December 2024 technology updates
28 November 2024Image by Mohamed Hassan on Pxhere
In our technology updates we announce the latest developments in UoA supported tools for teaching and learning.
Canvas
Improved SpeedGrader experience (coming January 2025)
SpeedGrader is getting an upgrade! Starting January 2025, users will experience faster load times, improved stability, and interface enhancements, including:
- Streamlined Section drop-down menu
- Clearer and more prominent No Submission alert
- An improved interface for courses without content
- Submission Status updated to a drop-down menu
- Adjusted placement for media attachments and comments, with a new delete icon
Multiple due dates for discussions
Graded discussions now support multiple due dates or checkpoints, which allows for better structuring of participation, ensuring students meet deadlines for each step in the discussion process (e.g., initial posts and follow-up replies).
Key highlights of this feature:
- Checkpoint setup: Enable checkpoints by selecting the Graded and Assign graded checkpoints checkboxes. Points for initial posts and replies are configured during setup.
- Student View: Students can see all due dates and reply requirements in a Due Dates tray from the discussion page or module. Completed checkpoints display submission dates and times.
- Grading tools: Checkpoints can be graded in the Gradebook or SpeedGrader, where individual posts are highlighted, and grades for initial and follow-up replies are entered separately.
- Grade breakdown: Students can expand their Grades page to view detailed scores for each checkpoint.
Figure 1: Discussion Assign Graded Checkpoint Checkbox.
Figure 2: Discussion Checkpoint Settings.
Preserve group set during assignment copy
When copying group assignments, Canvas now automatically creates a new group set in the destination course if no matching set exists. This improvement ensures greater consistency and accuracy when managing group assignments across courses.
FeedbackFruits
Streamlined access to libraries, portfolio, and analytics
FeedbackFruits now offers easier access to libraries, analytics, and portfolio. By logging into app.feedbackfruits.com with your institutional email, you can seamlessly access:
- My library
- Institutional and shared libraries
- Course and cohort analytics
The feedbackFruits login portal for the teaching and learning system , transforming learning in the 21st century. shows login email and information that if you have usef FeedbackFruits before your account will be recognised
Figure 3: FeedbackFruits login portal
The institution library shows a side navigation with insights and details about university and profile, it also shows private library and standalone courses. The institution library itself contains activity templates, ruberick templates and learning journeys
Figure 4: FeedbackFruits Institution library
Real-time feedback with Acai Coach
The Acai Coach tool now provides real-time feedback on student contributions in Feedback, Reflect, and Discussion activities. This aligns with user expectations from generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Acai’s optimised feedback timing is less distracting, allowing students to iterate on their contributions smoothly.
Note: Acai Coach must be enabled by instructors at both the course and assignment levels.
The gif shows a document with highlighted text on the left, on the right a sidebar is open with the heading “write a feedback comment”, when the comment is finished a feedback coach gives guidance on the feedback
Figure 5: In Peer Review activities, the coach is also available in the sidebar.
We hope these feature improvements will help you improve student engagement and gain insights into your cohort’s progress.
As always, should you have any questions or require assistance, seek support from IT Connect and Ranga Auaha Ako, Learning and Teaching Design Team. We’re here to help.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is accurate as of 29 October 2024. Please note that the features and updates mentioned above are based on available information at the time of writing, and there may have been further developments since then.