Important Notices
Scribd Issues Resolved
For many of you the start of class brought some technical difficulties with the Scribd Preview feature in Canvas. Scribd is the service that allows for file documents to be viewed within Canvas. In the first week of class, this feature was not rendering documents correctly, and so users (students and instructors) were receiving error messages that documents were deleted or unavailable.
This issues has now been resolved and previews should be working normally. Keep in mind that the availability of document previews is always subject to the volume of users uploading and viewing documents across the entire Canvas system. This can cause the previews to delay or even temporarily not display. Some of you may better recognize this phenomenon by the characteristic “bicycle wheels” that never seem to stop spinning when you try to open a document! To help alleviate confusion It is important to let students know about the download option for any files that you share.
New User? More about document previews.
When viewing an uploaded file shared in Canvas, users will have the option of a magnifying glass icon to open the file in the Scribd preview OR a pop-out icon to download the file to their computer.
GUIDE: Files Supported by Scribd
Canvas Connections User Group
Don’t miss the next meeting Tuesday, February 4, 12 noon – 1:00pm, CTL Team Spot – AS Bldg
New and seasoned users are welcome to join us to:
- Connect! Stay on the inside track with all things Canvas.
- Share! and Learn! with others.
- Engage! in some great conversations over lunch.
This informal user-focused group will meet bi-monthly to discuss: Features, Best Practices, Upcoming Changes, Issues/Bugs, Teaching Strategies, Design and Feature Requests.
Users should bring their own lunch. Snacks and desserts may be provided.
Join Now!
Canvas Update Cycle
Canvas is on a 3-week update-release cycle. The beta (preview) release for this cycle was on 1/27, production notes followed on 2/3 with the release and documentation to follow on 2/8. For information about Canvas updates follow the release page.
February 8 Release Preview – Amazing Features! Big Changes!
Canvas will be implementing a Production Release on February 8. Here are some highlights of the new features, updates and changes. Note: Features are subject to change based on testing! Some features may be selectively released by MCCCD.
Draft State
The Draft State feature will allow content in Assignments, Quizzes, Modules, Pages, and Discussions to be in an unpublished (draft) state even if the course is published. Draft content will be invisible to students and excluded from grade calculations. Draft State is a Course-level feature option, and will be available on a course-to-course basis once MCCCD decides to enable the feature at the institutional level.
The Draft State feature will impact all of the major user interfaces within Canvas (for instructors only).You are strongly encouraged to log-in to the beta environment to explore the features within Draft State to see what this new world will look like! Here is an overview guide to prepare you for the change: Canvas Feature Options: Draft State PDF. Additional documentation will be available in the Canvas Guides when Draft State is officially placed in the production environment.
Important Notices
Firefox 23 Update – Issues with Mixed Content
Mozilla recently released Firefox 23 (FF23). This version of Firefox includes new rules and features related to displaying mixed content. Canvas is served securely, using https. But users can embed or link to things hosted outside of Canvas and delivered via an unsecure (http) connection. (Note: “unsecure” does not mean that the content is “bad” or “dangerous” to you or your students, it is just unsecure information that does not require authentication, etc.).
- What does this mean? When a user running FF23 visits a Canvas page with mixed content FF23 prevents unsecure content from displaying. For example, this could effect a video or digital tool that you embedded in a page or a link to a website that you added to a module.
- What can I do about it? How to I help students find missing content? Users can tell FF23 to allow unsecure items to run or show. On visiting a page, all active unsecure content is disabled and a small shield icon in the address bar will alert the user to the presence of unsecure content. To view this content, click the shield icon followed by the Keep Blocking drop-down menu and choose Disable Protection on This Page. All content will subsequently load and the usual yellow warning sign indicating mixed content will be displayed in its place. Learn more. Users can also use Chrome or Safari as alternative browsers.
Canvas Update Cycle
Canvas is on a 3-week update-release cycle. The next beta release notes are available on 9/3, production notes will follow on 9/9 with the release and documentation to follow on 9/14. For information about Canvas updates follow the release page.
Recent & Upcoming Changes
Currently Released – Canvas Mobile 2.0
Canvas has just released an update to both the Android and iOS mobile device applications. The apps have been redesigned in an effort to supportusers to complete an entire course on a mobile phone. This includes support for critical features such as Modules and Quizzes. Additionally both apps received an interface update making it easier to access, navigate and interact with courses on the go. Download the Canvas by Instructure app in iTunes or the Google Play store.
Preview 9/14/2013 Release – Conversations Re-Design
The Conversation Inbox is getting an overhaul to make it easier for students and instructors to communicate as easily and intuitively as possible. The new interface will be cleaner and clearer to navigate behaving more like email. Some of the new and improved features will include:
- a new composition window in the middle of your screen
- course labels for messages to filter recipients by course
- subject lines for messages
- message search by user name
- quicklinks to compose or sort from messages
- customizable course drop down menu to organize inbox messages
Canvas Training
Canvas learning opportunities are available throughout September.
Mesa Community College Learning Opportunities
Register through HRMS
Registration Instructions
Collaborative Presentations, Projects and Storytelling with VoiceThread VoiceThread makes an every day slide show in to interactive collaborative course materials. Learn how to use this amazing tool inside Canvas to tell content stories, generate lively discussions, debate topics and more.
- Thursday, September 5, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Room 175 AS Building Southern & Dobson Campus; COURSE #001800, Session #0004
Tips & Tricks for Managing Your Courses in Canvas In this session we will discuss strategies for managing the Canvas Inbox, as well as tips for getting the most out of the Canvas organizational tools to keep your courses on target all semester.
- Thursday, September 5, 3:30 – 4:30pm, Room 175 AS Building Southern & Dobson Campus; COURSE #001964, Session #0002
Collecting & Reflecting on Learning in Canvas In this session we will explore the different types of ePort assignments and how easily students can store, track, reflect on and share their learning using the Canvas ePortfolio Tool.
- Monday, September 9, 9:00 – 10:30am, Room 175 AS Building Southern & Dobson Campus; COURSE #001843, Session #0003
The 3 C’s: Collaboration, Chat & Conferencing in Canvas Explore the interactive features in Canvas that can bring a dynamic, high-touch learning environment to any class.
- Monday, September 9, 5:30 – 7:00pm, Room 175 AS Building Southern & Dobson Campus; COURSE #001768, Session #0005
View our full calendar for more sessions.
Online Resources, Tutorials & Guides
Check out the Instructure “Keep Learning Blog”. The purpose of this blog is to “engage as much of the education and technology communities as possible, by hosting relevant articles and encouraging fruitful interactions amongst practitioners and thinkers throughout the world”. Articles are provided by educators and technologists worldwide.
Canvas 101 is an open enrollment course that will walk you through the basics of setting up a new course in Canvas. To enroll, simply click on the “Join this course” button on the Course Home Page. There is no facilitator, but it is a good series of self-paced exercises.
MCC Center for Teaching & Learning How-To Documents – Review our helpful how-to guides including Getting Started with Canvas in 10 Steps.
