Canvas Corner: New Options for Time Zones, Due Times, and Icons

Recently, Canvas has made some new updates that include features you may find helpful to include in your courses. These new features can improve the Canvas experience for both instructors and learners. They include the ability for a user to set their local time zone so that they have a clearer understanding of when assignments are due. You can also now change the default due time across an entire course. This may be useful in changing the typical pattern of having assignments due at midnight. Further, Canvas has added an icon maker within the LMS to ease the ability to visually enhance your courses without having to import icons from an external source. Below, you will find more details along with instructions on how to utilize these new features.   

View both local and course time zones in Canvas 

If students or instructors are located in a different time zone than the course time zone, it may be confusing for them to know what time and day something is due. Canvas allows users to set up their local time zone in account settings and all dates in Canvas will then be shown in their local time zone. Users can hover their mouse over the due date, and it will then show them both the local time zone and the course time zone so they can see the difference. This is a useful tool to share with your students to help them stay on top of the proper due dates and times in your courses if they are located in a different time zone.  

To set up a local time zone that is different from the course time zone, follow these steps: 

 

  1. Click on “Account” in Canvas.
  2. Click “Settings”
  3. Click “Edit Settings”
  4. Set your time zone
  5. Click “Update Settings” 

 

For more information on setting up your local time zone, please visit: How do I set up a time zone in my user account as a student, or How do I set up a time zone in my user account as an instructor 

Customize Default Due Time Setting in Canvas  

Have you ever considered changing the default due time for assignments in Canvas? Currently, Canvas sets the default due time at 11:59 PM, but that may not be ideal for both students and instructors. You can now change the default due time for all your assignments in a course. There are multiple reasons you may want to do this. For one, you may want to set a more reasonable time for students to have as a deadline. One perspective would be to set it earlier and discourage their working late at night with the midnight deadline in mind. Another perspective would be to make it due in the morning the following day or at the start of class time. You may also want to create assignments that are due at the end of a class session. This option is also beneficial to instructors who want the ability to grade or review an assignment submission the same night it is due. With earlier due times, the instructor will not have to wait until midnight for all the submissions. While you do already have the option to change each individual due time, this will set the default due time for all assignments moving forward in a course.  

To change the default due time for assignments, follow these steps: 

  1. In you Canvas course, click on “Settings” from the menu on the left.
  2. Scroll down and find the option labeled “Default due time” and choose the time you prefer.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Update Course Details.” 

 

 

For more information on how to make these changes, you can watch this tutorial in the Instructure Canvas Community.  

Icon Maker Can Enhance Visual Appeal in Canvas 

Canvas has recently added new ways to visually enhance your course. These visual enhancements help engage students and attract their attention. They can also be visual cues for students that alert them to certain types of assignments, activities, pages, important information, etc. Further, visual cues can add a look of cohesiveness to your courses.  

You can now create your own icons in Canvas without the need for an external tool. These icons can be saved and used again. They can be adjusted for background color, shape, and text. Canvas provides a set of predetermined images to use, with single-color and multi-color options. In a future release, you will have the ability to add your own images to the icon maker. You can also make the icon a link to another page in your course, or an outside source.  

To create your own icons in Canvas, follow these steps: 

  1. Access the Rich Content Editor in any location in Canvas
  2. Click on the “Create Icon Maker” icon. (You will also see where to find your saved icons here.)
  3. Choose your icon’s name, color, shape, and text
  4. At the bottom, click “Add Image” 
  5. Select Single or Multi Color image to use
  6. Choose your image and click “Apply” 

 

 

 

For a video tutorial on creating icons please visit: Release Screencast – Icon Maker 

For more information on Canvas Icon Maker please visit: The Dos and Don’ts of Icon Maker and the Instructure Community Page