Category Archives: Canvas

Canvas Update (10/17/2020)

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On Saturday, October 17, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

  • Global Navigation – Recent History: The Global Navigation Menu includes a Recent History link, which displays recently visited pages in Canvas. This change helps users remember what page they last viewed in one or multiple courses.
  • Notifications – Notification Preferences Interface: The user-level Notifications page has been updated to match the design of the course-level Notifications page. Additional enhancements have been added to clarify notifications between each level..
  • MathJax Equation Improvements: The MathJax JS library has been improved to render equations in a more accessible format and promote ease of use. Math equations created anywhere in Canvas will be rendered as MathML. This change improves accessibility for equations throughout Canvas. Previously, equations were treated as an image and included title attributes and alternative text and were not available to keyboard users. Additionally, image views varied by browser and screen readers, equations could not be copied, and alternative text could be inadvertently changed or removed.

UW-Whitewater Updates

UDOIT Course Accessibility Checker is now available. The tool is designed to identify accessibility concerns and provide suggestions for improving course accessibility. There is an introduction and instructions for use available through the UW-System KB, and UWW trainings are available.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.

Canvas Update (08/15/2020)

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On Saturday, August 15, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.

Canvas Workshops – July and August 2020

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During the Summer of 2020, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) will be offering opportunities to learn the Canvas basics, make simple changes to your courses to improve the student experience, and to dig deeper into Canvas features.  For self guided assistance, please view the Canvas Service Page.

Canvas Basics 
Whether you are brand new to Canvas, or just want to brush up on the basics, this training will put you on the right path. We will focus on

  • Creating a new Module
  • Adding files to Modules
  • Adding Assignments to Modules
  • Setting up your gradebook

What Students Want in Canvas 
There are many good ways to set up a course. This training will focus on making a series of small, easy, and optional, shifts from your current course design to a setup backed by feedback from student panels conducted right here at UW-Whitewater. We will focus on

  • Matching your Assignments and Grades area to your course syllabus
  • Reorganizing Modules to a chronological layout
  • Getting assignments and tasks populated to student calendars
  • Utilizing the description area of Quizzes and Assignments

The goal is not to change how you teach, just how students view the course.

EVENT NAMEDATE/TIMELOCATIONREGISTER
Canvas BasicsThursday, July 16th
2:00pm – 3:00pm		WebexRegistration
What Students Want In CanvasThursday, July 23rd
2:00pm – 3:00pm		WebexRegistration
Canvas BasicsTuesday, August 11th
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration
What Students Want In CanvasThursday, August 13th
3:00pm – 4:00pm		WebexRegistration

Canvas Deep Dives (1 Hour)
We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.

  • Quizzes: This will touch on different question types, building in targeted feedback in auto-graded quizzes, and most likely spend the bulk of the time in the Question Bank area to help instructors get a feel for Canvas Question Bank.
  • Assignments: We will focus on tasks such as creating a place for students to digitally turn in work, and setting up your gradebook.
  • Discussions: We will look at setup (including threaded vs unthreaded), visibility, the lack of a “Forum” in Canvas (compared to how D2L had it), group setup, and grading.
  • Webex Tools: Webex is usable through Canvas, but does take some initial setup there.  If you are interested in using Webex for your classes, this is the workshop for you.
EVENT NAMEDATE/TIMELOCATIONREGISTER
QuizzesTuesday, July 28th
10:00am – 11:00am		WebexRegistration
AssignmentsThursday, July 30th
2:00pm – 3:00pm		WebexRegistration
DiscussionsTuesday, August 4th
11:00am – Noon		WebexRegistration
Webex ToolsThursday, August 6th
3:00pm – 4:00pm		WebexRegistration

If you have any questions about these sessions, please reach out to the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Canvas Workshops – Summer 2020

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During the Summer of 2020, the LTC will be offering opportunities to make simple changes to your courses to improve the canvas exerance for you and your students, and to dig deeper into Canvas features.  For self guided assistance, please view the Canvas Service Page.

What Students Want in Canvas 
There are many good ways to set up a course. This training will focus on making a series of small, easy, and optional, shifts from your current course design to a setup backed by feedback from student panels conducted right here at UW-Whitewater. We will focus on

  • Matching your Assignments and Grades area to your course syllabus
  • Reorganizing Modules to a chronological layout
  • Getting assignments and tasks populated to student calendars
  • Utilizing the description area of Quizzes and Assignments

The goal is not to change how you teach, just how students view the course.

Date/TimeLocationRegister
Thursday, May 28th
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration
Tuesday, June 2nd
11:00am – Noon		WebexRegistration
Wednesday, June 10th
10:00am – 11:00am		WebexRegistration
Thursday, June 25th
3:00pm – 4:00pm		WebexRegistration
Tuesday, July 7th
10:00am – 11:00am		WebexRegistration

Canvas Deep Dives (1 Hour)
We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.

  • Groups: This training will discuss what the tool is, how it differs from what we are use to in D2L, when it should be used, and when it shouldn’t be used.
  • Webex Tools: Webex is usable through Canvas, but does take some initial setup there.  If you are interested in using Webex for your classes, this is the workshop for you.
  • Content: This training will walk through embedding video content, linking to other course content, and utilizing the student “to-do” list.
  • Rubrics: This training will start with the general creation of rubrics, then expand to specific use cases of instructors attending the session.
Event NameDate/TimeLocationRegister
GroupsWednesday, June 3rd
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration
Webex ToolsWednesday, June 3rd
3:00pm – 4:00pm		WebexRegistration
ContentThursday, June 4th
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration
RubricsThursday, June 4th
3:00pm – 4:00pm		WebexRegistration
GroupsMonday, June 15th
11:00am – Noon		WebexRegistration
Webex ToolsTuesday, June 16th
11:00am – Noon		WebexRegistration
ContentMonday, June 29th
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration
RubricsTuesday, June 30th
1:00pm – 2:00pm		WebexRegistration

If you have any questions about these sessions, please reach out to the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Canvas Update (05/16/2020)

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On Saturday, May 16, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

UW-Whitewater Updates

D2L Retirement is progressing.  All information you would like to keep must be exported out of D2L before June 1st, 2020. Whether it’s an old for-credit based course, or an ongoing course – make sure all material is backed up. Once our access is removed, we will not have any way to obtain this data. For more information check out the Desire2Learn Retirement Planning post.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.

