Category: Canvas

Pronto for mobile-friendly communication with students

Dear MiraCosta faculty,

I hope your fall is starting well! If you’re looking for a boost to your communication with students but haven’t tried Pronto, this might be a good moment to learn more about it!

Pronto’s a messaging tool that’s integrated with Canvas and also has a fantastic mobile app. We’ve had Pronto at MiraCosta for over 2 years now, and (I just checked) over 9600 MiraCostans have sent almost 176,000 messages with Pronto!

To learn more:

– Jim

Jim Julius, Ed.D.
Faculty Coordinator, Online Education

Canvas Release (2023-06-17): New Feature: Bulk Publish and Unpublish Module Items

New Feature: Bulk Publish and Unpublish Module Items

Summary

In Modules, instructors can bulk publish all modules or individual modules. Instructors have the option to publish all modules and items, publish all modules only, or unpublish all modules and items. Additionally, the publish icon on individual modules is updated to include a Module status menu. This menu includes the options to publish module and all items, publish module only or unpublish module and all items for individual modules.

Note: The ability to select multiple specific items to publish is not available.

Change Benefit

This change provides instructors additional options and improves efficiency when publishing Modules.

Feature Workflow

Modules Publish All ButtonModules Publish All Button

In the Modules page, click the Publish All button [1] and select an option [2].

Individual Module Publish Options MenuIndividual Module Publish Options Menu

To view the module status menu of individual Modules, click the Module Status Menu [1]. Then, in the drop down menu, select the desired option [2].

Additional Details

Bulk publish is only available when File Copyright is enabled and set or disabled in a course. Bulk unpublish is not available for any Files. Additionally, an unpublished module overrides the state of individual module items. If an item is published within an unpublished module, students cannot view the item on the Modules page but can still view the published items in other areas of Canvas. However, they will not be able to interact with the item until the module is published.

Canvas Release (2023-06-17): Feature Update: RCE in New Quizzes & New Quiz Updates

Update 1: Rich Content Editor in New Quizzes

Featured Video: Release Screencast: 2023-05-20 New Quizzes Rich Content Editor in New Quizzes

Summary

The Rich Content Editor (RCE) is available in New Quizzes on Production Canvas

Change Benefit

This update provides instructors the ability to utilize the accessibility checker on questions and instructions, add media recordings within New Quizzes, and change the view between the HTML editor and classic view for advanced users. Users can also access a math editor. Additionally, this update provides students with the ability to record audio and video within the RCE of a New Quiz.

Feature Workflow

New Quizzes Build Page with Rich Content EditorNew Quizzes Build Page with Rich Content Editor

When building a New Quiz, instructors can use the Rich Content Editor.

Student View New Quizzes Rich Content EditorStudent View New Quizzes Rich Content Editor

When taking a New Quiz, students can use the Rich Content Editor.

Additional Details

This update completes phase one and phase two of the Rich Content Editor integration in New Quizzes. For more information on the Rich Content Editor integration, see the Re-enablement of the Rich Content Editor (RCE) in New Quizzes blog.

Update 2: Rich Content Editor Supports Third-Party Apps in New Quizzes

Featured Video: 2023-06-17 New Quizzes Rich Content Editor Supports Third-Party Apps

Summary

In New Quizzes, the Rich Content Editor supports adding content using third-party apps.

Change Benefit

This update allows users to easily include third-party tools to provide content in New Quizzes.

Feature Workflow

Rich Content Editor App MenuRich Content Editor App Menu

To insert content using a third-party tool, click the App link [1] and select the desired tool [2].

Rich Content Editor Insert App View
Rich Content Editor Insert App View

When a third-party tool has been selected, users can select  content to insert in the Rich Content Editor.

Update 3: Zero-Point New Quiz in Gradebook Checkbox

Featured Video: 2023-06-17 New Quizzes Practice Zero Point New Quiz

Summary

Instructors can choose to not display a column in the gradebook or student page when creating a zero-point practice New Quiz.

