the rest of the module.
If a student is assigned an entire module, but only specific items within that module, students can only view the items they are assigned.

Change Benefit: This feature improves the differentiation of Modules to create a more dynamic and adaptive learning environment.

Feature Workflow

On the Modules page, instructors can also access the Assign To tab by clicking the Options icon [1]. Then, select the Assign To link [2].

Module Assign To Link
Module Assign To Link

When editing a module, the Edit Module Settings is redesigned to display as a tray with a Settings tab [1] and an Assign To tab [2].

Edit Module Tray
Edit Module Tray

Using the Assign To tab, instructors can set the module visibility to Everyone [1] or assign it to specific students [2]. In the Assign To field [3], instructors can select students or sections using the drop-down menu, typing student names, SIS IDs (if available), or section names . Lastly, click the Save button [4].

Assign To Tray
Assign To Tray

When a module is differentiated for specific students, a View Assign To link displays to easily review or edit visibility.

View Assign To Link
View Assign To Link

Note: The View Assign To link does not display if the module is assigned to everyone.

More information and screen shots, Module and Assignment Differentiation. Feature Video below:

Rubrics Redesign Phase 1

Summary: The Rubrics page at the admin and course level is redesigned, allowing admin and instructors to search and sort rubrics, view the location rubrics are used, duplicate and archive rubrics, as well as more easily edit existing rubrics. Additionally, the rubrics create and edit interface is redesigned.

Change Benefit: This feature enhances educational value and improves student learning as institutions focus on effective rubric-based assessments.

Feature Workflow

At the Account and Course level, the Rubrics page is redesigned. Tabs are available to display Saved [1] and Archived [2] rubrics. A search bar [3] is available and the Create New Rubric button [4] is updated. Admins and instructors can also sort rubrics in ascending and descending order by Rubric name [5], Total Points [6], Criterion [7], and Location Used [8]. Additionally, an options icon [9] is available for each rubric, allowing users to easily edit, duplicate, archive, or delete rubrics [10].

Account Level Rubric View
Account Level Rubric View

Note: Rubrics cannot be edited or deleted once they have been added to an assignment. However, this can be duplicated for additional edits and the creation of new rubrics.

When creating a new rubric, enter a Rubric name [1] and Rating Order [2]. To add a new criterion, click the Draft New Criterion button [3]. To create criterion from an outcome, click the Create from Outcome button [4].

Redesigned Create New Rubric Page
Redesigned Create New Rubric Page

When creating a new criterion, enter the Criterion Name [1] and Criterion Description [2]. To enable a point range, select the Enable Range checkbox [4]. Then, determine the desired Points [4]. Rating name [5], and Rating Description [6]. Then click the Save Criterion button [7].

Create New Criterion Modal
Create New Criterion Modal

Once the rubric is complete, users can edit [1], delete [2], or duplicate [3] criterion. Additionally, use the drag and drop icon [4] to re-order criteria. Then, either Save as Draft [5], Save Rubric [6], or Preview Rubric [7].

Create New Rubric Edit, Delete and Duplicate Icons
Create New Rubric Edit, Delete and Duplicate Icons

More information and screen shots, Rubric Redesign Phase 1. Feature Video below:

Inbox Updates

Add Signature to Messages

Summary: When enabled, users have the option to configure a signature when composing a message.

Change Benefit: This feature streamlines communication and enhances the effectiveness and professional appeal of inbox messages.

Feature Workflow

In the Inbox, click the Settings button.

Inbox Settings Icon
Inbox Settings Icon

To create a signature, select the Signature On radio button [1] and enter the desired signature in the Signature field [2]. Then, click the Save button [3].

Create Signature Modal
Create Signature Modal

Once a signature is saved, it displays in the message body when composing a message.

Compose Message Signature Display
Compose Message Signature Display

Add Auto Response to Messages

Summary: When enabled, users have the option to set an auto-response for messages.

Feature Workflow

To create an auto-response message, select the Response On radio button [1] and enter the Start Date [2], End date [3], Subject [4] and Message [5]. Then, click the Save button [6].

Inbox Auto Response Modal
Inbox Auto Response Modal

Feature Video

Deploy Notes

SpeedGrader - Comment Drafts
Settings - Course Import and Cross-List Section Update
Course - Course Status Update, Sort by Course Status, and Status Icon Update
People - List Sections in Alphabetical Order
Discussions - Discussion Summaries (uses a Gen AI model)
Announcements - Mark All As Read Button, Notifications for Changed Content and Availability Dates
Gradebook - Message Students Who Total Grade Update

The Product Blog

Smart Search

Summary: Smart Search is a new feature preview available in Canvas using advanced AI and semantic algorithms. The Smart Search feature understands the context of queries, providing more accurate and relevant results without needing complex search operators or tools. Currently, the Smart Search feature is querying the following items within a course:

Content pages
Announcements
Discussion prompts
Assignment descriptions

Feature Workflow

To enable Smart Search, go to Settings > Navigation tab and 'Enable' Smart Search > click Save.

For more information related to the Smart Search feature, click the How it Works button.

How it Works Button
How it Works Button

In the Smart Search field [1], enter keywords or phrases to return relevant results, then click the search icon [2], or use the enter/return key on a keyboard. Additionally, users can click the like or dislike icons [3] to provide feedback on the search results of specific items.

Smart Search Field, Search Icon and Like/Dislike Icons
Smart Search Field, Search Icon and Like/Dislike Icons

Digital Accessibility

Full Course Remediation Assistance

The Digital Accessibility Team will be available to provide support services and full course remediation over the summer. Know anyone who needs a full course remediated (Ex. A Fall 2023 course they plan to use for Fall 2024)? Please email Angela Turner.

Zoom

Zoom Minimum Client Version

On Tuesday, July 30th we will enforce a MCV of 6.1.1 for all platforms. Release Notes for Zoom Rooms, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Web

Panopto

Panopto 15.0 Release

Improved drop-down menus and UX

Accessibility improvements included expanded keyboard commands for navigating menus and new ARIA labels for screen readers

Microsoft

Updates

Clipchamp!!! - https://clipchamp.com/en/ (Sign in with your Work Account)
Microsoft Stream screen recording and video creation – Learn More
- Stream integrated seamlessly with Clipchamp for easy video creation and editing
M365 Training (Teams, Forms, SharePoint, and SharePoint Lists) – Sign up on UTLearn
Teams and SharePoint consultations, please contact tlc-training@austin.utexas.edu
Join the UT M365 Team to Learn about Tips and Tricks – Join Now!

Top of Page

Academic Technology Update

Nov 16, 2024

Canvas Updates

SpeedGrader

Deploy Notes

The Product Blog

Digital Accessibility Center

Oct 19, 2024

CANVAS

Release Notes (10-19-2024)

Deploy Notes for 9/25, & 9/11

Zoom

Panopto

Microsoft 365

Qualtrics

Sept 21, 2024

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

Aug 17, 2024

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

July 20, 2024

Canvas

'Assign To' Comes to Modules

Rubrics Redesign Phase 1

Inbox Updates

Add Signature to Messages

Add Auto Response to Messages

Deploy Notes

The Product Blog

Smart Search

Digital Accessibility

Full Course Remediation Assistance

Zoom

Zoom Minimum Client Version

Panopto

Panopto 15.0 Release

Microsoft

Updates