On Saturday March 19, Instructure deployed the latest release to the Canvas environment. The highlights of this release are listed below. The full release notes are also available.
Gradebook – Enhanced Gradebook Filters: When the Enhanced Gradebook Filters feature preview is enabled for a course, instructors can create filters that can be saved or used one time.
Rich Content Editor – Equation Editor Update: When a user creates equations in the Rich Content Editor, the Equation Editor displays an updated user interface.
New Quizzes – Item Bank Filtering Terminology Adjustments: In New Quizzes item banks, the All My Banks and All My Course Banks filters have been replaced as the All Banks and Banks Shared to Course filters. Additionally, the This Course filter has been added to the filter options.
If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, or even just curious about how they can help you, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.
Canvas Learning Analytics offer instructors detailed insight into student performance and engagement, especially useful to connect with under-performing students before it is too late.
Do you already have a handle on learning analytics or are you looking for a deeper exploration? Come to the presentation, “Use Canvas Analytics for Better Teaching Learning” to explore the following questions:
Is there some material that can receive less in-class attention?
Is there some material that needs to be circled back to multiple times?
Is there anything I can do to identify at-risk students before it is too late?
It might be chilly outside, but the learning is alive and well at the Learning Technology Center! Join us for a workshop, discussion group, or a one-on-one consultation about how to more deeply integrate technology in your office or classes.
This month, we kickstart a series of workshops and presentations around the themes of flipped classrooms where students engage in active learning opportunities before coming to class to more deeply apply learning.
Flipped Learning Fundamentals – examine the fundamentals of flipped learning to design your course in a hybrid manner to support the flipped classroom, apply active learning techniques, and discuss methods to engage students.
Adaptive Learning Community of Practice – Join the LTC as we re-explore adaptive learning strategies through the use of Realizeit and launch and new Community of Practice!
Universal Design for Learning – Explore the principles of UDL that offer students multiple means of engagement with course materials, representations of their understanding, and meaningful action and expression based on their learning.
EDUCAUSE Top 10 IT Issues in Higher Education
On February 3, 2022 we “Set Sail” in a long-term study and discussion of the EDUCAUSE Top 10 Issues in Higher Education. Every two weeks, we will gather to discuss various challenges our campus faces and whether advances in information technology can offer any pathways forward. Some speakers in this series include CIO Elena Pokot (ICIT) and Dean Frank Goza (College of Letters and Science)!
We offer several opportunities to have your gradebook set up, get a check-up on any quizzes you are offering, and to discover options within Canvas to grade more efficiently and with meaningful feedback for all students.
Whether you’re new to campus or just want to develop stronger skills and abilities with campus technology, we’re here to help. Numerous opportunities are available each month that present new features and suggestions for best use:
The LTC offers individual and small group consultations on a variety of topics and services, please email ltc@uww.edu to learn more and get started! Subscribe to our blog for frequent technology updates and information about our workshops, campus events, and other announcements.
If you require assistance or have questions on campus technology, please feel free to contact the Help Desk. Outside of Help Desk hours, we invite you to search our Knowledge Base for helpful articles on using and troubleshooting campus technology.
On Saturday January 15, Instructure deployed the latest release to the Canvas environment. The highlights of this release are listed below. The full release notes are also available.
New Quizzes – Content Import Terminology Adjustment: The Import Assessment Content as New Quizzes checkbox has been replaced as the Import Existing Quizzes as New Quizzes checkbox.
Gradebook – Missing Status Removal: When a grade is entered manually for a missing submission, the missing status is removed.
Courses – Course Navigation Menu State: The Expand/Collapse state of the Course Navigation Menu now persist throughout all Canvas Courses.
Modules – Modules Link State: When an External URL or LTI tool is added to a module, the state of the Load in New Tab checkbox is retained for all additional link entries.
SpeedGrader – Unposted Comment Warning: Graders are notified about unposted comments when attempting to navigate away.
