Released by Instructure in August 2015, the new Canvas user interface (UI) provides a more streamlined view of Canvas by restructuring navigation menus and offering a more content-centric focus. Currently the new UI is only available as a option that must be enabled by administrators of the institution. The new Canvas UI will replace the current (legacy) UI on May 31st, 2016.
The current Canvas UI has navigation divided into two areas: Global navigation on the top, and Course navigation on the left-hand side. See the image below for reference:
On the other hand, the new Canvas UI consolidates all navigation onto the left-hand side. By aggregating top-level items to the left with expandable sub-menus, there is more of a focus on screen real estate for relevant course content.
In addition to the consolidated navigation, some other major changes include the Dashboard—the default view upon logging into Canvas, which is where a list of courses is located. Also the Sidebar lists to-do items and upcoming tasks.
The dashboard has two different views which encompass either the eye-catching course cards, or recent activity stream. The course card view focuses on quick and easy access to course content, while the recent activity stream displays relevant notifications from all courses that a user is enrolled in.
The sidebar centers on what is due for the current week within the upcoming seven days, and recent feedback by instructors for assignments a student has submitted to. The View Grades button is also located on the sidebar and was previously located on the left-hand navigation in the legacy UI.
Several updated and new features of the new UI include:
Dashboard:
- Course cards
- Corresponds to favorite courses and allow for quick access to courses and course content
- Up to 4 Canvas features for student course activity (dependent on Course-navigation): Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, and Files
- Change Course card color (syncs colors to course Calendar as well)
- Assign Nickname to course card
- Recent Activity View
- Can be toggled and switched between the Course Card View or Recent Activity Stream
Sidebar
- Grades are now viewed by clicking the View Grades button in the Sidebar
Below are some links to official guides from Canvas that cover in more specificity: course cards, recent activity, the sidebar, and grades in further detail.
New UI: Navigating the left-hand Global Navigation
As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact us via email or phone.