Portfolio in Canvas: New and Improved!
Canvas has rolled out a new Portfolio tool designed to make it easier for instructors and students to showcase work, reflect on progress, and curate meaningful artifacts over time. This new tool will replace the classic ePortfolios and the Folio features in Canvas.
Built-In Accessibility Tools You Can Use Today
FSCJ has launched a collegewide Accessibility Compliance Initiative in response to new ADA guidance requiring public institutions to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for digital content by April 2026. While the long-term goal is to build a consistent, accessible experience for all users, you don’t need to wait for new tools or formal training to start making progress. Many of the systems and applications we already use include built-in accessibility checkers that are quick to access and easy to use. Below, you’ll find some of the most common ways to check your content’s accessibility.
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.
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.
The Canvas Conference: New Features and AI Buzz
InstructureCon, Canvas’ annual conference, brought innovative features, new friendships, exciting partnerships, and yes, a fair share of AI chatter. The two biggest official announcements made were Instructure’s partnership with OpenAI and the launch of IgniteAI, both of which have sparked understandable curiosity here at the College and beyond.
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.
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.
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.
Introducing Khanmigo in Canvas: Your AI-Powered Teaching Assistant
Khanmigo by Khan Academy now in Canvas: Trusted AI to streamline prep and give you more energy for teaching, now free and available in Canvas for U.S. educators.