BibliU Access Through Canvas and Simple Syllabus
As you know, the College has transitioned from Follett Discover to BibliU as our primary digital textbook platform. As part of this change, the BibliU icon was added to the Canvas Global Navigation, and the language in the Required Textbooks/Materials component of Simple Syllabus was updated to reflect the new platform. However, because many faculty submitted their syllabi before this transition was finalized, you may need to reset that component to ensure the correct information appears for your students.
What’s New in Canvas This Fall?
Whether you’ve spent the summer exploring or simply catching your breath between terms, we’re excited to welcome you back to the start of the new term. As you start your Fall courses, we want to make sure you’re aware of some exciting updates and new features available in Canvas.
New YouTube Integration in Studio Means No Ads
Starting this fall, YouTube videos embedded directly into Canvas will begin displaying ads. To keep course media distraction-free, Instructure is rolling out the YouTube Player for Education within Canvas Studio on September 1, 2025. Videos added to Studio will remain ad-free, with captions carried over automatically and new tools for analytics, quizzing, and content management. A step-by-step guide and migration tool are available to help faculty transition existing videos into Studio before the September 22 change.
Canvas Core Features Every Instructor Should Use
We understand that not every instructor needs to the Canvas LMS for all their needs. Instructors may use a variety of third-party tools to support teaching and learning outside of Canvas. But no matter what platform or workflow you prefer, it’s important to provide students with a consistent experience in Canvas.
To help with that, we recommend all instructors use a few key features in Canvas. These features promote communication, transparency, and student success. Even if most of your course content lives outside of Canvas, these tools ensure that students always know where to go for updates, grades, and important information.
Discussion Checkpoints Allows Multiple Due Dates
Canvas Discussion Checkpoints are now available at FSCJ, giving faculty new ways to structure graded discussions with separate due dates and point values for initial posts and replies. This feature helps students manage participation expectations while giving instructors greater flexibility in grading and feedback. Learn how to set up checkpoints and make the most of this tool in your courses.
Turnitin is Upgrading to v1.3!
Turnitin is getting an upgrade in Canvas on August 22. We’re moving from version 1.1 to 1.3 of the external tool, bringing better security, smoother performance, and new features like section filtering and SpeedGrader access. If you're using Turnitin through the External Tool option, this change affects your courses. We’ll walk you through what’s changing, how it impacts rubrics, and how to make the switch as easy as possible.
Identify "Students in Need of Attention” in your Canvas Courses
Identify At-Risk Students Early with Canvas’s New “Students in Need of Attention” Dashboard
Discover how this powerful tool in New Analytics helps faculty spot disengagement, low performance, and missed assignments before they become barriers to success. Learn how to customize alerts, explore student trends, and take meaningful action—right from your Canvas course.
Big Blue Button 3.0 - What’s New in 2025?
BigBlueButton has rolled out new features aimed at improving the virtual classroom experience, including enhanced breakout room controls, updated polling tools, and a simplified interface for moderators.
Improving Assignment Setup Ease and Academic Integrity with the Turnitin Plagiarism Framework
One key advantage of the Plagiarism Framework is the required checkbox students must click before submitting their assignment, confirming that the work is their own, original content. This small but intentional step can serve as a deterrent to academic dishonesty by prompting students to reflect on the integrity of their submission.
Improvements to the Canvas Course Import Process
Recent updates to Canvas have improved how course content is imported and managed. Instructors will now notice that importing previously used materials no longer creates duplicates—content is overwritten instead, helping keep course shells more organized. The Import Content interface has also been refreshed for clarity, with enhanced timezone displays and flexible options for shifting or removing due dates. These changes aim to simplify course setup and support a smoother teaching experience across terms.