Canvas Updates
From e-Learning Documentation
Production Release notes for Saturday, January 9, 2016.
In this production release (January 9) instructors benefit from improved processes in moderated grading.
Contents
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Updated Features
Assignments
Moderated Grading
When creating Moderated Grading assignments and assigning students to a moderation set, the Moderation page only adds a second reviewer column when it is needed. Although the Moderation page supports provisional grades for two reviewers and one moderator, not all provisional grades may be needed in the course.
Additionally, if a student who was not previously in the moderation set is added to the set at a later date, the Moderation page adds a SpeedGrader link to the 1st Reviewer column. If the student received a grade before being added to the set, the SpeedGrader link is added to the 2nd Reviewer column and opens directly in the 2nd Reviewer tab. Moderated grading supports provisional grades for up to two reviewers and one moderator. As clarification, if a moderator does not want to use the score from the 1st Reviewer, the moderator can add a second review or a moderator review in SpeedGrader to use for grading.
Grades
Hide Assignment Group Totals with Final Grade
When an instructor chooses to hide the final grade from students in Course Settings, assignment group totals are also hidden from students.
This feature was originally suggested by the Canvas community.
Gradebook
Remove Student Names from Message Students Who
When using the Message Students Who feature in the Gradebook, instructors can remove student names that are shown in the student list. If a student is removed from the message list, the student will not receive the message.
This feature was originally suggested by the Canvas community.
Percent Symbol in Percentage-based Assignments
When an instructor displays an assignment grade as a percentage, the percent sign appears in the Gradebook column. The percent sign is already included in the Student Grades page.
This feature was originally suggested by the Canvas community.
Other Updates
Course Settings
Link Validator
The Link Validator find links to deleted and unpublished content. Instructors can choose to hide unpublished links. Additionally, the Link Validator provides a warning when links direct to different courses.
Grades
Graded Anonymously Column
The Student Grades page no longer includes the Graded Anonymously column. Previously used for Anonymous Grading, the Graded Anonymously column showed students if an assignment was graded anonymously in SpeedGrader by hiding student names.
Gradebook
Individual View Download Submissions Button
In the Gradebook Individual View, quiz submissions do not display the Download Submissions button. Previously the button was only grayed out as quiz submissions cannot be downloaded.
Differentiated Assignments and Arranging Columns by Due Date
When arranged in the Gradebook by due date in the Gradebook Settings, assignments with differentiated due dates are ordered according to the latest due date. For instance, if an assignment with three sections includes a different due date for each section, the assignment will be arranged in the Gradebook according to the latest due date in the assignment.
Rich Content Editor
Text Line Height
The line-height CSS property has been changed to a unitless height, which calculates line heights based on the font size shown in a user’s computer. The height value is set to 1.5, which the browser multiplies by the font size to determine the line height.
This feature resolves a fixed bug in Canvas: When users set a large font size in the Rich Content Editor, the text was overlapping in the page. This behavior occurred because the CSS line height was set at a fixed height. Canvas code has been updated to set the line height as a limitless height, which allows users to enlarge a page in a native browser and not view any overlapped font lines. This change affects both the new and legacy Canvas interface.
Fixed Bugs
Accessibility
Calendar
- Calendar events retain focus for keyboard navigation. Focused events display a blue outline.
Courses
- After viewing a search element in the Account Courses page, such as Find a Course or Find a User, the page returns focus to the original search location.
Dashboard
- The Enter and Escape keys function as shortcuts for the course nickname feature. Pressing the Enter key saves a course nickname, and pressing the Escape key closes the Nickname window..
- The Course Activity toggle can be read as a button by screen readers. When the toggle is changed on or off, the button label is also updated.
Files
- The files quota information does not include any ARIA attributes related to progress bars, as the files quota is a usage indicator. Screen readers can read the amount of space used in the files quota.
- After selecting a file, keyboard users can navigation through the option buttons in order. Keyboard focus is retained on each option.
