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Need to Know

What's new in learning technologies for fall 2026

The summer months often bring many updates for centrally-supported academic technologies. To better circulate the comprehensive list of changes, newsletter staff compiled a scannable, information-packed Extra Points: What’s New in Learning Technologies for Fall 2026 for you to review. 

Zoom notice for health sciences users

Zoom training (15 minutes) is required for all new Health Sciences staff and students prior to the start of this semester:

  • Health Sciences staff or students new to the University of Minnesota must take Zoom: Understand HCC Requirements in order to attend classes or meetings on Zoom that require authentication.
  • Students who are transferring into the Health Sciences and already have a UMN Zoom account need to take Zoom: Understand HCC Requirements training. 
  • Once they complete the training, students should allow up to 30 minutes for their completion to be logged in our system. After the 30 minute period, they should log in to zoom.umn.edu. 

Instructors can host a Zoom class session within Canvas for students needing to attend sessions remotely.

Good to Know

Canvas Mobile App for Students icon

Canvas updates 

Learning mastery Gradebook enhanced

If you use the Learning Mastery Gradebook, you'll welcome recent improvements to search, sort and view student mastery data. Increased visibility allows instructors to identify issues and step in with targeted support. Watch this short video (1:38) for a brief overview of these improvements.

Course works transitioning to VitalSource for fall 2026

As the Course Works provider transitions from RedShelf to VitalSource, you will notice updated labels in Canvas: the existing tool is now Course Works (Summer 2026), and the new deployment is labeled Course Works (Fall 2026). Both tools are available in course navigation throughout the fall term. Instructors can embed Course Works in Assignments, Modules, or the Rich Content Editor. Direct students with questions regarding course materials to [email protected].

Custom course navigation links

There is a more reliable way to add custom links directly to your course navigation. Custom Course Navigation Links replaces the functionality of the Redirect Tool with key improvements:

  • When you copy a course for a new semester, the internal links update to point to the new course.
  • Likewise, when copying a course, the external links remain fully functional. 

Begin using the Custom Course Navigation Links because the Academic Technology Tools team will be retiring the Redirect Tool ahead of Spring 2027.

Mandatory token expirations

Instructure implemented an abrupt security change enforcing lifespan limits on user-generated access tokens. As a result, your user-generated token may have expired, and new tokens you create will expire after 30 days (students) and 90 days (teachers).

While this change improves overall system security, we recognize it may disrupt custom scripts or homegrown workflows. If this change impacts your operations, reach out to [email protected]. We are happy to discuss your workflow and help you explore secure, supported alternatives.

Tips and Tricks

block m with academic video production written underneath it

Transform your course media: Launching the new Academic Video Production site

Creating professional video content for your courses doesn't require technical expertise or extra hours in your schedule. Check out the new Academic Video Production page—a dedicated platform for faculty looking to produce high-impact lecture modules, on-location lab demonstrations, and interviews.

Our team of experienced, professional video producers run the entire operation from start to finish, letting you focus entirely on your teaching.

Our complete production services include:

  • In-studio lecture filming: Step into a fully equipped environment where staff handle the cameras, lighting and audio for a seamless recording experience.
  • On-location lab demonstrations: Producers come directly to your lab with broadcast-quality gear to film experiments, complex procedures, and equipment walk-throughs.
  • Complete media production: Enjoy comprehensive support from initial planning and setup through final editing and delivery.

Elevate your instructional content effortlessly. Visit the new page today to meet the production team and schedule your first shoot!

Generative AI in Higher Ed

Maroon and gold circles connected by lines in a network.

