Ready Release Notes (2020-05-16)

[#1]

The following features will be available in the production environment on 2020-05-16:

Commons

Category Templates

• User Role: Instructors
• Opt-in: No

Courses

Canvas Elementary Theme

• User Role: Instructors, Students
• Opt-in: Yes

Modules

File Upload Enhancements

• User Role: Instructors
• Opt-in: Yes

Release notes describe upcoming Canvas functionality and are subject to change.

• Follow the Ready Release Features document to be notified of updates
• For all release changes to this document, view the Release Notes Change Log
• If you notice any contrary functionality compared to the outlined behavior in these notes, please file a Canvas support case according to your institution's support protocol
• Deprecations and end-of-life announcements related to Canvas Platform Services (APIs, GraphQL, Canvas Data) are located in the Canvas Platform Breaking Changes page.

• Updated Features
• Commons
• Category Templates
• Courses
• Canvas Elementary Theme
• Modules
• File Upload Enhancements

Release Notes Change Log

Updated Features

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Commons

Category Templates

This feature is used in conjunction with an external tool (LTI) in Canvas. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about LTI tools, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                

Feature Functionality Details	Commons LTI
Affected Canvas Areas	Commons LTI
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing Commons feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	Commons

Summary

Admins can identify a resource as a Template or Open Textbook content type. Additionally, the Filter includes options to search for either of these content types.

Change Benefit

This change allows instructors to easily locate Template or Open Textbook content types. Previously these content types could only be located by using search terms.

Affected User Roles

Admins

When a resource is shared to Commons and managed by an admin, the resource can be identified as a template or an open textbook. 

Instructors

The Share page includes a new category called Content Type. When an instructor searches for templates, the Filtering option displays both content types. Existing resources are identified as templates or open textbooks based on their titles and tags.

Courses

Canvas Elementary Theme

This feature can be enabled in Canvas through a feature option in Course Settings. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about feature options, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                

Feature Functionality Details	Canvas Elementary Theme Feature Option
Affected Canvas Areas	Global Navigation Menu, Course Navigation Menu, Rich Content Editor
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors, Students
Feature Enhancement Ideas	Existing courses feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	courses

Summary

Courses can display a user interface designed for K–6 users.

Change Benefit

This change provides a simplified Canvas experience and displays a font conducive to younger students.

Affected User Roles

Students, Instructors

When this feature option is enabled, and a course has not customized the Course Navigation Menu, visible links default to Home, Announcements, Modules, and Grades (subject to content being available in Announcements and Modules).

Canvas also displays a new font, Architect’s Daughter, in the Global Navigation Menu, Course Navigation Menu, and Breadcrumbs bar. The font is also updated in the Rich Content Editor. If the feature option is turned off, the font changes from Architect’s Daughter to the Canvas default, Lato.

Note: Enabling the Elementary Theme will change the font in all applicable locations and simplify the Course Navigation Menu for all users in the course. The Global Navigation Menu will display in Lato when the student views any other course not using the Elementary Theme.

Modules

File Upload Enhancements

This feature can be enabled in Canvas through a feature option in Account Settings. Please view the content below for additional details. For more information about feature options, please see the Canvas Release Notes FAQ.
                

Feature Functionality Details	Module File Upload Enhancements Feature Options doc
Affected Canvas Areas	Modules, Course Home Page
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected User Roles	Instructors
Feature Enhancement Ideas	View existing Modules feature ideas
Specified Tag for Feature Ideas	modules
Feature Idea Contributions	https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/5443-drag-and-drop-files-into-course-modules-and-assignment-ed...

Summary

Instructors can add multiple module content from the Course Home Page or the Modules page. Additionally, the Course Home Page has received small design modifications.

Change Benefit

This change helps instructors build module content with multiple files at one time, using the same functionality supported in Course Files.

Affected User Roles

Instructors

When Modules is selected as the Course Home Page, instructors can add new module content directly in the Course Home Page. With a new course, instructors are shown the option to create a new module. The Import Existing Content option displays in the Course Home Page sidebar as an additional button.

Once a module name has been added and saved, the module displays a files area to drag and drop multiple files. Users can also browse for files by selecting them from their computer desktop.

Module Items

In the module’s Add Item window, the File selection allows multiple files to be uploaded at one time. The number of selected files are displayed next to the Choose Files button. Once added, the files are uploaded to Canvas, and the progress of the file upload displays directly in the module window. When file uploads are complete, the names of the files are shown directly in the window. 

If an uploaded file is a duplicate of an existing file, Canvas displays a prompt asking if the file should be overwritten, renamed, or skipped.

Release Notes Change Log

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Date
2020-05-13	Release Notes Published