Rutgers.eduIn an effort to continually improve Canvas, Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, releases Canvas upgrades every three weeks along with Release Notes. Pertinent features and upgrades are listed below. In this Canvas release (August 25), the Mark as Done module requirement synchronizes with the student Dashboard List View and Card View to-do list to automatically complete items that have been marked as done. For instructors using the Scheduler tool in the Calendar, the Calendar Feed link includes Scheduler appointment details in the calendar feed export. SpeedGrader does not display submission details for anonymous assignments until after the assignment is unmuted. The Learning Mastery Gradebook includes filters to hide outcomes with no results and hide students with no results. When a student views the Learning Mastery Gradebook feature option, outcomes include an information icon that displays details about the outcome.
Production release notes also include API updates and fixed bugs. This announcement lists pertinent updates that affect instructors and students and omits features that are not applicable for Rutgers Canvas. You may view the full Canvas Release Notes for August 25, 2018, and its accompanying screencast. The next release will be on September 15.
Updated Features
Calendar
Scheduler External Feed Appointment Details
For instructors using the Scheduler tool in the Calendar, the Calendar Feed link includes Scheduler appointment details in the calendar feed export. Appointment details include scheduled student appointments, the associated course, and any student comments. When instructors create an appointment group for a course through the Scheduler tool, and students reserve appointment group time slots, instructors can view the appointment group details in their Canvas Calendar. If an instructor wants to export the calendar feed to an external calendar, Scheduler appointment group details are included in the calendar feed. Please see Canvas Release: Scheduler External Feed Appointment Details for images.
In student calendar feeds, the current functionality has not been affected. Students can view their reserved appointment group time slot, but any comments to the instructor are not included.
Dashboard
List View and Mark as Done Module Requirements
The Mark as Done module requirement synchronizes with the student Dashboard List View and Card View to-do list to automatically complete items that have been marked as done. Note: This behavior is only supported when the page is located in one module. Adding the same page within multiple modules does not synchronize with the to-do list. Instructors can add a page to a module, add a module requirement, and require the page be marked as done. Students can view the page and click the Mark as Done button. The page is removed from the to-do list and marked as complete in the Dashboard List View. Please see Canvas Release: List View and Mark as Done Module Requirements for images.
Gradebook
Learning Mastery Gradebook Filter Options
The Learning Mastery Gradebook includes filters to hide outcomes with no results and hide students with no results. Selected filters persist for the course within the same browser. This change allows instructors to filter outcomes and students within the Learning Mastery Gradebook. Please see Canvas Release: Learning Mastery Gradebook Filter Options for an image.
Grades
Student Learning Mastery Gradebook Outcome Icons
In the Learning Mastery Gradebook, outcomes include an information icon that displays details about the outcome including the last assessment, calculation method, and mastery level (if applicable). When students view the Learning Mastery Gradebook, they can select the information icon next to an outcome and view the details of that outcome. Please see Canvas Release: Student Learning Mastery Gradebook Outcome Icons for an image.
SpeedGrader
Anonymous Assignment Hidden Submission Details
When an assignment is anonymous, SpeedGrader does not display submission details until after the assignment is unmuted. When an assignment is anonymous, the SpeedGrader sidebar shows the assignment was submitted but does not display the date and time to the instructor. If a submission is resubmitted, the submission menu displays submissions by number (e.g. Submission 1, Submission 2). When the assignment is unmuted, the sidebar will unhide all anonymity details, including the student names and submission details. Please see Canvas Release: Anonymous Assignment Hidden Submission Details for images.
Other Updates
User Settings
International SMS Country Additions
International users in Rwanda, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan can enable SMS messages for Canvas notifications. Unlike in the United States, international carrier details are not required as part of the communication setup. In the User Settings page, users can select SMS as a contact method. The Text (SMS) tab displays all supported country codes.
Fixed Bugs
Please view the Canvas Release Notes for August 25, 2018 Fixed Bugs descriptions and its accompanying screencast for more information concerning accessibility improvements and other bug fixes. Some bugs that may have affected Rutgers users are stated here.
Quizzes
Disabled Third-Party Cookie Launch in Chrome
Quizzes. Next can be launched if third-party cookies are disabled in Chrome. Explanation: When third-party cookies were disabled in Chrome, and a user tried to open Quizzes.Next, the tool could not be launched in the browser. Quizzes.next code has been updated to support launching quizzes when third-party cookies are disabled in Chrome.
Numerical Answer Question Negative Values
Numerical Answer questions support negative values. Explanation: When a negative value was added to a Numerical Answer question, and the answer type was Answer with Precision, the question returned NaN if the precision was set to a number other than 16. Canvas code has been updated to allow negative values.