New features and improvements available in Canvas

Several new features and improvements are now available in Canvas, including Discussion Checkpoints, enhancements to the Photo Roster and an upgrade to SpeedGrader.

The Discussion Checkpoints feature enables instructors to set multiple due dates or checkpoints for graded discussions, supporting different stages like initial posts and follow-up replies. This feature allows for more structured participation, ensuring students meet deadlines for each required step in the discussion. To learn more about how to use this feature, view the Discussion Checkpoints release notes.

The Photo Roster has been enhanced to help instructors identify students by name and face, making recognizing them in class and during online interactions easier. The upgrade allows instructors to hover over a student’s image to see it in an enlarged view.

SpeedGrader has undergone an upgrade to boost performance and usability. This improvement results in a faster and more efficient experience for users managing larger courses or complex assignments. The backend technology has been upgraded to enhance SpeedGrader’s ability to handle high-demand tasks more effectively and reliably. For more information about these improvements, view the SpeedGrader release notes.