October technology releases updates

Welcome to our October 2023 technology update! We’re excited to bring you the latest developments in learning technology. This month we have several updates to share so let’s get started:

Canvas

• Canvas Design Blocks: An exciting update has gone live for Canvas Design Blocks on 27 September 2023. Check out the latest features in Block Types, Buttons, Image Cards, Profiles, and Headers. These enhancements offer even more flexibility and creativity in designing your Canvas course.
• Delayed Posting Save Button: When creating a delayed announcement where posting date is set  in the future, the Publish button is now updated to display as “Save”. Please note that if the Delay posting checkbox is unchecked or the date set is in the past, the button text still displays as Publish.
• New Quizzes: Significant updates have been introduced for New Quizzes, making assessment management more efficient. Teachers can now allow students to build on their last attempt, access Item Analysis reports more quickly, export quizzes from the Build page and new Export page, and share Item Banks more effectively. Additionally, there’s a new feature for bulk migration from Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes, offering more flexibility in transitioning to the new system.
• Pages: Editing a page title in Canvas Pages now automatically updates all links to that page within your course. This improvement streamlines the instructor workflow and reduces the need for manual link updates, enhancing the course-building experience.

Folios

Folios, the academic portfolio network, allows students to showcase their educational and work accomplishments while connecting with professionals. Folios are replacing the old Canvas ePortfolio. Explore how Folios can benefit you and your students.

Inspera

Inspera new features and improvements are now available for testing on the Inspera test platform for staff. If staff wish to enable features on Inspera Production environment, they should submit a request to SMS team via IT portal.

Perusall

Perusall Academy recordings

Perusall Academy is committed to supporting teachers and students in getting the most out of the platform.

• Perusall Kickstart: For those new to Perusall, or looking to refresh their knowledge, the Perusall Kickstart is your go-to resource. It’s designed to help you hit the ground running with Perusall, making it easier than ever to engage students in collaborative reading and annotation.
• Perusall Next Level: Ready to take your Perusall experience to the next level? Perusall Next Level provides advanced strategies and tips for harnessing the full power of Perusall in your courses. Elevate your teaching and learning with this resource.
• Perusall Mastery: Become a Perusall master with Perusall Mastery. This advanced resource is designed for seasoned users who want to explore every facet of Perusall’s capabilities. Dive deep and unlock the full potential of this collaborative platform.

Setting Up a Peer Review Assignment in Perusall

1. In your Perusall course, go to Course Home > Library > Add Content > Student Upload Folder.
2. Create and add a Student Upload folder to your course library, filling in the necessary details as prompted.
3. Once students have uploaded their materials to this folder (typically in PDF, Word, or PowerPoint format), you can proceed to create the Peer Review Assignment.
4. Navigate to Course Home > Assignments. Click the green “Add Assignment” button in the upper-right corner.
5. Choose “Add Differentiated Assignment” from the dropdown menu.
6. Select the student upload folder where your students have submitted their work.
7. Each piece of material within the folder generates an area for you to assign students for peer review.
8. You have two options here:
   • Randomly Assign: Use this option to randomise students for each piece of material. Be cautious if you’re conducting blind reviews to ensure students aren’t assigned to their own work.
   • Manual Assignment: Assign students manually and choose whether to conduct blind or present peer reviews.
9. After successfully assigning students, proceed with the Peer Review assignment creation process, setting custom scoring parameters, typically with a focus on Annotation Content and Reading to the End parameters.

If you have any questions or need assistance with Perusall, don’t hesitate to reach out to support@perusall.com.
Additionally, for demonstrations and training inquiries, as well as settings configurations, scoring, or group settings, you can contact nolan@perusall.com.

Tips for Accessibility and UDL

Avoid using colour alone for emphasis
In the spirit of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), remember to avoid relying solely on colour for conveying important information. Provide alternative text or visible indicators, such as underlines, patterns, or shapes, to ensure that all users can access and understand your content.

Read more about design for accessibility.

UDOIT Training Series

UDOIT is an accessibility assistant for Canvas. To help teachers and learning designers master the UDOIT Accessibility Assistant, Cidi Labs has created a sequence of on-demand training videos. Watch the training series to help ensure your course content is accessible to all.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is accurate as of 27 September 2023. 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.