Canvas Corner: New & Updated Features

New & Updated Features

In the October 16th Canvas update, the Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages. Additionally, course notification preferences can be customized on a user’s Notifications page. For instructors, submission status labels can be edited in SpeedGrader, and the Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field. 

New Features

Navigation-Sticky Navigation Menus

Summary 

The Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages. This change allows users to access the menus at any time. 

Feature Workflow 

When a long page is scrolled, the respective menu is retained in the sidebar. If the navigation menu is longer than the height of the screen, the menu can also be scrolled to view all menu links. 

Speedgrader-Submission Status Label Edits

Summary 

Submission status labels can be edited in SpeedGrader. This change allows graders to change the submission status for a student’s assignment directly in SpeedGrader. 

Feature Workflow 

The SpeedGrader sidebar includes an Edit icon to be used for submission statuses. Statuses can be edited the same way as in the Gradebook. Additionally, adjusting a status in SpeedGrader also applies to the Gradebook. 

  • Setting the status to Missing displays the Missing label. 
  • If a late policy is enabled, setting the status to late displays the late label. Additionally, a text field allows the grader to enter a value for the days/hours late. 
  • Setting the status to excused displays the Excused status, and the grade field displays as EX and is grayed out. 
  • Setting the status to None removes any labels that were previously displayed for the assignment. 

Speedgrader Edit

SpeedGrader Status Edit Menu 

The Edit Status icon is not displayed in the following assignment scenarios: 

  • Previously submitted submissions (only the most recent submission is supported) 
  • Concluded user enrollments 
  • Inactive student enrollments 
  • Assignments that require moderated grading 
  • Assignments in a closed grading period 

Updated Features

Gradebook-Assignment Search 

Summary 

The Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field. This change allows assignments to be searched in addition to student names. 

Feature Workflow 

The Gradebook includes two search fields: one for student names, and one for assignment names. Using the Assignment search field displays any search results that match an assignment in the course. 

Gradebook Assignment Names Search Field

Gradebook Assignment Names Field 

Notifications-Course Notification Customization 

Summary 

Course notification preferences can be customized on a user’s Notifications page. This change allows course notifications to be adjusted without having to access the course-level Notifications page for each course. 

Feature Workflow 

The User Notifications page displays all notification options for a user’s entire account. However, if a user has any active course enrollments, the menu displays the name of each course. Users can navigate between their courses and set specific notification options for each course, if preferred. 

Any updated notifications also sync to the course-level Notifications page. 

Notification Settings

Notifications Page 

The Full Canvas Release Notes can be found here – Canvas Release Notes (2021-10-16) – Instructure Community (canvaslms.com)