- File previews can be read by screen readers.
Modal Windows
- Canvas modal windows do not attach an aria-hidden element in the body property.
Modules
- In the Add Module and Edit Module Settings windows, the prerequisite and requirement options display focus indicators for keyboard users.
- After an item is added to a module, keyboard focus returns to the the Add Item button.
- In the Add Modules window, keyboard users do not see a second set of Cancel and Add Module buttons
Rich Content Editor
- The line-height CSS property has been changed to a unitless height, which calculates line heights based on the font size shown on their computer. The height value is set to 1.5, which the browser multiplies by the font size to determine the line height. Users can enlarge a page in a native browser and not view any overlapped font lines in both the new and legacy Canvas interface.
Dashboard
- Screen readers can identify items in each sidebar section, which no longer include conflicting gray check marks. Items in the To Do list are indicated by their respective assignment icon. Coming Up items include calendar icons for upcoming events. Green check marks only display in the Recent Feedback section to indicate completed assignment feedback.
Announcements
Disable Comments on Announcement and Marked As Read
When users read an announcement, the announcement is marked read even if commenting is disabled
Explanation: When an instructor set the course option to disable comments for announcements, reading an announcement did not mark the announcement as read and retained the bold text. This behavior occurred because Canvas wasn’t coded to mark a post as read if it was locked. Canvas code has been updated to change locked announcements as read if the topic is visible for the current user.
Assignments
Assignment Groups
When creating an assignment, instructors can always view the assignment group drop-down list.
Explanation: When an instructor created an assignment, selected the assignment group drop-down menu, and selected the [New group] option, the assignment group modal window wasn’t able to be reopened if the instructor used the close icon instead of the Cancel button. This behavior occurred because of a Javascript rendering error. Canvas code has been update to reset the assignment group modal window regardless of how it was closed.
Grading Schemes
Instructors can edit the default grading scheme when editing an assignment.
Explanation: When an instructor edited an assignment with a Letter Grade or GPA scale grade display, any changes made to the default grading scheme weren’t being saved. This behavior occurred because the assignment was not associating the ID of the grading scheme. Canvas code has been updated to save edits made to the default grading scheme in the assignments page.
Muted Assignments and Assignment Group Totals
Muting an assignment does not factor the score into an assignment group.
Explanation: When an instructor muted an assignment in a course with assignment groups, the score of the assignment was appearing as part of the associated assignment group. This behavior occurred because the page cache was overriding the muted assignment status and refreshing the grades. Canvas code has been updated to hide muted scores in assignment groups.
Calendar
Calendar Event Times
Calendar events after 11:30 pm retain their correct times.
Explanation: When an instructor used the calendar to move an assignment to another date, any default time of 11:59 pm was being changed to 11:30 pm. This behavior occurred because of a date formatting error. Canvas code has been updated to retain correct times for calendar events after 11:30 pm.
Conversations
Non-favorite Courses and Concluded Status
When a user has set up favorite courses, non-favorite courses only display in the concluded menu if they are concluded.
Explanation: When a user set up favorite courses, non-favorite courses displayed in the Concluded courses menu. This behavior occurred because of misclarification in the code regarding the definition of complete courses. Canvas code has been updated to clarify code regarding term dates and end at dates and only display truly concluded courses in the Concluded menu.
Courses
Course Home Page and Assignment List
When a Course Home Page is set to the Assignment List, instructors do not view an overdue section.
Explanation: When an instructor set the Assignments List as the Course Home Page, instructors and admins were viewing the assignments list with past due dates as overdue. This behavior occurred because the display was not confirming the user’s permissions and viewing rights. Canvas code has been updated to not display the student view of the Assignment List for admins and instructors.
Course End Date Setting and Concluded Enrollments
Instructors can view quiz results in concluded courses.
