New Features and System Changes – UC San Diego Extended Studies Online

Below is a running list of new/updated features and changes that impact our online learning systems. This article focuses on our Canvas and Kaltura systems, but will also highlight other systems used by our online users such as Zoom.

Here is an archived list of historical Feature and System Changes

April 23, 2022
October 16, 2021
September 14, 2021
- Easier access to My Media (all users)
June 19, 2021
- Comment library (instructors)
April 21, 2021
March 20, 2021
February 22, 2021

April 23, 2022

Apply score to ungraded submissions (instructors)

In the Grades area within a Canvas course, instructors now have the option to apply a score to all ungraded assignments within a specific assignment group or for the total grade book in one batch.

For full details about this feature option, please see Apply Score to Ungraded Assignments.

Default due date time on course level (instructors)

When an instructor sets due dates on course assignments they can specify a time. The system default time is 11:59pm. If you would like this time you be different, you can edit it on the individual assignment or you now have the option to set your own default due date time on your course.

To update the due date time in a course enter you course and go to Settings. Scroll down to the Default due time field and enter the time you prefer.

Please note, the Assignment Default Due time will not update existing assignments with due dates already set.

Icon maker in rich content editor (instructors)

This change provides instructors the ability to create simple and reusable icons in their courses without using an external tool. The Icon Maker allows basic customized iconography to be created directly within the Rich Content Editor including text within shapes that also be turned into web or course links.

Please read our Using the Icon Maker in Canvas article for directions.

October 16, 2021

Sticky Navigation Menus (all users)

The Account, Course, and User Navigation Menus remain sticky and are always visible on their respective pages. This change allows users to access the menus at any time.

When a long page scrolls down on a page, the respective menu is retained in the sidebar. If the navigation menu is longer than the height of the screen, the menu can also be scrolled to view all menu links.

Editable Submission Status Labels through SpeedGrader (instructors)

Instructors are now able to edit submission status labels in SpeedGrader. The SpeedGrader sidebar includes an Edit icon to be used for submission statuses. Statuses can be edited the same way as in the Gradebook. Additionally, adjusting a status in SpeedGrader also applies to the Gradebook.

For more information, view Submission Status Label Edits.

Assignment Search Available in Gradebook (instructors)

The Gradebook includes an Assignment Names search field, in addition to the already existing search for student names. The Gradebook includes two search fields: one for student names, and one for assignment names. Using the Assignment search field displays any search results that match an assignment in the course.

Course Notification Customization available in User Notification Settings (all users)

Users are now able to modify course notifications without having to access the course-level Notifications page for each course. However, if a user has any active course enrollments, the menu displays the name of each course. Users can navigate between their courses and set specific notification options for each course, if preferred. Any updated notifications also sync to the course-level Notifications page.

Microsoft Immersive Reader supports additional pages (all users)

Microsoft Immersive Reader now supports individual Assignments, the Course Home Page, and the Syllabus.

Accessibility Checker Available in Rich Content Editor (all users)

The Accessibility Checker shows content creators when accessibility concerns are detected without needing to open the Accessibility Checker. When the Accessibility Checker Notification is enabled for a course, any accessibility issues detected within the Rich Content Editor display an indicator.

For more information, view How to use the Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor?

September 14, 2021

Easier access to My Media (all users)

To streamline access to your Kaltura media, we've added a navigation menu item to your User Account Menu in Canvas. If you're an instructor, we removed the My Media course menu item since this is more accessible from anywhere in Canvas.

June 19, 2021

Comment library (instructors)

Instructors now have the ability to reuse common text for comments/feedback on student assignment submissions. Please see How do I use the Comment Library in SpeedGrader? for more information.

April 21, 2021

Term or course dates displayed in settings (instructors)

Within the settings for your course, Canvas now displays the term or course dates that your content may be associated with. This only affects display purposes, as UC San Diego Extended Studies programs student access on the individual student, not on the course level, so these dates do not impact anything within your course. Read Why are the dates wrong in my Canvas course? for more information.

New link to Canvas-generated help guides

Within the Help menu in Canvas, users now have access to a link for Canvas-generated guides and tutorials. You may find this useful if you are unable to find information from UC San Diego Extended Studies help center. Please note, some aspects of the interface or tools may be different as the Canvas-generated content applies to a generic instance, which may or may not have the same look or features that UC San Diego Extended Studies uses.

