New Canvas tools for the fall semester

Several new tools are now available in Canvas to support teaching and learning this fall! These additions are designed to make course content more accessible, streamline syllabus creation, and provide additional options for teaching and assessment.

New Tools

• Ally Integration: Ally helps make course content more accessible and inclusive. Ally automatically checks course files and pages for accessibility issues, provides guidance for improving content, and gives students access to alternative file formats to support a variety of learning needs and preferences.
• CourseDog Syllabus: CourseDog Syllabus makes creating and managing course syllabi easier. It uses standardized templates that include required information such as learning outcomes, grading policies, and K-State policies, helping promote consistency across courses. In Canvas, the CourseDog Syllabus appears as “Syllabus.” The default Canvas syllabus is now called “Course Schedule.”
• Microsoft Education: The Microsoft Education app brings Microsoft 365 tools directly into Canvas. It replaces older, separate integrations and provides convenient access to tools such as Teams, OneDrive and Class Notebooks in one place.
• Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor: These tools provide additional options for secure online assessments. LockDown Browser helps protect the integrity of online exams by restricting access to other applications and websites. Respondus Monitor allows students to use their webcam to record themselves while taking an exam. Both tools are now available in all Canvas courses and can be enabled by instructors from the “Course Navigation” tab when needed.

Updates

In addition to the new tools available in Canvas, there are also two important updates.

• File sharing within courses: K-State is an Office 365 campus and does not support file sharing outside of Office 365. Therefore, integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and similar services are no longer available in Canvas.
• Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) Procurement Process: LTIs are secure integrations that connect external educational tools, such as Zoom, directly to Canvas courses. Requests for new LTI integrations must now go through the K-State Purchasing Process. Several LTIs are currently under review, and instructors can view the status and availability of approved integrations in Canvas.
• Manual Course Creation: The Create New Course button has been removed from Canvas. Canvas is intended for credit-bearing courses, and students can only be added to Canvas courses through KSIS. For more information about creating courses and manually adding students, see the Canvas options for manual courses and adding students.