November 27, 2013  Canvas Alert

 

1.       Canvas mail:  In the new system, no mail is automatically opened when you load mail.  To open one, single click on any item in the inbox.  If you double click, nothing will open.

2.       Test answers not being saved.  Two possibilities: 

a.     The most likely cause of test answers not being saved happens when your students are using a wireless connection to the internet.  Canvas (as do all Learning Management Systems) requires a constant internet connection when a test is open.  If the connection hiccups (likely on a wireless connection), nothing will be saved after the hiccup.

b.      Second possibility:  a student hits the browser’s back button during the test.  This is more likely to happen if you have your quiz set up for one question at a time whether or not you allow backtracking.   Canvas completed a fix so this should not be a problem any more.

3.       As of May 2014, Canvas will no longer support any version of Internet Explorer other than versions 10 and 11.  We are working with IT to get the campus updated.  Please check your home computers to make sure you have either IE 10 or 11 installed.  To check, open IE, click on the Help link above the URL box, and then About Internet Explorer. You’ll see the version number in the box that opens.  Go hereto get version 11.

4.       Mobile browsers:  Canvas has recently allowed us to customize our login page for mobile browsers such as those on iPhones, iPads, and Android phones.  Below is what it now looks like.  Thanks to MarCom for the design suggestion.  Check it out on your phone or tablet. Windows phones look the same as our standard login page.

5.       We are cataloging the alerts and Canvas updates on our Canvas help page.  So if you miss one or want to review them, you can go to the help site.

 



5/11/13 Canvas update

 

Canvas is in the process of releasing another update.  They have released their attendance tool.  You should see it on your course navigation bar.  I’m in the process of creating a video demo on how to use it.  If you’re not going to use it now, please remove it from your course navigation bar.  Go to settings>navigation tab and drag Attendance below the line>click on Save.   There are a few other updates scheduled for release on 5/11.  Below is a list

 

·         The People page now a search box to search for users by different roles. If a user does not have a profile image associated with their account, Canvas will show the default gray profile image.

·         The Assignment creation process is more streamlined, meaning instructors now select the assessment type before creating the assignment details. On the Assignments page, the assignment type drop-down menu below the assignment name has now been removed.

·         Students will receive notifications when an instructor changes any dates on the calendar, such as the due date of a quiz. Instructors still have the option to notify students when quiz content has changed. These changes will help students better plan any coursework updates while not being burdened with any unnecessary notifications.

·         Email notifications will now display full announcement text for all messages. Previously messages with longer content would end halfway through the message, and users would have to visit Canvas to finish reading the message.



Canvas 4/20 update:  Most of the changes didn't affect the user experience but a few did.  The updates are separated by red bold brief descriptions from me. 

There is an update to the Canvas Equation editor.   We don’t have the detailed documentation yet. 

Advanced Math Formatting with LaTex through MathJax

Canvas users now have an advanced view in the Rich Content Editor’s Canvas Equation Editor. The new advanced functionality accepts LaTex input for more advanced equation needs and is delivered using MathJax. Users can type LaTeX or paste LaTeX directly in the Advanced View and see a visual rendering of the equation. The existing equation editor has now been renamed Basic View and is still fully functional for introductory math students and courses. Detailed documentation will be available on Saturday.

They've updated the email notifications view. These are the notifications you receive in Outlook about changes, submissions, etc. in Canvas.

HTML Email Notifications

All outbound email notifications now include an HTML version. HTML emails provide formatting and markup capabilities that are not available with plain-text emails, and most email clients default to HTML emails when available. The layout for plain-text emails has also been improved.

Email Text Notification (old view)

Email HTML Notification (new view)

There is a change in the error message for entering incorrect due dates for any assignment.

Varied Due Dates Error Checking

Instructors will receive a notification when they submit an invalid string of due dates for a Quiz, Assignment, or Graded Discussion. Such invalid entries include not unlocking the assignment before it is due, or not placing the due date inside the range of availability dates.

They've added the option for you to make your course syllabus publicly visible.  That will allow you to share your syllabus with prospective students without allowing them to access anything else in your course until the register.  You’ll find this option by clicking on settings on the left toolbar inside your course.

Public Setting for Syllabus

Instructors have the option to allow public access to the syllabus page on a non-public course. Available in Course Settings, this option allows instructors to make their syllabus available to prospective students anywhere they’d like, such as from their department webpage.

Questions 1/11/13

 

 

Q: When I was using speed grader, I entered the grade and my comments and moved on to the next student. When I checked my work, I saw only the grade and no comments. What happened?

 

A: Moving from one student to the next in speedgrader only saves the grade and not your comments. After you enter your comments, you have to hit the Submit Comments button before you move to the next student.