Learning Management Systems

Instructure Updates Canvas with Mobile Annotation Tool

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 09/28/16

Instructure has updated its Canvas learning management system (LMS) with an annotation feature in the mobile app.

The new feature allows students to annotate and submit assignments directly from the mobile app in an effort to eliminate the need for additional software or paper. Digitizing assignments also makes them next to impossible to lose and allows teachers to use Canvas SpeedGrader.

"This new annotation feature allows work to be completed inside Canvas, reducing a 20+ step process to three steps," according to a news release. "As schools become increasingly digital, teachers and students are often faced with many disparate online tools that can force convoluted, confusing processes for downloading and uploading. Providing students with the ability to annotate documents directly inside Canvas eliminates the need for a separate app, which in turn removes the cost for another digital annotation tool. Through this new annotation feature, teachers gain back hours of instructional time and students are able to focus on producing quality work, rather than manipulating apps."

"At Canvas, we make it our first priority to find ways to simplify teaching and elevate learning, and our insistence on simple, intuitive workflows highlights this belief," said Mitch Benson, vice president of Canvas product, in a prepared statement. "Mobile student annotation, fully integrated into Canvas, simplifies the process of completing assignments for our domestic and global K–12 and higher education customer base. It also supports schools in their transition to digital classrooms, creates better experiences and saves time, money and effort for administrators, teachers and students."

In related news, Instructure has entered a partnership with YuJa that will integrate the latter's lecture capture, live webcasting and synchronous video classroom experiences with Canvas via Learning Tools Interoperability standards.

"Video broadcasting and synchronous video activities are important to the future of online and flipped learning, and our partnership with YuJa provides an excellent opportunity for Canvas users to benefit from these technologies," said Melissa Loble, vice president of platform and partnerships at Instructure, in a prepared statement.