If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, or even just curious about how they can help you, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.
The Learning Technology Center is offering a full roster of learning opportunities ranging from training on the nuts and bolts of Webex and Canvas to rethinking traditional student learning and engagement. Consult our full calendar to see all sessions and to register in advance. LTC workshops are open to faculty, staff, and student employees.
Can’t join at the scheduled time or missed a session? No problem, schedule an individual meeting with the LTC. Links to previously recorded materials are often available too.
Don’t see a session on something you would like to learn more about? Let us know! We look forward to meeting your needs as best we can – email ltc@uww.edu with your request. And, don’t forget, LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of industry-vetted on-demand courses!
Click any session title below to see dates and links for registration.
In a “flipped classroom”, teachers “flip” the traditional approach of presenting and explaining new information in the classroom and assigning some sort of practice at home to the opposite. The instructor asks students to read or view material on the new concepts at home and then uses class time to actively engage with the material through solving problems, group work, or other active learning models.
This workshop series will examine the fundamentals of flipped learning to design your course in a hybrid manner to support the flipped classroom, apply active learning techniques, and discuss methods to engage students. Additionally, we’ll examine technologies that can support your flipped classroom.
Flipped Learning Fundamentals
Small Changes You Can Make Now to Flip a Class January 27, 3:00 pm
Introduction to the “Flipped Learning Fundamental Series,” and part of the Flipped Learning Pathway. Why it is important, what steps you can do to flip your classroom, the advantages and disadvantages, and hands on tips to better utilize your students time in class.
Flipped Learning Fundamentals: Hybrid Course Design February 3, 3:00 pm
This workshop explores one of the first fundamental of flipped learning…hybrid course design. Come join us as we look at the transformation process of “the sage on the stage” to the “guide on the side” and engage in flipped learning techniques.
Flipped Learning Fundamentals: Active Learning February 17, 3:00 pm
This workshop explores the second fundamental of flipped learning…active learning. Come join us as we look at how to use class time to support active learning in a flipped model. Join us for techniques and activities to support assessment and authentic learning.
Flipped Learning Fundamentals: Student Engagement February 24, 3:00 pm
This workshop explores the third fundamental of flipped learning…student engagement. Come join us as we look at strategies to engage your students during your classroom time to support a flipped learning model.
Interactive Polling Overview (Slido, PollEverywhere, and Turning) Two sessions: January 25 1:00 pm and February 23 9:00 am
Classroom Polling allows instructors to ask questions, track progress and receive instant feedback from students. Learn about the three options for polling Poll Everywhere, TurningPoint, and Slido.
Google Apps for Education: Essentials Two sessions: February 2, 9:00am and March 1, 1:00pm
Learn about how to effectively use Google Drive and Apps for collaboration and file-sharing. This workshop offers an overview of Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Presentations, Forms, Drawing, and Sites. Learn the basics of each program to get you up and running quickly with Google applications as well as some helpful tips and tricks.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guides the design of learning experiences to proactively meet the needs of all learners. When you design through UDL, you assume that barriers to learning are in the design of the environment, not in the student.
This workshop series explores the principles of UDL: provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression. Additionally, we will answer the following questions:
How can I engage all students in my class?
How can I present information in ways that reach all learners?
How can I offer purposeful options for students to show what they know?
Workshop Details
How Universal Design Helps Everyone March 4, 1:00 pm
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. The human-centered approach to design that Universal Design supports is user-friendly and convenient, but is also respectful of user dignity, rights and privacy. Learn about how incorporating UDL into your classroom helps everyone!
Next Level Design: Action and Expression April 8, 1:00 pm
In this workshop, apply next level design principles for strategic, goal-directed learners, differentiate the ways that students can express what they know.
