A listing of all news and updates pertaining to ISU’s instructional tools.
Have questions about one of these updates?
Email celt-help@iastate.edu or attend a training from one of our learning tech partners.
Canvas Release: Learning Mastery Gradebook, File Previews, Submission Reassignments, Course Availability Dates, and Webcam Submissions (March 20, 2021)
The March 20, 2021 Canvas Release includes updates to the Learning Mastery Gradebook, File Previews, Submission Reassignments, Course Availability Dates, and Webcam Submissions.
Canvas Deploy: File Folder Structure in Blueprint Courses and Rich Content Editor focus (March 17, 2021)
The March 17, 2021 Canvas Deploy addresses issues with the File Folder Structure in Blueprint Courses and Rich Content Editor focus when switching between modes.
Canvas Deploy: Quiz Questions and Rich Content Editor (March 3, 2021)
The March 3, 2021 Canvas Deploy addresses several accessibility and user interface bugs as well as mathematical formulas in quiz questions, numerical quiz questions with precision answers, and an update to the accessibility checker in the the text editor.
Submit midterm grades for Spring 2021
Spring 2021 midterms are due Mar. 19 by 2:15 p.m. Review the key concepts for grading in Canvas, then Submit Grades using ISU AdminTools. Only
Canvas Release: LaTeX, HTML Editor
LaTeX becomes more widely available and HTML code can be formatted and colorized for easier manipulation. Effective February 20, 2021.
Canvas: Course Conclusion (Fall 2020 Courses)
Canvas courses from Fall 2020 will be concluded in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 16.
Canvas: Student View Button, Rich Content Editor, Minor Visual Improvements, Quiz Previews
Contains updates to the Student View button, Rich Content Editor, the styling of People and Syllabus pages, and functionality of Instructors’ quiz previews. Effective February 17, 2021.
TurnItIn: Draft Coach Now Available for Students
TurnItIn Draft Coach supports students in delivering high-quality academic writing, using text similarity checking to highlight the importance of research and correctly citing sources. Students
Grammarly: Improvements on Mobile Devices
Five reasons you should consider using Grammarly on your phone: (1) fewer typos, errors, and mistakes, (2) searchable emojis, (3) a bigger vocabulary, (4) works where you work, and (5) personalization settings.
Webex: Modifications to Recordings for Virtual Meetings
Recordings for Webex meetings scheduled within Canvas will now appear in the Recordings section of Virtual Meetings. This change includes cloud recordings of any meeting launched from within Canvas or externally through the Webex web portal, the desktop app, or on a mobile device.
Canvas: Improved Rich Content Editor, Miscellaneous Bug Fixes
Improves the size of the Rich Content Editor and addresses several behind-the-scenes bugs. Effective February 3, 2021.
Canvas: Anonymous Grading Now Enabled
You can now allow anonymous grading and anonymous annotation of student submissions in Canvas assignments. Both options can be enabled from within the assignments’ Details tab.
Canvas: Rich Content Editor, Miscellaneous Bug Fixes
Fixed several behind-the-scenes bugs and added the ability to remove multiple hyperlinks at the same time in the New Rich Content Editor. Effective January 20, 2021.
Canvas: Push Notifications, Feature Options
Push notifications have been simplified and the feature flags have been changed to a dropdown menu and lock icon. Effective January 16, 2021.
Canvas: Miscellaneous Bug Fixes
Fixed several behind-the-scenes bugs. Effective January 6, 2021.
Canvas: Media Icon Replaced with Studio
Canvas Media button replaced with Studio link. Effective December 22, 2020.
Canvas: Miscellaneous Bug Fixes
Fixed several behind-the-scenes bugs. Effective December 16, 2020.
Canvas: Media organization, Student View Button
Newly recorded media is stored in the Files system and the Student View button displays as an icon in the top-right corner of supported individual Canvas pages. Effective December 19, 2020.
Canvas: Improved Navigation, Miscellaneous Bug Fixes
Fixed several behind-the-scenes bugs and improved navigation of the course links and files sidebars. Effective December 2, 2020.
CyBox: Storage Limits are Coming (Inside Iowa State)
Iowa State looking to reduce current data storage in CyBox by one-third before July 1, 2021.
Technology Updates (December 2, 2020): Canvas, ISU AdminTools, Webex, Turnitin, Panopto, Piazza, FERPA
Updates include Canvas Rich Content Editor, ISU AdminTools course conclusion, Webex, Turnitin, Panopto, Piazza, and FERPA Enforcement. Effective December 2, 2020.
Canvas: Grade Change Activity Log
Grade Change Activity log supports multi-parameter search fields to allow for more granular search functionality. Effective November 21, 2020.
Global Course Administration: Winter Session 2021 Now Available
Instructors teaching in the winter session can now create Winter Session 2021 Canvas courses using the Prepare to Teach tool. Effective November 17, 2020.
CELT-help’s most frequently asked questions for October 2020
Do you wonder what questions were asked via celt-help@iastate.edu most during October? Below are the questions in no particular order.
Canvas: Update on New Quizzes Implementation
The ISU Learning Technology Change Advisory Board continues to monitor the progress and development of the Canvas New Quizzes tool. Effective October 19, 2020. Updated January 8, 2021.