Canvas is updating the user interface for Announcements and Discussions, introducing new features and options. This update will be automatically enabled for all MIT Sloan courses on May 20, 2024.
Attention MIT Sloan teaching teams! We’re excited to announce that the Announcements and Discussions tools in Canvas are getting a fresh look and new functionality. These updates, set to roll out on May 20, 2024, are designed to make communicating with your students and facilitating engaging class discussions more intuitive and efficient. Keep reading for a high-level overview of what you can expect.
Announcements
The Announcements tool, which allows you to broadcast important course information to all students or specific sections, will feature an updated user interface and several enhancements:
- Streamlined menu options: Key actions like searching, filtering, sorting, and adjusting reply views will be easily accessible from the top Toolbar menu.
- Enhanced search: The Search feature, conveniently located at the top of each announcement, will highlight matching text to make finding relevant content easier.
- Improved organization: Sort replies (if enabled) by newest or oldest, view them inline or in a split screen, and easily identify posts from the teaching team with role labels.
- Increased interactivity: Subscribe to announcements to stay informed, and use mentions to directly address specific individuals in your replies.
To learn more about these upcoming changes, see Coming Soon: Updated UI and Features for Canvas Announcements.
For step-by-step instructions, refer to Canvas’s guides for:
Discussions
The Discussions tool will offer a more user-friendly experience and new features to enhance student participation:
- Streamlined menu options: The top Toolbar menu will provide quick access to key actions, while the Options menu will house controls for editing posts and marking threads as read or unread.
- Improved search: The Search feature, conveniently located at the top of each discussion, will highlight matching text to make finding relevant content easier.
- Edit history: Teaching teams can view the version history of student discussion posts.
- Anonymous discussions: Choose to enable partial or full anonymity for student posts and replies.
- Threaded replies: Discussions will be limited to three levels of nesting (initial post, reply to post, reply to reply) to keep conversations organized and easy to follow.
- Flexible interaction: Sort replies by newest or oldest, view them inline or in a split screen, subscribe to discussions, and use mentions to engage directly with specific people in the course.
- Enhanced moderation: Role labels will distinguish posts from the teaching team, and students can report inappropriate messages for instructor review.
To learn more about these upcoming changes, see Coming Soon: Enhanced Discussions in Canvas.
For step-by-step instructions, refer to Canvas’s guides for:
How to Get Support
If you have any questions or need support, Canvas provides 24/7 support to faculty, staff, TAs, and students. Simply click the Help button in the Global Navigation Menu in Canvas.
If you still need assistance, submit a ticket to our team and we’ll connect you with the resources and support you need right away.