Canvas Update (04/18/2020)

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On Saturday, April 14, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

Instructure has moved to a “Ready Release” method of weekly updates to address pressing issues during the sudden shift to online. The full list of ready release notes are available. We have included what we believe to be the two most notable updates here.

UW-Whitewater Updates

D2L Retirement is progressing.  All information you would like to keep must be exported out of D2L before June 1st, 2020. Whether it’s an old for-credit based course, or an ongoing course – make sure all material is backed up. Once our access is removed, we will not have any way to obtain this data. For more information check out the Desire2Learn Retirement Planning post.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.

[RESOLVED] Issues with Webex Meetings / Teams in Canvas

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RESOLVED: 12:45 PM (4/15).  The issue should now be resolved for all courses.  If you are still noticing this issue in your course, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

Update 12:10 PM (4/15).  The issue has been resolved for the majority of courses.  There are still some outstanding issues impacting certain courses that the vendor is investigating.  If you are still noticing this issue in your course, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

We are investigating an issue that appears to be impacting the view of currently scheduled Webex Meetings, Classroom Collaborations and Office Hours inside of Canvas. We will provide additional details as they are made available.

Instructors who had previous meetings scheduled should follow these steps:

  1. Login to http://uww.webex.com with your Net-Id and Password.
  2. Click on Meetings from the navigation menu.
  3. Locate the Meeting and click on the Meeting Name.
  4. Copy the Meeting Link and send that to your students as an Email or Canvas Announcement.
  5. The students can then use the meeting link to join the meeting.

Students unable to join a class meeting should contact their instructors for the meeting link.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

Canvas Traveling Open Lab – March 2020

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During the first two weeks of March, the LTC will be offering Canvas Open Labs (1 Hour) to work on and learn about Canvas while a local expert is available to offer assistance. Whether you are working on your current course, or planning for the future – stop on by! Whether you happen to be in the building, or are walking across campus to make it, we are happy to see you!

Date/TimeLocationRegister
Monday, March 2nd – 11:00amHyland 3101Registration
Thursday, March 3rd – 2:00pmWinther 1005Registration
Wednesday, March 4th – 8:00amWilliams Center 187Registration
Thursday, March 5th – 1:00pmUpham 222Registration
Monday, March 9th – 9:00amCenter of the Arts 2059Registration
Wednesday, March 11th – 10:00amLaurentide 4012Registration
Thursday, March 12th – 2:00pmHeide 312Registration

Group Specific Trainings (variable length)
The LTC offers customized trainings that can be setup by request for your departments/group. If you are interested, contact us at 262.472.1004 or ltc@uww.edu and we will work with you to get the training scheduled.

If you have any questions about these sessions, please reach out to the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Canvas Update (02/15/2020)

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Vendor Updates

On Saturday, January 18, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

  • Commons Favorites Direct Import: Instructors can copy individual course items that have been favorited in Canvas Commons. Using this feature, they can be copied directly into the intended location..
  • New Quizzes – Moved to Quizzes: Instructors wishing to use the “New Quizzes” tool will now find it in the Quizzes area.
    • Please note that “New Quizzes” is still in Beta and UW-Whitewater recommends the use of the standard quizzing tool.
  • Responsive Layout: Canvas provides a more responsive experience for content scrolling according to web accessibility initiative guidelines.

UW-Whitewater Updates

D2L Retirement is progressing.  All information you would like to keep must be exported out of D2L before June 1st, 2020. Whether it’s an old for-credit based course, or an ongoing course – make sure all material is backed up. Once our access is removed, we will not have any way to obtain this data. For more information check out the Desire2Learn Retirement Planning post.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.

Canvas Update (1/18/2020)

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Vendor Updates

On Saturday, January 18, Instructure will deploy the latest release to the Canvas environment.  The highlights of this release are listed below.  The full release notes are also available.

  • Direct Share Course-Level Features: Instructors can copy individual course items to another course and share individual items with other users.
  • Personal Pronoun feature description: Users can select pronouns to associate with their account in Canvas. The initial set of options will be: He/His, She/Hers, They/Theirs.
  • Postable Submission Comments: Assignments with the “Manual” Posting Policy will now be able to have Comments posted for students to see before entering a grade.
  • New Quizzes – Answer Shuffling: Instructors using the “New Quizzes” tool will now be able to shuffle answers on multiple choice, multiple answer, and matching quiz questions.
    • Please note that “New Quizzes” is still in Beta and UW-Whitewater recommends the use of the standard quizzing tool.
  • Rich Content Editor Update: Instructors can start using the Rich Content Editor update early by enabling it in their settings area. Instructure plans to make the updates on by default in a future update.

UW-Whitewater Updates

Winterim 2020 grades are due 4:00pm, Tuesday January 21. Directions for eGrading are available for instructors who wish to use this process.

Remember to Publish your courses. Spring 2020 courses start Tuesday January 21. It is important to remember that students will be unable to enter the course, and instructors will be unable to us the Inbox to message students until the course is published.

If you have any questions or concerns about the service pack updates, please contact UW-W Canvas Support.