August webinars to help you navigate the AI landscape

Teaching Support, a collaborative network of departments across the University of Minnesota, is hosting several sessions to help you navigate the landscape of AI tools at the University and how to best respond to them in your teaching. Join Teaching Support for one of their one-hour webinars in August to increase your own AI literacy:

Accessible Bytes

New feature for link accessibility in UDOIT SpeedFIXIT

You can use SpeedFIXIT within the UDOIT accessibility checker in Canvas to review suggestions to fix common accessibility errors in course content and files. The newest feature in this tool allows you to quickly fix link accessibility issues:

  • Automated identification and fixing: SpeedFIXIT within UDOIT now automatically flags and fixes inaccessible links in Canvas courses, such as raw URLs or nondescript text like "click here" and "read more."
  • AI-generated text suggestions: The tool provides two editable, AI-suggested text alternatives for each link, using the linked page’s title and surrounding context to create descriptive link text.
  • Scope limitation: SpeedFIXIT focuses strictly on link accessibility text and does not check for broken links. Users should continue using the Canvas Link Validation tool to check for broken URLs.

Read more about all of the ways SpeedFIXIT can correct common accessibility errors in your course sites.

Engagement and Learning Opportunities

August teaching enrichment series

August 10–28, 2026; online via Zoom

Choose from a range of virtual workshops on practical and relevant teaching strategies related to generative AI, team-based learning, setting the tone on the first day of class, Canvas, supporting neurodivergent students, new teaching assistant orientation and more. See August Teaching Enrichment Series session details and register today. 

Canvas Portfolios: Building Dynamic and Meaningful Evidence of Student Learning

Tuesday, October 6; 11 a.m.-noon

Looking for a way to track student growth and encourage deeper reflection throughout the term? Register for this session where you'll learn how to design progressive portfolio assignments that foster metacognition, diversify evaluation in your courses, and give students an opportunity to showcase real-world achievements. We will walk through practical strategies and workflows to create Portfolios in your courses. You will leave with actionable ideas ready to implement directly into your teaching practices.

Check out more events across all Teaching Support partners.

Spotlight

 

Transforming peer feedback with Canvas Peer Review Enhancements

Canvas Peer Review Enhancements modernize course feedback by converting peer reviews into an active, dynamic, and fully integrated learning experience. Previously, the peer review tool in Canvas was bound directly to the main assignment framework, sharing identical due dates and point values while requiring additional administrative oversight. This update transforms peer review activities into independent workflows that function as distinct items across Assignments, Modules, student To-Do lists, and the Gradebook.

Core benefits for instructors and students

The updated feature suite gives instructors complete visibility and control over the feedback process, streamlining management for high-enrollment courses and providing a cleaner workspace for students. Key enhancements include:

  • Independent due dates and point values: Assign a dedicated timeline and separate point values for the review phase without altering the main submission deadline.
  • Smart auto-pairing: The Smart Allocation Engine automatically pairs students based on real-time, available submissions until the "Available Until" date passes.
  • Strict vs. flexible allocation rules: Enforce or block specific pairings using strict rules, or use flexible rules to prioritize preferred pairs while automatically assigning alternates if a submission is missing.
  • "Submit to View" restrictions: Prevent students from viewing assigned peer reviews until they have turned in their own work.
  • Redesigned student workspace: Reduce cognitive load with a clean, tabbed interface that separates assignment instructions from peer work and provides easy toggles for rubrics and comments.
  • SpeedGrader integration: View reviewer effort instantly within SpeedGrader while accessing submissions, peer-review rubrics, scores, and comments in one place without manual reassignments.

How to get started

While these enhancements will become the default and only setting for Canvas Peer Reviews in January 2027, you can begin using them this fall: 

  • To explore step-by-step instructions, release notes, and additional documentation, read Extra Points: Collaborative Feedback Made Easier: Introducing Canvas Peer Review Enhancements. 
  • Join Academic Technology Support Services (ATSS) to explore Canvas Portfolios on October 6, 11:00 am-noon via a Zoom webinar. In this session, you'll learn how to design progressive portfolio assignments that foster metacognition, diversify evaluation in your courses, and give students an opportunity to showcase real-world achievements. We will walk through practical strategies and workflows to create Portfolios in your courses. You will leave with actionable ideas ready to implement directly into your teaching practices. 

Additional Resources