Canvas Discussions and Announcements have a new look and new features. You can enable them now in a sandbox to try them out. But don’t worry; if you enable the redesign, updates will automatically be applied to any previous discussions and announcements. You will not lose any posts or replies. Things will just look a bit different, and some new features will be available.
To enable, go to Settings, Feature Options tab, click the red X next to “Discussions/Announcements Redesign,” and select “Enable.”
Mt. SAC will transition to the redesign as the default and only option between Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms. Canvas has set their enforcement date set for July 20, but due to our term dates, we will transition early so as to have the least disruption to courses in progress.
Highlights
Interface “Facelift”
The interface has a new look with the toolbar now at top and newest replies at the top of the first page (instead of at the end of the last page). Replies may be sorted from newest to oldest or from oldest to newest. And there is a cool new split view option that pops out any threaded replies.
Did you know you can turn on comments for Announcements? This is a 2-step process: 1) Enable comments on announcements in your course settings. (By default at Mt. SAC, this box is checked, but you can uncheck it to allow comments.) 2) Unchecking the box in Step 1 will default to allow comments on all course announcements, but you can turn off comments for individual announcements if you wish. (Again, you will uncheck the box if you do not want to allow announcements on an individual announcement.)
Refer to Users or Comments
Users can now be “tagged” or “mentioned” using the “@” symbol. Comments can be quoted in a user’s reply to another user.
Anonymous Discussions
When creating a discussion (not available when editing), instructors can set a discussion to be anonymous. Grading and Groups are not available for anonymous discussions. Instructors can also allow students to create anonymous discussion topics.
Report Replies
Instructors can allow students to report replies. If enabled, students would report replies from the vertical three-dot “kabob” menu of a reply. Instructors can choose to be notified of reported replies.
please Note
- To edit a discussion or announcement, you may do so from the kabob menu (three vertical dots) inside a discussion or announcement.
- Multiple due dates are in the works and are expected to be complete by the end of June.
- The redesign is not yet fully mobile compatible; a completion date is not yet set. Some new features are available and some are not. Download the Canvas mobile app to experience it for yourself.
Learn More
Attend an FCLT Workshop about the redesigned discussions and announcements. Check the POD Calendar for dates and times. These workshops are open to all faculty and also count toward SPOT Recertification.
Bookmark this Canvas page for all things Discussions/Announcements Redesign. Access the Canvas guides (note that some guides include features that are not yet available, such as multiple due dates).
- Announcements Redesign Instructor Guides
- Announcements Redesign Student Guides
- Discussions Redesign Instructor Guides
- Discussions Redesign Student Guides
If you would like to give feedback to Canvas related to the redesign, you may do so in their Discussions/Announcements Redesign User Group Forum.
Have you tried the redesign? What’s your favorite feature? Is there anything that you don’t like? Let us know in the comments!