Explanation: When an account enabled the Restrict Students from Viewing Quiz Questions after Course End Date option, instructors and TAs with concluded enrollments were also restricted from viewing quiz results in both the quiz and SpeedGrader. This behavior occurred because the restriction was not verifying multiple permissions to review grades. Canvas code has been updated to allow users to view quiz questions if they have grading permissions.
Discussions
Close for Comments and Marked As Read
When users read a discussion, the discussion is marked read even if the discussion is closed to comments.
Explanation: When an instructor set the course option to close a discussion to comments, reading a discussion did not mark the discussion as read and retained the bold text. This behavior occurred because Canvas wasn’t coded to mark a post as read if it was locked. Canvas code has been updated to change locked discussions as read if the topic is visible for the current user.
ePortfolios
ePortfolio Downloads
ePortfolios can be downloaded even if the pages contain no content.
Explanation: When a user created an ePortfolio and tried to download the ePortfolio, the download never completed. This behavior occurred because ePortfolio pages required content to be downloaded. Canvas code has been updated to always download ePortfolio pages regardless of content.
Files
Maximum File Size
Media files larger than 500 MB display an error message.
Explanation: When a user uploaded a media file that was larger than 500 MB, the user viewed a message the video file was not acceptable. This behavior occurred because the correct error message relating to maximum file size was not configured correctly. Canvas code has been updated to display the maximum file size error message for file larger than 500 MB.
Locked Media Files in IE 11 and Edge
Students cannot preview locked media files in any browser.
Explanation: When students used Internet Explorer 11 or Edge, they were able to view locked or unpublished media file previews throughout Canvas. This behavior occurred because of an error in media comment thumbnail URLs. Canvas code has been updated to disallow previews for locked or unpublished media files.
Pages and Deleted Files
Canvas does not display media previews for deleted file attachments.
Explanation: When a media file was uploaded to Course Files and then added to a page, the file generated an embedded media and a download link. However, when the file was deleted from the course, the embedded media was still able to be played but the download link generated an error message. This behavior occurred because the download file was not specified to be disregarded for deleted objects. Canvas code has been updated to remove page content for deleted files.
Grades
Grading Scheme Percentages
Percentages in grading schemes round to the nearest tenth.
Explanation: When an admin or instructor created a grading scheme, any percentages that had decimals between one and nine were not rounded consistently. This behavior occurred because the grading standards included no limits for rounding. Canvas code has been updated to round percentages to the nearest tenth.
Late Quiz Submissions
The Gradebook shows if a quiz submission was late.
Explanation: If a student started a quiz but the quiz auto-submitted on the Until date, SpeedGrader showed the submission as late but the Gradebook did not. This behavior occurred because Canvas was not correctly checking the submission time for both the finished at time and the due date. Canvas code has been updated to determine when a quiz is late and display the status in the Gradebook.
Modules
Duplicate File Names
Duplicate files added through modules include a unique counter to differentiate file names.
Explanation: When adding files in the modules menu, users were able to add multiple files with the same file name. This behavior occurred because the code was not handling duplicate items. Canvas code has been updated to add a unique counter to differentiate duplicate file names.
Lock Dates and Must View Module Items
When a module item is locked by an Until date and marked with the Must View requirement, the item is marked as viewed when a student views the page.
Explanation: When a module item was locked by an Until date and marked with the Must View requirement to complete the module, the item was not being marked as viewed when a student viewed the page. This behavior occurred because modules were only confirming the locked date. Canvas code has been updated to allow visible but locked course content to count for the Must View requirement.
Multiple Date Anonymous Surveys
When added as a module item, anonymous surveys show multiple due dates.
Explanation: When an instructor created an anonymous survey, created multiple due dates, and added the survey as a module item, the module item wasn’t showing the survey as having multiple due dates and only showed the Everyone Else due date. This behavior occurred because surveys wasn’t retaining multiple due dates. Canvas code has been updated to return multiple due dates for surveys in modules.
Submission Grades and Must Submit Module Items
Module items marked with the Must Submit requirement can only be fulfilled if a student submits the assignment.
