May 2025 technology updates
29 April 2025Image: Mohamed Hassan on Pxhere
In our technology updates we announce the latest developments in UoA supported tools for teaching and learning.
Canvas
Improved media playback
The media player has been updated with improved accessibility, adaptive streaming, and privacy features. Changes include:
- Increased default embed size (480x300px)
- Redesigned and repositioned play bar
- Integration of an open-source media player aligned with Canvas design patterns
- Ability to upload and delete closed captions
- Improved keyboard accessibility with a shortcut icon
- Enhanced privacy for secure playback
- Adaptive video quality based on bandwidth availability
These changes offer a more intuitive design, better usability, and long-term compatibility while enhancing accessibility and security.
View the Canvas release notes.
Figure 1: Canvas media player.
Canvas Marking & Grading: Training for staff
Prepare for upcoming assessments with our dedicated Canvas sessions. These are ideal for staff who are responsible for grading and providing feedback in Canvas.
Topics covered:
- Accessing the Canvas SpeedGrader
- How to use the annotation and comment tools in SpeedGrader
- Entering grades, using rubrics and feedback opportunities in Canvas
- Best practice tips for navigating the Canvas Gradebook interface
Session dates:
- Tuesday 6 May 2025, 1 – 2pm
- Thursday 8 May 2025, 10–11am
- Tuesday 13 May 2025, 1–2pm
- Thursday 15 May 2025, 10–11am
Phishing Incident and Staff Communication Guidance
Following a resolved phishing incident involving compromised student accounts, staff are reminded:
- Although the Canvas Inbox remains available for teacher-to-student and teacher-to-group communication, students can still ‘reply all’ if a message is sent to multiple recipients, meaning their response will be visible to all students included in the original message thread.
- Staff are encouraged to use Canvas Announcements when communicating widely with students. Announcements are the preferred tool for whole-class communication, as they minimise the risk of unintended ‘reply all’ responses. Announcements also allow students to receive updates via notifications while limiting direct reply visibility to the instructor only (students can reply via Announcements if the setting is enabled; it is off by default). Refer to: How do I allow or disallow announcement replies in a course?
For more information, visit our page on modes of communication in Canvas.
Panopto
New video and folder management options
Panopto has added new management features for video content:
- Move Option: Quickly relocate videos using the ‘More actions’ menu.
Figure 2: Select the three dots in the top right-corner of a Panopto video to see the new ‘Move’ option.
- Copy Option: Duplicate entire folders easily through the folder action menu.
View the Panopto release notes.
Figure 3: Select the three dots in the top right-corner of a Panopto folder to see the new ‘Copy’ option.