Category: Instructional Tools News & Updates
Fall 2022 Message for Instructors (SVPP Memo, Aug. 10, 2022)
New Canvas Integrations: MS Teams Classes, Pressbooks, and more
There are now several new Learning Technology Integrations (LTIs) installed and available to Iowa State University instructors to consider: 
- Microsoft Teams classes
- Pressbooks
- Visible Body
- Oxford University Press
- Stukent Mimic Social
Microsoft Teams classes can be used to help you and students navigate easily between Canvas and Teams. Users can access their class Teams associated with their Canvas course directly from within Canvas. Once set up in Canvas, student rosters will automatically populate in Microsoft Teams.
The Pressbooks software enables instructors to design and format books. More information can be found on the Parks Library website. The Canvas integration allows instructors to easily add their Pressbook content to Canvas and any results from learner activity will be passed back to the Canvas Gradebook.
Oxford University Press is a publisher application, allowing for better content integration with their textbooks.
Currently, Visible Body and Stukent Mimic Social are course-specific LTIs that add interactive simulations to the learning process.
If you need or would like help with any of these LTIs or other learning technologies, email celt-help@iastate.edu. Doing this will create a ServiceNow ticket and one of our team members will be able to help you. Keep an eye on our website and our Instructional Tools page for more information and guides for each of these LTIs in the coming weeks.
Newly added apps (LTIs) now available in Canvas
Over the Winter break, five new LTIs were installed and are available to the campus community. Those five LTIs are:
- ALEKS
- MyBusinessCourse
- MyEducator
- GreatRiverLearning
- H5P
ALEKS (for business), MyBusinessCourse, MyEducator, and GreatRiverLearning are publisher applications now available and best used for better content integration.
H5p is an interactive content application, providing a variety of engaging question types that can be added to Canvas. Each instructor license for H5P is $190/year and can be used in an unlimited number of courses. If you would like to integrate H5P into your Canvas course, email celt-help@iastate.edu to request a license.
If you need help with any of these LTIs or other learning technologies, email celt-help@iastate.edu. Doing this will create a ServiceNow ticket and one of our team members will be able to help you. Keep an eye on our website and our Instructional Tools page for more information and guides for each of these LTIs in the coming weeks.
Learn About Your Classroom (Fall 2022)
If you’re teaching in a general University classroom this fall, as you prepare your course, check to see what technology will be available to you in the room.
Information Technology Services (ITS) has compiled resources for the audiovisual equipment available in the general classrooms across the University. If you want to check your classroom(s), ITS recommends the following:
- Check to see if your classroom is a Level 1 or Level 2 classroom
- Watch the corresponding video resource
- (Optional) Visit your classroom before the start of the semester to practice with the technology.
If you have any questions, instructors should reach out to ITS directly at (515) 294-6894 or avxt@iastate.edu.
If you’re looking for other resources to help you prepare for your course, CELT has you covered:
Gradescope Workshop Series: August 2022
Gradescope, an assessment, feedback, and analytics tool that integrates with Canvas, is being piloted at Iowa State during Fall 2022. Iowa State instructors can learn more about this tool through a series of vendor-led workshops being offered in August. All workshops are being hosted by Gradescope.
If you wish to use Gradescope, opt-in, and participate in the pilot, please review the Canvas course and fill out the Qualtrics form that you are using Gradescope in your course.
You can register for some or all of the workshops on the Gradescope website.
Gradescope for Online & Hybrid Teaching: Online Assignments & Student Uploaded Work
This workshop focuses on using Gradescope with handwritten exams and quizzes and fully online assignments. Specifically, the workshop shows you how to set up assignments, grade consistently with a rubric, provide targeted feedback, and return work electronically.
- Tuesday, August 2, 1-2 p.m. CST
- Monday, August 15, 12-1 p.m. CST
Gradescope for In-Person Teaching: Templated & Bubble Sheet Assignments
This workshop focuses on using Gradescope with handwritten exams and quizzes and multiple-choice assignments. Specifically, the workshop shows you how to set up assignments, grade consistently with a rubric, provide targeted feedback, and return work electronically.
- Wednesday, August 3, 12-1 p.m. CST
- Tuesday, August 16, 1-2 p.m. CST
Gradescope for Computer Science: Programming and Student-Uploaded Work
This workshop focuses on using Gradescope in Computer Science classes with coding assignments and handwritten student work. Specifically, the workshop shows you how to set up a language-agnostic assignment that can include a custom autograder, check for code similarity, and allows you to provide student feedback.
- Monday, August 8, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. CST
Gradescope for Existing Users: Advanced Gradescope Features
This workshop targets instructors and TAs who are existing Gradescope users and who have attended an introductory workshop. New features and lesser-known tips will be introduced and time will be left to ask questions.
- Tuesday, August 9, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. CST
Gradescope in Canvas
This workshop will show you how to take advantage of using Gradescope in Canvas, Iowa State’s Learning Management System (LMS). The focus includes how to sync your roster, course, assignments, and grades.
- Wednesday, August 10, 12:30-1:00 p.m.
Gradescope for Multiple Choice: Bubble Sheets
This workshop focuses on using Gradescope to transform multiple-choice assessments with Gradescope Bubble Sheets. The workshop focuses on how to indicate the correct responses for each question ahead of time, which allows Gradescope to automatically grade all student submissions as they are uploaded.
- Wednesday, August 17, 1-1:30 p.m.
Release and Deploy Updates – November 2021 (Canvas)
This update will contain all Canvas release and deploy notes for November 2021.
Completed Changes
The November 10, 2021 Canvas update included interface updates and changes to the outcomes page. Specifically,
- Interface updates: For courses with profiles enabled, clicking the profile picture will no longer automatically flag it as inappropriate content.
- Outcomes: Outcomes can now be added directly to a group.
Upcoming Changes
The November 20, 2021 Canvas release contains information pertaining to Assignments, Dashboard, Settings, and SpeedGrader. Specifically, the following are included in the 11/20 release:
- Assignments – Submission Feedback Indicator: Students can now see an indicator on the Submission Details page when new comments have been added.
- Settings – Settings Tabs: Easily navigate between the different tabs with direct links or return to the previously visited tab with the back button.
- SpeedGrader – Assignment Text Entry Word Count: Instructors can now view the word count of a student’s text-entry submission within the SpeedGrader.
The November 24, 2021 Canvas deploy was postponed to December 1, 2021. More information about this deploy and its contents will be in the December Canvas summary.
Global Course Administration: Winter Session 2021 Now Available
Implementation Date: November 17, 2020.
Instructors teaching in the winter session can now create Winter Session 2021 Canvas courses using the Prepare to Teach tool.
Follow the steps in the Start of Semester Checklist for Canvas, choosing the Winter Session 2021 term.
Instructors, if you…
- Previously started developing a winter session course using Spring 2021, you will need to import the course content into a Winter Session course shell in order to properly connect to Registrar sections.
- Created your course for Winter Session 2021 using the Request a New Course Shell option, you can now associate it with the Registrar section using Prepare to Teach.
Canvas: Course Conclusion (Winter Session 2021 and Spring 2021 Courses)
Canvas courses from Winter Session 2021 and Spring 2021 will be concluded in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 1. See Course Conclusion in Canvas to learn what this means and what actions you will still be able to perform.
Canvas: Course Conclusion (Fall 2020 Courses)
Canvas courses from Fall 2020 will be concluded in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 16. See Course Conclusion in Canvas to learn what this means and what actions you will still be able to perform.