Form to request third party app/integration installation (Instructor and Staff)

Program managers and instructors may now initiate a request for Online Learning to evaluate a third party tool/integration within Canvas. Due to privacy and troubleshooting concerns, we will need to determine whether the tool that you request applies the UC San Diego privacy policy, protects student data, and benefits the overall instructor and student experience. To learn more about supported tool integrations and submit an evaluation request please visit Third Party Tools and Canvas Integrations.

Once you submit the form, we will provide a response within 30 days and follow up with you once we have made our decision and next steps.

Machine-generated captions enabled for Kaltura media created prior to 11/20/20

UC San Diego Extended Studies is continuously improving our accessibility capabilities to better serve the diverse needs of our students. To increase accessibility and enhance the student experience within Canvas, we have enabled machine-generated captions for all uploaded course media. These machine-generated captions are editable and we encourage you to review and refine: How to Edit Machine Generated Captions.

Note: Media uploaded to Kaltura after November 25th, 2020 will already have machine-generated captions added as a default behavior without any additional steps or notifications.

March 20, 2021

Webcam Submissions (students)

For File Upload assignments, students may now use their webcam to take a photo and then upload for their submission.

File Preview Enhancements (all users)

Files linked in the Rich Content Editor can be previewed in an overlay or inline. Users now have the ability to control the display of the file preview. Previously all file previews opened in a new browser tab.

Users who link a file can open the File Options menu and indicate a preview type:

Preview in overlay displays the existing file preview functionality, where the file preview opens and overlays the entire page.
Preview inline loads the displays the preview directly in the Rich Content Editor window once the file is clicked. If the option to expand the preview by default is also selected as an option, the file is automatically expanded in the page and the user does not need to click the file to view it. Instead, the user can close the preview by clicking the Minimize Preview link that displays along with the image.

Submission Reassignments (instructors)

In SpeedGrader, instructors can reassign an assignment with a due date to an individual student and ask them to redo their submission.

For online assignments that allow multiple attempts and have a due date, instructors can view a Reassign button in SpeedGrader. If they require a student to redo an assignment, they can reassign the assignment directly to the student from within their grading workflow in SpeedGrader. The instructor must first provide feedback regarding the assignment, which will enable the button. The reassignment does not change the original due date for the student.

Notes:

The Reassign Assignment button is not available for External Tools (LTI), on paper, and no submission assignments.
The Reassign Assignment button is only available for assignments with due dates.
If an instructor returns to SpeedGrader after navigating away from the page, the Reassign Assignment button shows that the assignment has been reassigned.
If the assignment's settings do not allow students to make an additional attempt, the Reassign Assignment shows that the assignment is not able to be reassigned.

February 22, 2021

Immersive Reader available for pages (instructors and students)

To improve accessibility, users now have the ability to use the built-in Immersive Reader on pages. The Immersive Reader offers additional tools and options to enhance your reading experience.

Please note, this is only available on content within pages only and is not currently available for other types of content (e.g., Assignments, Discussions, etc.). For more information, please view:

View Ungraded as Zero (instructors)

Instructors now have the ability to view unsubmitted or ungraded student submissions in the total column with a score of 0. This is a visual change in identifying grading calculations for ungraded assignments and does not actually affect any grades.

The View menu includes the View Ungraded as 0 option, which allows instructors to view student grades as if all ungraded assignments were worth zero points.

Please view How to View Ungraded as Zero for more information.

Visual improvements to HTML editor (instructors and students)

Within the rich content editor, when you click on the HTML editor icon, users now have the option to toggle between a visually improved version of the HTML (Pretty HTML Editor)and the previous version of the HTML (Raw HTML Editor). Please note, only the Raw HTML Editor is currently accessible to screen reader users.

Kaltura My Media shortcut available in User Account navigation (instructors and students)

Users now have the ability to access their Kaltura My Media through the User Account navigation menu. This reduces the need to access My Media through the Rich Content Editor or through a Course Navigation menu.

New label on Kaltura player for machine-generated captions

There is a new label on the caption drop-down indicating machine-generated captions by English (auto-generated). This change will be applied to videos uploaded after 2/22/21. Previously uploaded files with machine-generated captions will continue to be labeled as English.