UW DLE Student Experience Survey April 15, 1:00 pm
In 2021, a student usability study of the University of Wisconsin System digital learning environment (DLE) was conducted. The purpose of the research is to examine the student user experience (UX) with the digital learning environment (DLE) and identify factors that influence student access and success across the University of Wisconsin System. This workshop reviews those results and discusses ways to improve your classroom and teaching to incorporate specific suggestions from the research.
On Monday, December 27, 2021, Cisco released updates to the Webex Education Connector in Canvas that redesign the Office Hours experience for both instructors and students.
Instructor experience
Instructors now have a clearer view of their office hours settings and availability. In the Weekly Hours tab, instructors configure their weekly availability by setting their preferred meeting duration, meeting buffer, date range, time zone, days of availability, and hours of availability.
A Date range selector has been added that allows instructors to define a consecutive period of time for students to book office hours. Only dates within the date range indicated will be shown to students when scheduling. This provides the flexibility to restrict future bookings to a term, semester, or other time-defined period. In addition, instructors can modify their availability for a specific date without needing to update their general office hours availability, making it possible to reduce their availability on a date, increase their availability on a date, or mark themselves unavailable for an entire date.
The time zone selector allows instructors to set their preferred time zone for office hours meetings. This provides clarity and consistency for students when scheduling meetings. The default time zone for office hours is based on the time zone in the course where an instructor first enables office hours. If instructors are located in a different time zone, they can update the time zone for all their office hours.
Student experience
Students must now first select their instructor before available time slots are displayed, making it clear with which instructor a student is scheduling time.
Strapped for time, and looking for a guiding hand on all the things you need to do to get a Canvas course up and running for Spring? Now is your chance! Join us for hands-on workshops broken up between quick demonstrations, and supported work time.
These sessions are designed for instructors looking to get their Spring 2022 course up and running, but all faculty and staff are welcome. Come with previous content ready to be updated, or moved from paper into Canvas (ie moving a quiz or rubric into a digital form). This series of workshops will provide you the how-to and time to complete specific tasks to get your course set up. Enroll in one, a handful, or all of them; even if it is just for a way to schedule your time.
Congratulations on another successful semester, Warhawks!
The hallways might be a bit quieter over the next few weeks, but the learning never ends at the Learning Technology Center! Below you’ll find a few opportunities to help finish strong and keep the momentum going through to the Spring:
Canvas
Once you’ve marked up your students’ final exams and papers, be sure to check the settings of your gradebook to ensure accuracy and to prepare for a successful transfer to WINS. The LTC will offer multiple sessions for instructors to double-and-triple check final grades:
Canvas Grading Lab (12/6/2021, 10am) – Check and double-check grade categories and schemes.
Canvas Grade Submission (multiple sessions and times) – transfer grades directly from the Canvas Gradebook to WINS.
Winterim 2022
Spend Winterim at the LTC (in-person or online) with dedicated time and support to complete course preparation for Spring 2022 or for Summer/Fall 2022!
The Winter Online Bootcamp will provide guidance and support for instructors preparing or launching Spring 2022 courses.
The Online Blended Institute will focus on design and delivery for Summer and Fall 2022 courses.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning – Instructor Use Cases (12/6/2021, 2pm) Join us as we explore how instructors on our campus integrate the wealth of learning and development resources on subjects ranging from advanced software training to soft-skills development and enrichment.
Over the break, take some time to develop deeper technical abilities, hone soft skills, or start from the beginning with new software, all within LinkedIn Learning. Check out our blog for more information and get started with your learning pathways!
Webex
Cisco Webex continues to evolve and offer new and exciting features that benefit each member of our campus community. Join us this month as we dive deeper into everything Webex!
The LTC offers individual and small group consultations on a variety of topics and services, please email ltc@uww.edu to learn more and get started! Subscribe to our blog for frequent technology updates and information about our workshops, campus events, and other announcements.
If you require assistance or have questions on campus technology, please feel free to contact the Help Desk. Outside of Help Desk hours, we invite you to search our Knowledge Base for helpful articles on using and troubleshooting campus technology.