Change Benefit

This change allows instructors to remove unwanted content in the gradebook and prevent confusion for students related to zero-point practice quizzes.

Feature Workflow

New Quiz Do Not Display in Gradebook or the Student's Grade Page Checkbox
New Quiz Do Not Display in Gradebook or the Student’s Grade Page Checkbox

When creating a New Quiz worth zero points, select the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox. 

Additional Details

When the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox is selected, the Do not count this assignment towards the final grade checkbox becomes unavailable. If the Do not display in gradebook or the student’s grade page checkbox is not selected, a column displays in the Gradebook and student grade page as the default.

Connecting your Canvas Course to Various Publisher Tools

If you are using a publisher website for materials and assessments in your course, you may be able to connect your Canvas course to the publisher course site and/or integrate publisher-provided tools so that students can connect to the publisher resources from Canvas without a separate login. Some publishers also allow for ‘deep integration’ (or ‘deep linking’) between your Canvas course and the publisher site, so that assignments and quizzes are individually accessible in your Canvas course and also integrated with your Canvas grade book.

NOTE: When you adopt a third party tool for use in your class, it is your responsibility to ensure it is compliant with state and federal regulations and MiraCosta policies. Please carefully evaluate the tool for issues such as accessibility and student privacy. Contact Jim Julius, faculty director of online education, if you have any questions about this.

Enabling a Pre-Installed Global Publisher LTI in Canvas at MiraCosta College

The following publisher tools (aka “LTIs”) are currently pre-installed globally in MiraCosta’s Canvas environment.

Access Pearson
Cengage Learning MindLinks/MindTap
McGraw-Hill Connect & Campus
McGraw-Hll SIMnet
W.W.Norton

To connect a Canvas course to any of these, go to your Canvas course, click Settings in the course menu and the Navigation tab at the top. This enables you to alter your course menu:

Canvas Navigation

Scroll down, and you will find hidden items that can be added to your course, including the publishers listed above. If your publisher is listed, drag it up to your course menu, or click the button at the right and then the +Enable option to add it to your course. Then be sure you click the Save button at the bottom of the page.

Access Pearson

Cengage Learning MindLinks/MindTap

Cengage Now
Mind Tap Logo

Cengage has numerous products that integrate with Canvas, such as MindTap, CourseMate, Aplia, and CengageNOW.

McGraw-Hill Connect & Campus

McGraw-Hill Connect

McGraw-Hill Connect is another popular publisher being used by many instructors.

Here are some resources on using McGraw-Hill Connect with Canvas:

McGraw-Hll SIMnet

SIMnet Logo

SIMnet works similarly to Connect.

Access Pearson (MyLab & Mastering)

Pearson | My Lab | Mastering logo

Pearson users! The integration between Pearson and Canvas had a major update following the spring 2023 term. MyLab is now called PearsonAccess. Links to Pearson MyLab tools from copied courses will no longer work and must be updated. Please see the Pearson Canvas integration guide for instructors and Pearson Transition guide to learn more, and reach out to your Pearson rep if you need assistance.

W.W.Norton

W.W. Norton Logo

W.W. Norton primarily does books, but they also have tools like InQuizitive.  See:

Is your publisher not on this list?

Many LTIs can be installed at the course level by a faculty member. Contact your publisher for more information and directions on how you can install their tool at the course level. And please keep in mind the note at the top of this page about faculty responsibility for compliance of third-party tools with state and federal regulations and MiraCosta policy.

Requests for the installation of Global LTIs must be made to the Online Education department through your department, and will only be done when multiple faculty are using the tool. We are not able to add global LTI’s on demand. Adequate evaluation and testing is required prior to installation of Global LTIs. As mentioned above, individual faculty may independently install publisher LTI tools in their Canvas courses.

Some individual publishers can be found in the Canvas App Center, which is the mechanism for individual Canvas users to add LTI tools into their courses. Here are a few guides to the Canvas App Center.

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