The Files page has been redesigned to a cleaner, more intuitive interface. Key updates include:

File Interface Updates

Update	Image
The Switch to Old Files Page button allows users to switch between the new and original interface. The button is temporary and will eventually be removed.
The folder tree view was replaced with a breadcrumbs menu.
Users check checkboxes to select files and folders. The top checkbox selects all files on the page.
Manage Access has been removed from the top menu and can now be accessed by clicking the icon in the Status column.
Move To can be accessed via the file or folder's kabob

Removed Features

• Moving files or folders by dragging them into other folders is no longer supported.

• The Ctrl+A / Cmd+A shortcut for selecting all rows is removed.

• Ctrl+Click / Cmd+Click to select individual rows is removed.

• Shift+Click to select a range of rows is not supported.

• Preview links are no longer shareable outside the platform.
  
  
• The View button is removed.

Resources

More information on the Redesigned Files Page.

Canvas is updating its Media Player, which is used to play video/audio files added via the Upload/Record Media tool in the Rich Content Editor (shown below).

Note: This update does not affect the video player used for My Media (Kaltura) videos.

New Look and Feel

Side-by-side comparison of new and old Canvas media players

New Player	Old Player

Adaptive Video Quality

In the new media player, instructors and students can now select Auto quality to automatically adjust the video's resolution based on available bandwidth, helping videos stream more smoothly on slower connections.

Custom Player Size

In the new player, when instructors upload or record a video through the Canvas Record/Upload Media tool, they can now specify a custom size for the embedded player, which controls how the video appears in Canvas.

Still No Auto-Captions

Note that the Canvas Media Player still does not generate automatic captions. If you need captions automatically generated, upload your audio and video files to My Media.

Resources

More information about the new Canvas media player

Instructors can configure a default Discussion view for themselves and their students.

1. Default Thread State – Determines whether threads in a Discussion are expanded or collapsed when the Discussion opens.
   • Expanded – The Discussion opens with expanded threads. Students can collapse threads unless Lock Thread State for Students is checked.
   • Collapsed – The Discussion opens with collapsed threads. Students can expand threads unless Lock Thread State for Students is checked.
2. Lock Thread State for Students – When checked, students cannot change their Discussion view from the Default Thread State.
3. Default Sort Order – Determines the order in which the threads in a discussion are displayed.
   • Oldest First – Threads display oldest first. Students can sort unless the lock is applied.
   • Newest First – Threads display newest first. Students can sort unless the lock is applied.
4. Lock Sort Order for Students – When checked, students cannot change the sort order.

More info on Default View Settings

IMPORTANT: Due to discovered bugs, Checkpoints release is pushed to 2025. Read about the delayed release.

Meeting hosts can now access polls shared by others during a session.

1. Log in to the Zoom portal.
2. Select Surveys.
3. Locate the survey to share.
4. Click the dots and choose Share to.

A new Simplified (Standard Speed) player is now available to use when embedding videos from My Media. This player disables playback speed controls, preventing viewers from changing the speed of the video.

Use Case: Language instructors may find this player useful because the player prevents students from slowing down the audio/video to aid speech comprehension.

More information on embedding My Media videos in Canvas

UPDATED - Removal of the YouTube embed option caused unintended problems. While the workflow is still available, YouTube videos should NOT be added to Kaltura's My Media.

YouTube Captioning Issues in My Media

Beginning May 1, 2025, instructors will no longer be able to add YouTube videos to Kaltura’s My Media. This change is necessary because a recent issue in Kaltura has caused embedded YouTube videos to lose their closed captions, making the content inaccessible for some students.

Note:

• Previously embedded YouTube videos in My Media are not affected. Captions on those videos continue to function as expected.
• Only new YouTube embeds added through My Media are affected by the caption issue.

To prevent further accessibility issues, the YouTube embed option will be removed from My Media until a solution is available.

Workaround

Use the YouTube App in the Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE) to embed videos. This method retains YouTube’s original closed captions and meets accessibility standards.

Resources

Written Procedures on Embedding YouTube Videos in Canvas

Video Tutorial on Embedding YouTube Videos in Canvas

Background

In 2021, the University of Wisconsin System added the Course Media and Course Media Settings buttons to all Canvas courses. These buttons, visible only to instructors and Canvas admins, were designed to provide access to recordings originally created using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. After the UW System transitioned away from Collaborate Ultra, those recordings were migrated to Kaltura (My Media). However, instead of being placed in instructors’ personal My Media accounts, the recordings were stored in course-specific My Media repositories. The Course Media button allowed instructors to access those recordings, while Course Media Settings provided management options.

Changes

• Videos will be transferred - On April 18th, any videos stored in the course-level My Media repositories will be transferred to the personal My Media accounts of the instructors of the course. Instructors with affected videos will be contacted directly with more information about the reassignment.
• Buttons will be removed - On May 21st, the Course Media and Course Media Settings buttons will be removed from all Canvas courses. Canvas course with an X through the Course Media and Course Settings buttons, indicating they will be removed

More information on the Removal of the Course Media Buttons.