Changes to Flipgrid for August 2021

 Flipgrid completed a few tweaks over the summer that are now all available to their users. Check them out below!

A Fresh New Design

Flipgrid has streamlined and simplified their interface. You can preview this new interface in the following video:

Create Topics on Flipgrid Mobile

Instructors can now create topics on the mobile app, rather than having to log into the desktop version. 

Add Music and Backdrops to your Flipgrid videos

With this new feature, you will be able to select the perfect track from our thematic playlists and the song will auto-adjust to fit the length of your video.  You can adjust the volume to suit your vocal volume.

Backdrops are just like a green screen except way cooler and better. Choose from one of the built-in images or upload your own. Plus, you can engage with your content by dynamically switching sides of the canvas whenever you want and add text, stickers, and drawings. 

New Camera Features and Flipgrid Lenses

Flipgrid will consistently be adding new stickers, filters, boards, frames, and more to the camera to better tell your stories. Also, with the addition of Flipgrid Lenses, you'll be able to add more visual interest to your videos. You can preview the lenses in the following video:

 

 

As always, please contact Learning Technologies with any questions about these changes!

Latest Updates to Zoom (with bonus Kaltura content!)

 There have been quit a few updates to Zoom this summer. We'll do a dive into each of them in this blog and include links to Zoom's content so you can learn more. 

Video Waiting Room

You can now add a video to your waiting room (if you use one.) This can be welcoming the attendees, going over any housekeeping or rules, or just be something cute and interesting to look at. Learn more about this and get a downloadable customized video by going to https://bit.ly/3j3CsKw

Zoom Apps

Zoom now has the capability to add certain apps to its platform, rather than having to share your screen and have students participate that way. This is especially helpful for anyone wanting to use Kahoot! or Mentimeter in their meetings. You can learn more about apps within Zoom, as well as what apps are available, by going to https://bit.ly/3kdT29G

Kaltura Integration 

Management of the Kaltura Zoom Integration is now set in the Kaltura Management Console instead of in Zoom. This allows for improved Zoom integration setup and management workflow. You do not need to do anything to enable this change. 

Kaltura Transcoding

Starting on 8/15 Kaltura introduced a new method of transcoding their videos. The new transcoding profile generates a Full HD flavor and a SD flavor for smaller screens. The Full HD flavor is marked as the source and the original source flavor is not retained. Previous content is not affected. The new transcoding profile is applied only to the new Zoom recordings ingested to the system from now on. You do not need to do anything to enable this change.

Add Kaltura Quizzes to YouTube Videos

If you've used the quiz feature in Kaltura and like how it keeps your students accountable for watching course videos, you can now utilize that same feature on top of a YouTube video (think TedTalks, etc.)

 

As always, contact Learning Technologies with any questions about these changes!                          

Canvas Updates for July 2021

There aren't a lot of changes coming to Canvas with this release, but we thought we'd update you anyway!

SMS Notifications End of Life

SMS Notifications for Announcements and Grading have been removed from Canvas. Additionally, the SMS colu

 

mn has been removed from the Notifications page.

Rich Content Editor

The Classic Rich Content Editor is no longer supported in Canvas.  This is the editor that has the V button for embedding media, rather than the plugin icon. 

 

Microsoft Teams Sync

Ahead of August's rollout of new Teams LTIs, course rosters can now be synced with Microsoft Teams starting on July 15th.  

Coming Soon: Microsoft Teams LTI for Canvas

 

From Microsoft:

Coming soon, educators and students will be able to access and edit Teams meetings for their courses directly from Canvas. Users will be able to view past and upcoming meetings at a glance on their agenda and schedule, edit, and join meetings from within the Canvas course. Plus, they’ll get all the great capabilities available in Teams, including meeting security and settings that help them create a safe and focused classroom environment. 

This rollout is expected to happen sometime in August and Learning Technologies will keep you apprised of any updates!

Canvas Updates for June

 

Discussion Board Redesign

Canvas is making updates to how the discussion board both looks and functions. 

For individual discussion topics, the interface has been expanded for maximum space and ensure responsive views.

The following modifications have been made to the page:

• The toolbar has been moved to the top of the discussion thread. 
• Newest replies display at the top of the first page instead of the bottom of the last page.
• Users can sort replies from newest to oldest, or oldest to newest.
• Users can also quickly move to the top of the discussion topic at any time. 

Examples of both the old and new discussion board threads are shown below:

 

 

SpeedGrader Comment Library

Do you find yourself frequently using the same comments when using SpeedGrader? You can now save frequently used comments in SpeedGrader and reuse them across multiple students and assignments.

 

Learn how to use this feature by watching the video below: 

 

 

These changes will go into effect Saturday, June 19th. As always, contact Learning Technologies with any questions!

Zoom's New Immersive View

 

 

Earlier this month, Zoom released a new immersive view that has many users pretty excited. 

Whether you want to create the feeling of being in a classroom, a boardroom, a conference auditorium, or your favorite place to catch up with friends, Zoom’s Immersive View assembles up to 25 participants in one fun, consistent meeting environment.

 

There are several pre-loaded backgrounds but you are also able to add your own. There is no minimum number of participants needed in order to use immersive view, you can upload your own immersive scenes, the seating plan can be changed and people's virtual representatives can be made larger or smaller. All of this is controlled by the meeting host, so participants only see what the host sees and no one can hijack the meeting. 

Immersive view is already enabled in Zoom but needs to be enabled in a meeting by clicking the four squares in the top-right corner of a meeting, where you’d normally go to switch between Gallery and Speaker views. 

 

Users need to have Zoom version 5.6.3 or higher. Additionally, MacOS users need OS version 13.3 (High Sierra) or above. Attendees not able to use Immersive View can still participate via Gallery View or Speaker View.

Canvas Updates for May 2021

Starting May 15th, 2021, the following updates will be made to Canvas:

 

Auto-Show Closed Captioning

Users can now enable captions to show by default in all Canvas videos. This change allows users to view captions added to videos by default without having to manually enable captions for each individual video.

Note: Videos embedded from third-party tools, such as YouTube, are not supported. Additionally, videos embedded from Canvas Studio videos are not yet supported but will be in a future release.

 

Student Annotation Assignments

Instructors can now use an annotated assignment type to upload a file for students to annotate and submit directly in Canvas.  

This change allows instructors to provide a file as an assignment and allow students to annotate the file directly in Canvas. Currently students have to either print the file and take a photo to submit, or use a third-party tool to complete the submission.

 

Course Templates

A course ID can be designated as a course template for all new courses created in an account. This functionality is supported for both manually created courses and SIS import. 

This change provides a consistent user experience for students and will ensure all base materials are included with each new course by an institution’s admins and/or authors.