Update all Canvas assessments for a course efficiently in one location
Students consistently state they rely on Canvas to alert them to when things are due. Make sure all of your graded class activities have due dates assigned to them. Use the bulk due date update feature in Canvas to quickly update all due dates for the new semester in your Canvas course site. If you previously assigned differentiated due dates for sections, students, or groups, you can update these types of due dates within bulk due date updater as well.
Canvas Updates
DesignPLUS sidebar turned on
The new DesignPLUS sidebar is now the default when editing content. Two colleges—Public Health and CCAPS—have opted to keep the legacy sidebar as the default. Learn how to upgrade your content to work with the new sidebar. Any user in any context can toggle between legacy and new using these key combinations:
- MacOS: Shift + Option + V
- Windows: Shift + ALT + V
Equation editor added to the Rich Content Editor in Speedgrader
The ability to format submission comments in Speedgrader is relatively recent. Now the Rich Content Editor includes an equation editor so you can incorporate math equations into comments on assignments.
Student Analysis Report in New Quizzes
If you use New Quizzes and are looking for insights into students' grasp of course materials, try the new Student Analysis Report. Currently, only the most recent attempt by a student is displayed with previous attempts hidden. An update this year will include all attempts.
FeedbackFruits Updates
Updated syncing features
FeedbackFruits now offers enhanced syncing features, allowing instructors to easily identify which parts of their FeedbackFruits activities have been fully updated in Canvas:
- Grade Publication Status: The FeedbackFruits grading table now shows the status of grades synced to Canvas, including timestamps that match the gradebook and flags for outdated grades if changes occur. For a detailed view of an individual student’s grades, simply click on their grade cell to access a complete history of grade publications.
- Assignment Deadlines and Group Status: The synchronization status dialog box now indicates whether an assignment deadline or group membership has been successfully synced with the LMS. The status will display as "Completed," "In Progress," or "Failed," making it easier to track updates.
Explore these new features and learn how to check the sync status of assignments or grades in detail.
Pilot available for FeedbackFruits Interactive Tools: Interactive Document, Interactive Video, Interactive Audio
Throughout the spring 2025 semester, UMN will pilot FeedbackFruits tools designed to enhance student engagement:
- Interactive Document encourages active engagement with reading materials and their peers through social annotation, similar to tools like Hypothesis and Perusall.
- Interactive Video and Interactive Audio allow students to collaboratively annotate video and audio files.
System staff and instructors are invited to participate in the pilot by using these tools with students or exploring their features independently.
To request access, fill out the Google request form (no longer accepting responses) or email [email protected].
Emerging Technologies Faculty Fellows Program participants share their experiences
In the final semester of the 18-month program, fellows are refining and implementing their projects, and sharing their experience with colleagues and the broader UMN community. Each month, interviews featuring faculty fellows will be posted in Extra Points as part of the GenAI Explorations series. This month features the following faculty fellows:
- Nicole Dillard, Assistant Professor of Human Resource Development in CEHD, explored how to develop students' digital literacies through generative AI skill development to prepare them to go into the field as HR practitioners.
- Karin Quick, Associate Professor & Director of Division of Dental Public Health & Kristin Shingler, Teaching Assistant Professor of Dentistry and Director of Assessment and Curricular Integration, integrated genAI into their classes, while considering the ethical considerations and concerns surrounding genAI.
For more on Generative AI, read an interview with Colin McFaddin, Technology Architect for the College of Liberal Arts. McFaddin considers GenAI in historical context and shares CLA's guidance for genAI in the classroom.
Remove old, outdated content from Canvas to boost accessibility
Give your course site an instant accessibility boost! As you begin teaching this spring, take time to remove old, outdated, and unused materials from Canvas. To meet the standards for accessible course materials outlined by the Department of Justice in their clarifications on Title II of the ADA, all content in student-facing course sites must be accessible. Removing all unused course content now will save your future self time and energy in meeting the April 2026 deadline of having all course materials accessible.
Spotlight
AI Community of Practice connects colleagues around the University with use of AI in higher education
Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to be completely interwoven with our work and personal lives. From the AI tools that many technology companies are adding to their suite of features, to the highly popularized generative AI platforms, you don’t get too far into your day without hearing about or even interacting with AI.
The AI Community of Practice (AI CoP) hosts a space to share ideas, build your skill set, and create connections with like-minded folks. Group founder Adam Brisk says, “We work in a huge University system, and it can be easy to be siloed and specialized, and isolated from new ideas. It's been an absolute treat to share programming and resources with the UMN community.”
Whether you wish to dip your toe into this new technology or you have already immersed yourself into the world of AI, the AI CoP is a great group of peers to engage:
- Monthly Share Time
- This is a low-stakes, conversational meeting of faculty and staff from all system campuses who discuss projects, conundrums, and opportunities in the world of generative AI. The format includes one to two invited guest speakers for 10-minute shares, and time for open discussions on multiple topics.
- Meets via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am.
- Google Group (email listserv)
- The Google Group offers a quick way to connect and share materials, events, and ideas. Receive emails about articles to read at your own pace, questions that colleagues are wrestling with, and upcoming programs throughout the UMN community. Everyone is welcome to share their experiences and practical knowledge.
- AI CoP Book Club
- This semester’s exploration of Princeton University Press’ book AI Snake Oil: what artificial intelligence can do, what it can't, and how to tell the difference will be an entry place to the mysteries and realities of generative AI, and can serve as a springboard for discussions about teaching, academic integrity, critical thinking, meaningful work, and writing and editing of text. The conversation kicks off on February 2.
The AI CoP was started during the fall of 2023 by Adam Brisk, an Academic Technologist at UMD, at the request of the campus’ IT leadership who wanted a place for the community to gain awareness of this technology. Bill Rozaitis, from the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) sees the group as “A great way to stay informed about how colleagues are using genAI in their teaching and other work.” Cherie Lemer, Digital Experience and Technology Program Manager in Health, Safety, and Risk Management, says, “It is nice to have a supportive community that builds best practices together.”
The next monthly share time is Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 10 a.m. and will feature a conversation about student perceptions of AI and a presentation on a use case at the School of Veterinary Medicine.