Get Ready for New Canvas User Interface!

Beginning in May, Canvas will sport a new look. Don’t panic though, the functionality and course organization won’t change.

This summer, Canvas is switching to a new User Interface. The new Canvas User Interface (UI) is an updated interface structure enhanced by a responsive user experience for the Dashboard and Global Navigation menu. The Course Navigation menu also collapses on smaller screens, allowing for a more content-focused and responsive layout.

 

The New Canvas User Interface (UI) includes two main components: the Dashboard and the Global Navigation Menu. The Dashboard defaults to the new course view, which has a ‘Mobile’ look, utilizing tiles for access to courses. The Global Navigation Menu has been moved from the top of the page to the left side and still provides quick links to all main Canvas areas and can be accessed from any area in Canvas. Your To Do list still appears on the right side of the page.

The Course layout will not change.

The course navigation remains on the left side. Course content is in the middle of the page and the To Do list is on the right, as always.

Here’s a short video introducing the new Canvas UI for instructors:

https://community.canvaslms.com/videos/1095

The Learning Technologies team will be reaching out to Faculty and Students during April and May to provide information and assistance to make the UI transition as painless as possible.

 

Update from Dr. Gibson

Product Release: The latest 3-week product sprint (update) will be released on Saturday, February 20^th. New features in this release are listed in detail below. They include updates and improvements to Analytics, Grades, Quizzes, Assignments and several other features.

February 20^th  Detailed Release Notes & Screencast

New Canvas Interface

A quick reminder that the new Canvas interface is right around the corner. This interface will mirror the mobile version of Canvas with a completely revised dashboard and user experience. You can learn more about the interface by following this link. This update will occur immediately following the conclusion of the Spring 2016 semester. Dr. Anna Catterson, Mark Summey, and Joe Kern will be offering workshops on the new interface in May to help you prepare. More information to follow.

7 Things You Should Know…..

We’ve started a new monthly series called “7 Things You Should Know….”. Each month we’ll introduce a new topic on a variety of emergent technologies in higher education. To begin, we’re introducing the first topic: 7 Things You Should Know About Lightboards. We hope you enjoy this new series.

Lesser Known Canvas Tips and Tricks

Students and faculty can add an additional Email address to Canvas. However, you must be sure to access your personal Canvas settings and indicate (via the star) which Email address preferred. Also, you must remember to indicate your notification preferences for the second Email. Simply adding a second Email address does not guarantee the user will receive the course messages without first setting the notification preferences.

I3 Mini Grants

Remember that there is still time to apply for an i3 Mini Grant. Five grants up to $1000 will be awarded to innovative teaching and learning ideas. Monies can be used for gear, time and/or materials. The deadline is February 29^th. More information can be found here.

Learning Technologies Blog

If you want more information about anything you see here, check out our blog at http://emporiastate.blogspot.com/ or follow us on Twitter @esulearningtech

Innovation Grants NOW AVAILABLE!

 Grant opportunity!

ESU Learning Technologies is pleased to sponsor several mini grant opportunities to support faculty interested in emergent and innovative uses of technology-enhanced teaching methods. Learning Technologies supports faculty with instructional design services, instructional methods, research, Canvas support, professional development, video production, and Learning Spaces support. The I3 Grant is intended to help compensate for the time and equipment required to find and/or develop new curricular resources, to modify a course design, and/or to introduce new technologies into your teaching environment. Five grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded. Proposals will be selected based on potential impact and innovation. The implementation timeline for this grant opportunity will be Spring-Summer 2016. All grant-funded course improvements must be completed prior to the end of the Summer 2016 term. Monies can be used for equipment or time and labor expense.

Link to website and application