Members

Invitees: Alex Axelsson; Lindy Foster; Brian Lindsley; Mike Bailey; Tamara Mitchell; Jane Nichols; Tabitha Pitzer; Robin Pappas; Jane Nichols; Jon Dorbolo; David Goodrum; Tasha Biesinger; Raffaele De Amicis; Rene Reitsma; Katherine McAlvage; Michael Jefferis, Nargas Oskui; Kara Witzke

Attendees: Mike Bailey; Tamara Mitchell; Jane Nichols; Katherine McAlvage; Michael Jefferis; Lynn Greenough

Minutes/Notes

Overview of the Learn@OregonState advisory committee

Team reviewed background of the committee, evaluation and approval process, and frequency of new requests. Details posted online.

A question came up about how the OSU Canvas team connects with other institutions on their practices and initiatives. Per Lynn, OSU has monthly calls with a large group of R1 universities that use Canvas; we have an annual meeting at Instructure’s conference. We also participate in Unizin groups, and are actively involved in Instructure’s online Community to request and get updated on new features, functionality, and larger initiatives

Introductions

Welcoming Katherine McAlvage (Assistant. Director Course Development and Training, Ecampus) and Mike Jefferis (Associate Registrar) as new advisory committee members

Canvas Sections

After many months of designing, developing and testing, the OSU Canvas team put changes into production on September 12 that enroll instructors and students in Sections. Having sections makes it easier for faculty to manage the gradebook, assignments, announcements and communication to students in multi-section courses.

  • This primarily affects combined and cross-listed courses – some details on Sections are in our FAQ.
  • Sections does not offer a way to segment, isolate or group course content (modules; pages; files, etc.) by section.
  • The “Manage Assistants” tool was renamed “Add TA. . .” Users need to now select a section when adding a Canvas TA, Designer or Observer

Top Hat classroom response system rollout

Top Hat now integrated with Canvas; team is working on instructor support. Turning Technologies is also still available, and is used by several instructors who are not ready to or don’t want to move to Top Hat

A few faculty have reported that some of the Top Hat remote support staff have questionable strategies. Lynn will investigate and will request that Top Hat staff reduce the ‘mandatory’ introductory/marketing questions, especially after the initial support call.

And will also address the following concerns:

  • Top Hat support staff should convert PPT slides, per instructor request, as that is included in OSU’s contract with Top Hat
  • Answer questions about rebates on Turning clickers
  • Ensure that Top Hat does not email students directly – the only email from Top Hat should be the auto-generated course invitation that is sent by instructors to get students to register their accounts

New Canvas Gradebook

Instructors may enable the New Canvas Gradebook in individual course sites; it offers new functionality to filter and arrange columns, and apply late policies

  • Next year some time, the new gradebook will replace the current Canvas gradebook
  • If instructors enable the new Late Policy feature, they cannot revert to the current gradebook (for that course site)

Turnitin originality check for Canvas assignments

Instructors can enable Turnitin reports on File Upload assignments. The usual File Upload features are supported, including rubrics, group assignments and peer review

Gradescope – online grading service

Funding has been secured for a one-year license of the Gradescope system; once the contract has been signed, it will be integrated with Canvas. Because licenses for subsequent years will be above the cost threshold and because there is a similar product in the market, we’ll plan to issue an RFP for an online grading system during this academic year

NameCoach

Faculty, staff, and any OSU Canvas user may now enter their preferred pronouns in NameCoach. Pronouns must be entered for each class a user wants to display them. Instructions in the Learn@OregonState FAQ for NameCoach.