Before you dive into the spring semester, we want to make sure you know about the latest updates to the Learn@UW suite of tools. Over the past few months we’ve introduced some new tools and rolled out enhancements to existing ones—all designed to support your teaching experience.
This article highlights what’s new and notable so you can start the semester strong. And don’t forget—you can always stay current by visiting our Learn@UW News page. It’s your go-to resource for updates, tips, and more.
Wishing you a great semester!
Tool news
Zoom in Canvas
We’ve updated the Canvas/Zoom integration so that Zoom now recognizes your Canvas groups. You can restrict a Zoom room to one or more Canvas groups and create breakout rooms for groups. For instructions on how to use this feature, refer to this KnowledgeBase document.
DesignPLUS
Looking to elevate the look and feel of your Canvas course? DesignPLUS is now available in our instance of Canvas. Course instructors and designers can use this tool to quickly enhance the visual design of Canvas courses without needing to know complex styling code language. You can get started with DesignPLUS by visiting the Learn@UW KnowledgeBase.
TidyUP
Did you make a resolution this year to clean up your Canvas course? No problem with TidyUP! This new tool is a file clean-up tool integrated in Canvas. Instructors and course designers can use it to scan an entire Canvas course to identify and remove unused files and pages. Start by enabling TidyUP in your Canvas course.
UDOIT
This fall, we upgraded our UDOIT Canvas course accessibility checker to an enhanced version known as UDOIT Advantage. In this version you can scan your Canvas course pages for accessibility barriers as well as your course files. And just like before it provides guidance on how to improve your course’s accessibility. For more information on designing an accessible course, see the university’s Make it Accessible guide.
Gradescope
Gradescope is now officially available to all instructors as part of the suite of tools supported by Learn@UW. This powerful assessment and feedback tool will help instructors more quickly and efficiently perform their grading tasks in Canvas.
Engage
Consider using Engage to provide your students with access to publisher eTexts via Canvas, typically at a fraction of the print cost. Nearly 200 UW–Madison instructors use Engage in their courses and since its launch in spring 2018, Engage has helped UW–Madison students save over $21.4 million. The order period for this summer starts January 20 and runs until March 24.
New student course evaluation tool
The university is switching to a new digital course evaluation tool called Blue. This transition is underway and groups will be moving to the new tool in phases this year, with the goal of completing the transition by summer 2027. The Course Evaluation Tool Transition Project page provides updates, timelines and resources. No action is required from instructors at this time.
Learning opportunities
- Learn@UW tool training. Whether you’re a pro or a new face on campus, Learn@UW offers live, virtual training on many of the tools we support. Registration is recommended; you can register in each event from the Today events calendar.
- Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring events. CTLM offers a broad range of learning opportunities designed to help you succeed in your teaching. They even offer an exceptional pre-semester teaching toolkit.
- LinkedIn Learning. As a UW–Madison employee, you have access to thousands of courses and personalized learning recommendations on LinkedIn Learning, on your schedule, from any device.
Reminders
- Course syllabi are required for UW–Madison courses and offer instructors the opportunity to communicate with students about course details. Learn more about adding your syllabus to your Canvas course.
- Interested in using a free, supported generative AI tool? Check out the university’s licensed and secure generative AI services.
- Student learning is a top priority for UW–Madison and we are committed to the ethical and responsible use of data to support and advance it. Learn more about our teaching and learning data transparency statement.
- The McBurney Disability Resource Center has information specifically for instructors on how to provide student accommodations.
Resources and support
Learn@UW manages UW–Madison’s central learning technologies and offers these support services:
- Consultation – We’re real people here to help you! We’re reachable via the DoIT Help Desk to support you in selecting and using the right learning technology to improve instructor and student success. Just contact the Help Desk and ask to meet with a Learn@UW consultant.
- Technical Support – The DoIT Help Desk provides technical support and troubleshooting help for Canvas, Kaltura MediaSpace, Gradescope, and most of the other tools in the Learn@UW suite with the exception of the following.
- For Honorlock help, contact the vendor via email, phone, or Honorlock’s chat feature within Canvas.
- For Top Hat, contact the vendor at support@tophat.com.
- For Piazza, visit support.piazza.com.
- Help Yourself – Visit our KnowledgeBase for immediate access to hundreds of documents about the tools in the Learn@UW suite.
Student Tech Modules give students training on our tools, from within Canvas. Instructors may choose which ones to download from Canvas Commons and add to their course as a starting point for communication with their students. Modules are available for Kaltura, Honorlock and more.