Canvas @ Yale

Canvas Updates for Fall 2025

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Notable changes to Canvas @ Yale environment, last updated 03/06/2025.

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.

Canvas External Application Updates

Configurable Custom AI Agents in Ed Discussion

Ed Discussion, available in Canvas, supports the addition of custom AI agents which faculty can use in their Ed Discussion space using Ed Discussion's Bots++ functionality. These custom agents can be given custom system prompts as well as specific course material content to inform responses to students.

For more details about Bots++ and how to configure it for your Ed Discussion space, please review our support article, Ed Discussions: Adding an AI Chatbot with Bots++

Instructors can enable a redirect link to the Clarity Platform, Yale's secure chatbot, in their Canvas course navigation for all Fall 2025 course sites. To learn more, please review our support article, Enabling the Clarity Platform Link in Your Canvas Course Site.

At this time, the Clarity Platform is not integrated directly with Canvas @ Yale for deeper interaction or functionality. Enabling the redirect link in your Course Navigation does not:

  • Pass your Canvas course roster to Clarity
  • Create a custom chatbot agent that you can configure
  • Read or have access to any of your Canvas course content to reference
  • Provide you insights or logs to what your students may be using Clarity for in your class

The Clarity Platform redirect link in the Course Navigation just provides a more convenient place for faculty and students to get to Clarity.

Educational Technology Pilot: PressBooks

PressBooks is currently in a 3-year pilot. This is a joint pilot shared between the Center for Language Studies (CLS), University Library, and Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. CLS faculty are working to create Open Educational Resources in Pressbooks, which they can then embed directly into Canvas @ Yale with the Pressbooks LTI tool.

While the focus for support on PressBooks is focused on CLS faculty, there are a limited number of book licenses that can be applied to other users who want to use or create open educational resources.

For more information about using PressBooks, please check out our resources:

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