Notable changes to Canvas @ Yale environment, last updated 02/28/2025.
Also check out Canvas Updates for Spring 2025 and Canvas Updates for Fall 2025.
Table of Contents
This article will address the following information:
Canvas Updates
Canvas's core functionality is continuously updated throughout the year. Here are some of the more notable changes you should be aware of.
- When copying a group assignment, group categories are created with the same name as the original when no match exists. Previously, group assignments were linked to a matching group category in the destination course if available, or defaulted to the Project Groups category.
- When sorting a discussion, the selected sorting preference is automatically saved for that specific discussion.
- When a student joins a self-sign-up group on the People page, the Visit link remains next to the name of the group they joined. Previously, the link would disappear after joining.
- When creating a group set, a tooltip is added to the Leadership section that clarifies the permissions assigned to a group leader.
- When expanding and collapsing a discussion thread, the selected visibility preference is automatically saved for that specific discussion.
- On the Quiz page, students view the due time displayed alongside the due date when starting a New Quiz. This update helps ensure students don’t miss quiz due dates.
- On the Announcement Edit page, the Participants must respond to the topic before viewing other replies checkbox is added.
- When assigning automatic peer reviews in a Discussion, the date label is changed to Assign Reviews, replacing the previous label, Reviews Due.
- In the Group Tray, groups display the associated course name.
- When exiting the Rubric Edit page, instructors see a warning indicating that unsaved work will be lost.
- When the Disable comments on announcements setting is enabled in Course Settings, all comment and threaded reply options on the Announcements Edit page are automatically disabled.
- When the permission is enabled by the institution, instructors can use the Moderate page to search by Canvas ID or SIS ID in New Quizzes.
- In New Quizzes, instructors can moderate a student's quiz by removing one answer choice from multiple-choice questions that have four or more options.
Discussion Checkpoints
When the Discussion Checkpoints feature option is enabled, instructors can set multiple due dates or checkpoints for graded discussions to accommodate different stages of the discussion process, such as the initial post and follow-up replies. This feature allows for more structured participation, ensuring students meet deadlines for each required step in the discussion.
At this time, the new Discussion Checkpoints feature enhancement in Canvas is scheduled to be enabled in Canvas @ Yale in May or June 2025 as further development and stabilization of this new feature is made.
Canvas External Application Updates
Gradescope: Rubric Locking Permissions
Gradescope now supports the option to set Rubric Permissions for course and assignment settings. These permissions allow an instructor to designate if other graders in the Gradescope course can add, import, or edit the rubrics for a course or assignment. For more details about this updated feature, please check out Gradescope's release notes. Additionally, you can review the Rubric Permissions support documentation for more details on how this new setting works and where / how to use it in your Gradescope assignments.