This guide is an overview of new features in Canvas that you can utilize right now.  Links to more information and resources are included for each feature.  And remember, if you have questions on how to utilize any of these new features, UMW subscribes to 24/7/365 Canvas Support that can help – just click the “?” icon on the left side menu right in Canvas.

Overview of New Features:

• Discussions and Announcements Redesign – as of July 20, 2024, the interface for Discussions and Announcements has changed to add features and make them easier to use.
• Recording Video or Audio with the Rich Content Editor – students and teachers have the option to add video or audio to discussions, announcements, assignments, discussion, pages, quizzes, or syllabus using the Rich Content Editor.
• SpeedGrader Feedback Comment Improvements – in addition to text, teachers can give audio, video and screen capture feedback right in SpeedGrader.
• Lucid Integration – this very new feature provides access to the Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite (LucidChart and LucidSpark) to create collaborative activities and assignments right in Canvas.
• New Quizzes – the quiz creation in Canvas that will replace “Classic Quizzes.” We will be working to transition to New Quizzes this academic year.

New Feature Details

Discussions and Announcements Redesign

Canvas changed the user interface for the Discussion and Announcement features on July 20, 2024, for all Canvas users.  This redesign introduces new features and options.

The new features for both the Discussions and Announcements interface include:

• The toolbar has been moved to the top of the discussion and announcement threads
• Newest replies or announcements display at the top of the first page instead of the bottom of the last page
• Sort from newest to oldest, or oldest to newest

New features for the Discussion interface include:

• Mention other users in discussion replies by using the @ symbol or quote other replies as part of a discussion reply
• Teachers can create anonymous discussions

More details about the new features are included in this document

Canvas Instructor Guides for the Discussions Redesign and the Announcement Redesign.

Recording Video or Audio with the Rich Content Editor

Students and teachers have the option to add video or audio to discussions, announcements, assignments, discussion, pages, quizzes, or syllabus using the Rich Content Editor (RCE).  By using the “Record Media” option in the RCE to record your audio or video you can easily add audio or video without it counting towards your file space quota in the course.

Accessibility Note: Audio and Video recorded in the RCE does not currently have a captioning feature.

Important note: Newly recorded or uploaded media via the Upload/Record Media link does not affect Canvas file quotas. However, media files uploaded via any other method (such as the Upload Files link or Attach files link in Discussions) count toward the course quota. Images and other files uploaded to the Rich Content Editor count toward course quotas.

Canvas Guide:  How do I record media using the Rich Content Edito… – Instructure Community – 864 (canvaslms.com)

SpeedGrader Feedback Comment Improvements

Teachers can give audio, video and screen capture feedback right in SpeedGrader.

Accessibility Note: Audio and Video recorded in the RCE does not currently have a captioning feature.

Canvas Guide: How do I record a webcam video, screen capture, or… – Instructure Community – 606356 (canvaslms.com)

Lucid Integration

This very new feature provides access to the Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite (LucidChart and LucidSpark) to create collaborative activities and assignments right in Canvas. It is so new we don’t really have much experience with it yet, but here are some resources to get you started if you are interested in experimenting on your own.

Canvas Guide: Getting Started with the Canvas and Lucid Visual C… – Instructure Community – 607678 (canvaslms.com)

New Quizzes

Instructure has announced that “New Quizzes” will replace the “Classic Quizzes” system in Canvas. While they have not yet given a firm date when Classic Quizzes will no longer be available, we anticipate it within the next year or so. That said, we will be working with faculty that use Classic Quizzes to transition to New Quizzes this academic year.

Over the coming weeks will be releasing resources and a schedule of workshop opportunities to help you to…

• Learn New Quizzes and try it out
• Migrate your current Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes

What’s New with New Quizzes?

• Student quiz accommodations for the whole course (not just quiz by quiz!)
• Shuffle answers by question
• Printing quizzes
• Require waiting period between attempts
• New question types: Stimulus, Ordering, Categorization, and Hot Spot (Hot Spot question type is not accessible)

Other New Quizzes Resources

This video provides a quick overview of New Quizzes: New Quizzes Overview (Instructors) – Instructure Community – 384197 (canvaslms.com)

A self-paced Canvas course on transitioning to New Quizzes: How do I use the Training Services Portal as an in… – Instructure Community – 772 (canvaslms.com)

Other New Quizzes Resources:
Canvas New Quizzes FAQ: FAQ: New Quizzes – Instructure Community – 243540 (canvaslms.com)
Canvas Guides: Instructor Guide – Instructure Community (canvaslms.com)