Explanation: When an item is marked with a Must Submit module requirement, students were able to fulfill the requirement if an instructor added and removed a store for the assignment. This behavior occurred because the module only verified the grade and not the workflow state. Canvas code has been updated to require students to submit an assignment to complete Must Submit module requirements.
Notifications
Graded Discussions
When a graded discussion is assigned to a specific section, notifications should only be sent out to users in that section.
Explanation: When an instructor created a graded discussion for a specific section, users that were not part of the section still received notifications about the discussion. This behavior occurred because graded discussions were not honoring differentiated assignments. Canvas code has been updated to not distribute discussion notifications unless the discussion has been assigned to the student.
Quizzes
Quiz Formula Question Sorting
In Formula questions, single digit numbers sort by actual value.
Explanation: When an instructor created a Formula question and created more than one single digit variable, the sort() function sorted lexicographically instead of by actual value. This behavior occurred because of an error in the Javascript sorting. Canvas code has been updated to sort variables in order of value.
Anonymous Surveys and Student Names
Quiz statistics do not display student names in anonymous surveys.
Explanation: When an instructor viewed the statistics for an anonymous survey, student names could be viewed as part of the number of respondents answer details. This behavior occurred because statistics didn’t account for anonymous survey submissions. Canvas code has been updated to ensure that anonymous surveys remain anonymous.
Essay Answers Symbols in Student Analysis Reports
Essay question responses that contain > or < symbols are included in the quiz Student Analysis Report.
Explanation: When a student submitted an essay question that included > or < (greater than or less than) symbols, the symbols were not appearing in the Student Analysis Report. This behavior occurred because essay question stripped any characters that resembled tags. Canvas code has been updated to retain essay answers in the Student Analysis Report.
Rich Content Editor
Link to URL Button
The Link to URL button creates a link for text that includes a parenthesis, brackets, or a plus symbol.
Explanation: When an instructor entered text in the Rich Content Editor that included a parenthesis, bracket, or ended in a plus symbol, highlighting the text to create a link to the URL did not generate a link. This behavior occurred because of how the Rich Content Editor plugin was extracting content for the link. Canvas code has been updated to support parenthesis, brackets, and plus symbols in links.
Text Links and Images
Adding or modifying a link with an image does not remove the image.
Explanation: When an instructor added or modified a link that was tied to an image and text at the same time, the image was removed. This behavior occurred because of how the Rich Content Editor plugin was extracting content for the link. Canvas code has been updated to retain images when adding or modifying links.
Locked Embedded Image Files
Instructors can embed hidden files in the Rich Content Editor.
Explanation: When an instructor uploaded and locked an image file, then selected the option to let students download the file if they have the link, the instructor wasn’t able to link to the file using the embed image tool. This behavior occurred because the Folders API doesn’t count hidden files, so the embed image window didn’t ask for any associated files to embed. Canvas code has been updated to allow hidden files to appear when embedding images.
SpeedGrader
Differentiated Quizzes and Late Status
When a quiz includes multiple due dates, late quiz submissions are marked as late in SpeedGrader.
Explanation: When an instructor created a quiz with multiple due dates, SpeedGrader did not indicate if a quiz submission was late. This behavior occurred because the logic for late quiz submissions did not account for multiple due dates (differentiated assignments). Canvas code has been updated to support multiple due dates in quizzes.
PCs and Content Expansion
Instructors using a PC can view the scroll bar after expanding the SpeedGrader window.
Explanation: When an instructor expanded the SpeedGrader window using a Windows computer, the scroll bar could become hidden if the submission included a rubric, and some browser windows were not able to be resized. These behaviors occurred because of a code change in a previous release. Canvas code has been updated to allow users to resize the SpeedGrader content window in Windows devices.
Next release schedule:
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Beta release and notes: 1/12/16
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Production release notes: 1/18/16
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Production release and documentation: 1/23/16
Note: You can follow the release schedule on the Canvas Updates calendar
