Canvas Updates
New Quizzes – Text Block Feature (May 2025) Instructors can now add standalone text sections to New Quizzes that aren’t tied to questions, allowing for additional context, instructions, or prompts to guide students. Canvas Release Notes (2025-05-17)
Discussions – Permalinks (May 2025) Each discussion reply now includes a copyable permalink, making it easier to reference specific replies and navigate threaded discussions. Canvas Release Notes (2025-05-17)
Discussions – Manage Threaded Replies (July 2025) Instructors can now bulk manage threaded replies in legacy discussions via a new banner and “Manage Discussions” button. This allows for enabling or disabling threaded replies across all discussions at once or individually.
Files Page Redesign (June 2025) The Files page has been completely redesigned with improved sorting, pagination for large file sets, streamlined selection tools, and enhanced bulk actions (Download, Delete, Move). Canvas Release Notes (2025-06-21)
SpeedGrader Performance Upgrades Enhanced performance for faster load times, streamlined interfaces, clearer submission alerts, and improved rubric display. Canvas Release Notes (2025-06-21)
New Features
Differentiation Tags Instructors can create custom student groupings based on learning needs, interests, or accommodations. These tags help with personalized content assignment, gradebook filtering, and targeted messaging – all invisible to students. Canvas Release Notes (2025-06-21)
Dyslexia Font Users can enable a Dyslexia Friendly Font in User Settings. This will display the Canvas interface and the Rich Content Editor display text in the OpenDyslexic font by default. This feature helps improve readability for users with dyslexia and supports a more inclusive learning experience. Canvas Release Notes (2025-07-19)
Accessibility Updates
Enhanced Experience for Assistive Technology Users Updates aimed at improving accessibility, usability, and equity. This includes “refined semantic structure, clearer error messaging, improved visual contrast, and enhanced keyboard and screen reader navigation.”
Read Blog Post: Advancing Accessibility in Canvas