Account level notification defaults

[nsweeten]

How does an Admin change the notification default settings for the entire Canvas Instance--meaning settings that are turned on/off in all courses and users--before individual users customize their own notifications?

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@nsweeten ...

I am not aware of any notification settings that can be changed by a Canvas admin that would affect everyone.  I'm also not sure if there is any back-end programming that can be done behind the scenes to make some notifications the "default" settings.  (That's beyond my scope of knowledge.)  Notification settings are generally set at the user account level...because individual users can set their own notification preferences based on their needs.

Hope this helps.

[nsweeten]

@Chris_Hofer Is there anyone we can ask about this further?   Basically, the programming is already happening.  I just don't know where.  "Something" determines which settings are active or inactive. I'd like to change the default starting point, of course without changing anyone's ability to customize by user account.  

Admins need to be able to edit the default notification starting point.  The same with the Course Navigation Menu.   

Who can I connect with on this?

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @nsweeten ...

*If* this were possible through some back-end programming, you might want to talk with your school's IT team who knows more about coding and programming.  Keep in mind that anything you might want changed in this manner would be changed for everyone.  In addition, any written documentation here in the Canvas Community related to what you want changed would not match Canvas documentation any more.  Hope this makes sense.  Good luck!

[nsweeten]

@Chris_Hofer SOMEONE chose the default selection on all newly-minted course shells. I would like it to be me.  It is not practical to attempt to locate and train every user (faculty and student) every term. Yes, I want the end user to be able to customize, but the beginning selection matters.  The current arrangement is equitable--in that it disappoints everyone equally.  This can be much more functional for a better user experience (UX) all around. 

[nsweeten]

For example: The Announcements, Conversation/Inbox messages, and Invitations are vital to normal functioning. The rest of the notifications quickly become a cluttered mess that few people want.  The current "advice" leaves me to search out students and faculty who have abandoned their college email after the first week of school due to 100 unwanted junk notifications. 

I would like to be able to manage the default setup for our instance of Canvas. Barring that, I would like to communicate with the programmers and make the case for a different default arrangement.  Who determines what is on and off right now?  I'd like to speak with that department and hear the rationale behind the selection because I'm confident I provide a better selection and a better rationale to back it up. 

I realize you cannot please everyone. That's not what this is about. The selection needs to be more carefully considered for all of your subscribers. Please consider that you end users are encountering the results of programming decisions (most likely) made by programmers who do not deal with thee repercussions of their selections.  This information will be meaningful to the right person or group, and I do not mean the "voting" community.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi there, @nsweeten ...

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I realize you cannot please everyone. That's not what this is about. The selection needs to be more carefully considered for all of your subscribers. Please consider that you end users are encountering the results of programming decisions (most likely) made by programmers who do not deal with thee repercussions of their selections.  This information will be meaningful to the right person or group, and I do not mean the "voting" community.

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I may be interpreting this paragraph wrong (and if I am, I apologize), but it sounds like you're assuming that I work for Instructure and have input into the decision-making process of what gets developed, what gets set as "defaults", etc.  I actually work for an arts college in Michigan, and so I don't have much knowledge on why notification settings are set the way they are for "defaults".

The defaults for notification settings are all listed in this document: How do I manage my Canvas notification settings? (see the link in the last bullet point within the light blue section of this Guide).

I searched the Community, and I found a couple existing ideas that have already been submitted (one has been archived, though) which might be similar to what you are requesting:

• [Notifications] Default notification settings prof... - Instructure Community - 361593 (canvaslms.co...
• Customize default settings for notifications / hid... - Instructure Community - 401614 (canvaslms.co... - this is the archived one

This first idea I linked to has been added to a larger theme which you can find at:

• Empower teachers and admins better manage notifica... - Instructure Community - 555183 (canvaslms.co...

I'd encourage you to follow both the idea and the theme so that if it comes up for voting in the future, you'll have an opportunity to be a part of that process.

I hope these links and resources will be helpful for you in some way.