While there is much to celebrate in exciting new features, early adopters of new Discussions reported user interface challenges:
- In the Split Screen mode you have to click on Reply to see replies. They are not expended by default.
While it means a slightly more organized layout for some
It also means more clicks and challenges in viewing read/unread comments. Canvas won’t show you unread replies in the split screen mode. If you’d like to replicate the old discussion experience you can switch from View Split Screen to View Inline, click Expand Threads and choose Unread in the drop down menu.
You will then see all comments and replies that are unread.
- You can’t mark comments as ‘read’ or ‘unread’ by clicking the dot on the left. You now have to click on the vertical ellipsis on the right, then click ‘Mark as Read/Unread’
Users also disliked the extra wide frame and additional ‘white space’ in this new interface.
- It can be very helpful that we can now quote replies easily, but it involves a lot more clicks than perhaps necessary. To get the toggle button to include a quote, you first have to click on the vertical ellipsis and then click Quote Reply
You then get the toggle.
We at ITG highly recommend turning on New Discussion early if you can to get used to the new interface. We will also be sending out a survey at the end of the Summer 2 to crowdsource advice from summer faculty for your colleagues who will be returning in the fall. If you have feedback for Canvas and would like to participate in community conversations, you can do that in the community forums.
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