Canvas Discussions/Announcements Redesign

Canvas has provided a redesign of Discussions and Announcements with updates to the user interface and additional Discussions functionality. Instructors can enable the feature in Canvas courses before May 6, 2024. After May 6, 2024, the Discussions/Announcement redesign will be enabled in all U-M Canvas courses. No migration is required to switch existing Discussions or Announcement content to the redesigned version.

Environment

Canvas

Issue

Canvas has provided a redesign of Discussions and Announcements with updates to the user interface and additional Discussions functionality.

Instructors can enable the feature in Canvas courses before May 6, 2024. After May 6, 2024, the Discussions/Announcement redesign will be enabled in all U-M Canvas courses. 

Resolution

Instructors can enable the Discussions/Announcements Redesign in their Canvas courses on a course by course basis. Once enabled, the redesign applies to all discussions and announcements in the course. No migration is required to switch existing Discussions or Announcements content to the redesigned version.

This redesign includes

• Update user interface for Announcements and Discussions
• No existing functionality for Discussions or Announcements has been lost with the redesign
• New Discussions functionality, including
  • creating anonymous discussions,
  • mentioning other enrolled users in replies,
  • quoting replies, reporting problem replies,
  • and viewing reply edit histories.

Instructors can learn about the redesign to Discussions and Announcements in the Canvas@Michigan site: Canvas Discussions & Announcements Redesign.

Steps for Enabling the Discussions / Announcements Redesign

1. Go to Settings in your course
2. Click on the Feature Options tab at the top of the page
3. Scroll down to find Discussions/Announcements Redesign and click on the red X in the circle in the State column
4. Select Enabled
5. The redesign is now turned on for Announcements and Discussions in your course. 

Additional Information

• Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I use Discussions Redesign as an instructor?
• Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I use Announcements Redesign as an instructor?
• Canvas blog post: Dive into the Discussion Redesign with Our New Video!

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.