In our Canvas Plus Monthly, we discuss the new features and enhancements available in the Canvas LMS and any updates to academic technology/software that are integrated into Canvas. This month, we’ll share two updates to Canvas’ grading settings, as well as a Panopto enhancement and some exciting updates for Respondus LockDown Browser.
Canvas Gradebook: Hidden Grades Indicator
If you have a Manual grade posting policy applied to any of your assignments, you can now enable a View Hidden Grades indicator in the Gradebook Settings. When enabled, instructors will see a small icon next to any grades that have not yet been posted, which will help quickly identify any grades that are still hidden from students.
To enable, go into your Gradebook and click on the cogwheel on the upper right. Click on the View Options tab and check the box for “View hidden grades indicator.”
SpeedGrader: Multi-Select Sections
In SpeedGrader, checkboxes have been added to the sections filter. When filtering submissions, instructors now have the ability to select checkboxes to filter submissions by multiple sections at once. You can find this area by navigating into the Speedgrader and clicking the down arrow next to the student’s name. Click “Showing: All Sections” at the top and review the flyout list that appears.
Note: If your course only has one section, this feature will not be available.
Respondus Monitor’s “Screen Only” Option
When administering an exam using LockDown Browser, the Respondus Monitor settings now include an option for “Screen Only.” This will capture a student’s screen during an exam without engaging the webcam. Use cases include reviewing footage if exam pages or images are loading slowly, or if a student needs to explain their work.
Note: If the “Screen Only” option is selected, the name of the exam will still update to say “Requires Respondus LockDown Browser + Webcam”
Using MS Word with Respondus Monitor
In addition to MS Excel, Respondus Monitor now also supports switching to MS Word during an online exam. If enabled, students will be able to open MS Word from within LockDown Browser and switch between the Word application and the exam. Learn more here: Using MS Excel or Word with Respondus Monitor.
Please note:
- Screen recording is required (either Webcam + Screen or Screen Only)
- Web versions of Word are not supported.
- This option is not available for the iPad or Chromebook versions of LockDown Browser.
To enable this option, navigate to your exam’s Advanced Settings in your Respondus Monitor portal.
Auto-Resizing with Panopto’s Embedded Videos
Panopto videos now have responsive embed codes. When embedding a Panopto video into your Canvas course, videos now automatically adapt to any screen size. This is an overall improvement for the viewer experience and will significantly help mitigate issues when viewing videos on mobile devices.
Panopto offers a short video to learn more and to see a responsive embed in action!
