Canvas Updates
Opt in to use an enhanced SpeedGrader
Instructors can enable Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader in any of their course sites. This feature is great for large enrollment courses because it loads faster and offers better navigation among sections and students.
- Important: The mini RCE in this updated Comments area lacks buttons for Image upload and Math editor. The course link option under the Links button is also not present. Instructors can disable Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader in the course to roll back to the legacy SpeedGrader if needed.
Read How do I Use SpeedGrader with the New Performance and Usability Upgrades for an overview of all new features in the enhanced SpeedGrader.
To enable enhanced SpeedGrader:
- Go to Settings in the course menu.
- Navigate to the Feature Options tab along the top of the Settings area.
- Select the Enabled state for Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader feature.
Proctorio removed from Canvas Quizzes
After the retirement of Proctorio in May, the Academic Technology Tools team scanned all past Canvas courses for leftover HTML code from Proctorio in the Rich Text Editor (RCE) of both Classic and New Quizzes. Past course sites have had the tagline (Proctorio Removed) added to the title of any quizzes that had this leftover code removed. This tag in the title allows you to see what assessments have used Proctorio.
After you import any course assessments into your current semester shell, look for this tagline in front of any quiz titles to determine which assessments you want to use online exam proctoring for. You can enable Honorlock for those assessments going forward. Read Privacy in Video Proctoring Guidelines for resources to prepare your students for the use of Honorlock in your course.
Zoom Updates
Enhancements to screen share presenter layouts
Users can access screen share presenter layouts. The updated Share features, found on the right-side panel of the Share Screen window, provide clearer layout options to help users apply a presenter layout to any type of screen share.
Allow in-meeting questions with AI Companion to be archived
For accounts with Meeting Archiving and meeting questions with AI Companion enabled, account owners and admins can include in-meeting questions with AI Companion to be archived.
Use the better “Add Media” button in Canvas’ Rich Content Editor
Reports of tool usage over the summer showed that many instructors are using Canvas’ Add/Upload Media button in the Rich Content Editor to add media to pages, assignments, and quizzes. The use of this button is not recommended for a few reasons:
- There are no analytics captured for who watched the media or for how long they watched it.
- The full media files are uploaded to the course site instead of embedded, which contributes to slower course load times.
- The media does not meet accessibility requirements and there is no ability to make it accessible.
The better button to use when you want media in Canvas is the Add Media Using Kaltua button. It embeds videos that solve the issues above. The other button will be taken out of the toolbar sometime this school year. As you work on using media in your course sites this semester, follow these how-to guides to get the best experience for you and your students:
- Add Media Using Kaltura in the RCE
- Add Media to My Media in Canvas
- Have students Submit a Video/Audio Assignment Using Kaltura
Figuring out what to do about AI? Teaching Support has some guidance
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools are reshaping how students learn and create, raising questions about ethical use, academic integrity, and the value of original thinking in higher education. Instructors across the University fall along a broad spectrum—ranging from those unsure where to begin or how to prevent students from using AI, to those actively redesigning assignments and assessments to be more AI-resilient. Teaching Support has carefully curated resources based on the latest research and updated institutional policy for you to take the next step in figuring out what to do about AI.
Add an AI usage statement to your syllabus
Whether you are an AI enthusiast or an AI skeptic, don't let Generative AI be an ambiguous area in your syllabus. As more UMN-approved AI tools become available, clearly communicating expectations regarding Generative AI use in your courses is essential. The Twin Cities Provost Office has several AI syllabus statements to choose from. For additional guidance on how to set student expectations for your course, join UMN academic technology staff on August 21st from 1-2 p.m. for a hands-on workshop that will provide a practical framework for making decisions to move beyond vague "allowed" or "not allowed" policies and to consider nuances and discipline-specific applications. Workshop participants will engage in collaborative exercises, analyze sample statements, and begin developing or modifying their own AI syllabus language.
University-wide AI event on October 24th
Don't miss the Navigating the GenAI Landscape: A UMN forum for exploration and discovery event on October 24, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This online event, sponsored by the Center for Educational Innovation, Data Science and AI Hub, and Office of Information Technology, will feature a keynote address, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and lightning-round presentations. The forum aims to encourage discussion and the responsible use of AI tools across the University of Minnesota. Complete the Save the Date Form (form closed) to receive an invitation with information closer to the event date and to have a hold placed on your calendar.
Keep working on making digital course content accessible
Federal regulations and University of Minnesota policies require that all instructors comply with new digital accessibility standards by April 2026. This requirement extends to all Canvas course content.
What Can You Do?
UMN is making progress, but we need your support to achieve 100% accessibility compliance by April 2026. As instructors, you can take action in these ways:
- Remove any old materials from your Fall 2025 course sites.
- Start revising your existing course content using the 7 Core Accessibility Skills.
- Attend the upcoming workshop (via Zoom) Create an accessible syllabus — Aug. 20, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
- Automatically check your Canvas course for accessibility using UDOIT.
Questions? Contact your Academic Digital Accessibility Liaison or review the Digital Accessibility Resource Guide.
Spotlight
FeedbackFruits Interactive Study Materials tools now available
FeedbackFruits Interactive Study Materials tools are available in Canvas. These tools (Interactive Document, Interactive Video, and Interactive Audio) take passive reading, viewing, or listening activities and turn them into highly interactive learning activities that engage students more deeply in the subject matter and give instructors a glimpse into what students are learning and what they may be struggling with.
Academic Technology Services recently published a blog highlighting how instructors used these tools during the pilot phase last spring. Dr. Bennett McNulty, a philosophy instructor organized his students into small groups and tasked them with annotating course readings–specifically identifying the thesis, evidence, and counter-arguments of each text. This structured approach significantly improved student engagement and accountability for class reading assignments. It also showed Dr. McNulty how students were coming along or struggling in analyzing texts before they started the in-class discussion. Dr. McNulty’s class received the Excellence in Canvas Innovation award last spring. One of the nominating students specifically mentioned the use of FeedbackFruits Interactive Document tool saying, “The use of FeedbackFruits for the pre-class assignments allows the course readings to be interactive through visible annotations from other group members and discussion threads.”
The Interactive Study Materials suite offers ways to effectively break up one-way communication, making students more accountable for their learning, and providing a platform for gathering formative feedback. The tools facilitate peer-to-peer dialogue and can guide students through complex material by requiring them to actively engage with it rather than simply consuming it. In the School of Nursing, Dr. Ryne Wilson used the Interactive Document tool to create asynchronous learning opportunities by embedding discussion questions directly into PDF articles, requiring students to respond before progressing. The Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing is using the Interactive Video tool to help students prepare for certification exams. As students watch a video of a patient session, they are asked at certain points to give a response to the patient in the video. These high-order response questions allow students to practice communication with patients in a low-stakes way.
Read Beyond Passive Learning: Engage Students with FeedbackFruits Interactive Document & Video to learn about more use cases for these tools. If you would like to try any of the FeedbackFruits tools, see the FeedbackFruits technology page to get started, or contact [email protected] to schedule a consultation with an academic technology support person.