In this production release (June 23), modules and calendar events can be duplicated in Canvas. The Discussions page has been updated with an improved design, and instructors can create section-specific discussions.

In the New Gradebook, the Grade Detail Tray button can be accessed from any assignment.

Production release notes also include fixed bugs.

This is an abridged version of the full release note article, which can be seen by clicking here. Below is a screencast of the production release.

Updated Features

Account Settings

Course and People Search Enforcement

The account-level Course and People pages have been updated to help admins more easily navigate courses and users in their institution. Previously introduced as a feature option, this functionality will no longer be an option in Canvas and will be enabled for all Canvas accounts.

 

Calendar

Event Duplication

Users can duplicate events in the Calendar. Previously enabled through the Recurring Calendar Events feature option, this feature has been renamed to better represent the intended functionality and align with other feature elements that can be duplicated in Canvas. This feature has been enabled for all institutions and no longer requires a feature option.

 

When calendar event details are added through the More Options button, the calendar edit page displays the Duplicate checkbox. Like other items duplicated in Canvas, duplicated events are independent from each other, and once created, must be managed individually.

 

 

Users can specify to duplicate the event for a certain number of days, weeks, or months. Users can also modify a count number to the end of each event to help differentiate each occurrence once they are duplicated.

 

 

Discussions

Courses Page Design Updates & Section-Specific Discussions

The Discussions page includes an updated design to improve accessibility for all users. Most functionality has not been affected. Additionally, when creating a non-graded discussion, instructors can create section-specific discussions in their courses for all sections, one section, or multiple sections.

For full details about these updates, please view Canvas Beta Release Notes (2018-04-09).

 

 

Modules

Modules Duplication

Entire modules can be duplicated within a course. The duplication option is located in the Settings menu for every supported module item. When a module is copied, the word Copy is added to the end of the module name.

 

 

A copied module is placed directly below the originating module. While the module is being copied, a loading indicator shows the copy is in progress.

 

Module and Module Item Status

Duplicating a module defaults the module and all module items to an unpublished status. Each item within the module is duplicated except in situations as indicated by the item type. For details about specific item duplication limitations, please see Canvas Production Release Notes (2017-07-15) (assignments and pages), and Canvas Production Release Notes (2017-10-28) (graded discussions).

 

Duplicated module items follow the same behavior as a new item created in a module. The item displays in the Modules page but is also visible in the item’s respective index page. All assignments, pages, and graded discussions within the copied module also include the word Copy at the end of the module item name.

 

Notes:

• If applicable, the Modules page displays any Blueprint Course icons after the page is refreshed.
• MasteryPath items may be copied in a module, but assigned paths are not retained. Paths should be set after the course module structure is complete.

 

Quiz Limitations

Only Quizzes.Next Quizzes are supported for copying within modules. If a module contains a classic quiz, the option to copy a module does not display in the module menu. Modules can be copied by removing the classic quiz from the module. Classic quizzes are indicated by a rocket icon; Quizzes.Next quizzes are indicated by an assignment icon.

 

 

 Canvas Community contributions: Copy a Module Structure 

 

New Gradebook

Grade Detail Tray Access Button

In the New Gradebook, the Grade Detail Tray can be accessed in concluded enrollments as well as assignments in closed grading periods. This change allows instructors to more easily view grade details regardless of assignment or enrollment type. The Grade Detail Tray always displays a message for assignments in closed grading periods or if an enrollment has been concluded. These grades are still displayed to instructors as read only and cannot be modified.

 

Fixed Bugs

Accessibility

Calendar

Only the main content pane in the Calendar provides a notification to screen readers about using the Agenda view for accessibility. Previously the notification was repeated in multiple Calendar locations.

 

When an assignment group is created in a course using New Scheduler, the list of calendar names and sections includes tooltips that display the full name of the calendar and section.

 

Courses

Pagination buttons in the account-level Courses page are labeled for screen readers.

 

Global Navigation

When the Account, Admin, Courses, Groups, or Help menus are expanded, focus is retained in the menu until closed.

 

People

Pagination buttons in the account-level People page are labeled for screen readers.

 

Rich Content Editor

File preview links can be previewed with the Enter key for keyboard users.

 

Calendar

New Scheduler Edit View Calendar Button Formatting

In New Scheduler, the Edit appointment group view Calendar list includes improved icon alignment and column formatting.

 

Explanation: When an existing appointment group was edited in a course using the New Scheduler, and the Calendar button was selected, the arrows and checkboxes next to the list of calendar and section names was misaligned. Canvas code has been updated with improved icon alignment and column formatting.

 

Dashboard

Course Card Closed Discussion Indicators

Dashboard course cards do not display discussion reply indicators for closed discussions.

 

Explanation: When a discussion was closed in a course, the course card displayed a discussion reply indicator for course users. Canvas code has been updated to not display course card indicators when discussions are closed.

 

Gradebook

Zero Value Grading Scheme Edits

Grading schemes with a value of zero are retained and accepted as a grading scheme value.

 

Explanation: When a grading scheme was created with a value of zero, Canvas generated an error. Additionally, editing the grading scheme changed the value of zero to one digit rounded down from the highest value in the same grading scheme row. Canvas code has been updated to retain the initial grading scheme of zero and accept ranges with varying zero values (e.g. 0.5-0.9) as long as the range values do not overlap.

 

New Gradebook

Zero Point Assignments and Complete/Incomplete Status Changes

The New Gradebook allows completed statuses to be changed if the assignment is out of zero points.

 

Explanation: When a Complete/Incomplete assignment was marked as complete in the New Gradebook, and the assignment was out of zero points, the assignment status could not be changed to incomplete. Canvas code has been updated to allow assignment statuses to be changed regardless of point value.

 

Permissions

Import Content Link

In Course Settings, the Import Content link displays in the sidebar for users with the Manage All Other Course Content permission.

 

Explanation: In Course Settings, the Import Content link displayed in the sidebar for any user with the Manage All Other Course Content, Manage Course Files, or Manage Assignments and Quizzes permission. Users without the first permission who tried to access the link received an error message. Canvas code has been updated to only display the Import Content link for users with the Manage All Other Course Content permission.

 

Quizzes

Quiz Type Change and Individual Student Differentiation

Changing a graded quiz type to an ungraded quiz or ungraded survey does not affect any differentiated assignments to individual students.

 

Explanation: When a graded quiz type assigned to an individual student was changed to an ungraded quiz or ungraded survey, the quiz was no longer assigned to the individual student. Canvas code has been updated to allow quiz types to be changed without affecting individual student assignment differentiations.

 

Rich Content Editor

Course Quota Limit Error

When a file is uploaded to a course using the Content Selector, Canvas generates an error if the file exceeds the course quota limit.

 

Explanation: When a file was uploaded to a course using the Content Selector, no error was displayed if the file size exceeded the course quota, which confused users as to why the file could not be uploaded. Canvas code has been updated to display an error if the file exceeds the course quota limit.