iClicker Cloud Instructor App: Required Windows Update
January 6, 2026
iClicker has identified an issue affecting the Windows standalone (ZIP) version of the iClicker Cloud Instructor application. There is an issue with the Windows certificate system and the iClicker Cloud application needs to be updated.
To check if this effects your iClicker Cloud application, please follow these steps:
– Launch iClicker Cloud application on your computer.
– If you see an invalid certificate error message, you will need to updated your application.
– iClicker Cloud version 8.0.1 for Windows is now available.
– Download and install the latest standalone version of iClicker Cloud: https://www.iclicker.com/downloads/iclicker-cloud/
– Delete the previous iClicker Cloud application from your computer.
NOTE: This issue does not affect Macintosh computers or the Windows MSI installations, which might be the version installed in Cornell classroom PCs are thus are not affected by this certificate issue and should not be updated at this time.
Zoom Scheduler Available
December 18, 2025
The Zoom Canvas integration now has an appointments feature that some faculty might find helpful in creating Zoom office hours or other appointments.
IgniteAI Translations for Discussions and Announcements
December 16, 2025
When an instructor enables this feature option, users can access AI-supported translations for Discussions and Announcements. This update improves accessibility and communication by allowing users to easily read and participate in course content and messages in their preferred language.
New Quizzes Bulk Migration Now Available
December 16, 2025
When copying a course, users may now select the bulk migration feature for moving Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes. This option is available both when copying an entire course on import or choosing select content.
Link Validation in Courses Will Now be Celebrated
December 16, 2025
When validating links in a course, if all links are verified to work, instructors will now see a digital celebration. For those allergic to confetti, you can opt to make your Canvas experience confetti free.
Retiring: Canvas Badges/Credentials
December 31, 2025
As of 2026, all access to the free Canvas Badges/Credentials issuing tools will cease to exist. Canvas is moving to a single paid tool for this feature and Cornell does not have a centralized contract for this tool.
Enforcing User-Agent Header for Canvas API Requests
January 17, 2026
Data privacy and security is more important than ever before. As of January 17, 2026, automated tools, scripts, or cron jobs that don’t explicitly set a User-Agent will failwith a 403 error code. If you use the Canvas API manually or maintain a tool utilizing the API, please check out the vendor documentation for more information.
Improved Remediation for PDFs
December 13, 2025
Three new quick fixes for PDF files are now available, including the ability to fix a missing title, missing language, and/or OCR a scanned PDF all directly from within the Instructor Feedback. The conversion of scanned PDFs includes handwritten content.
Note: Scanned handwritten content is converted with mixed results.
New Quizzes Now Include Graded and Ungraded Surveys
December 13, 2025
New Quizzes supports surveys, allowing instructors to collect anonymous or non-anonymous feedback, with graded or ungraded options. Instructors can view survey data in the Reports tab. This feature gives educators a more intuitive way to engage students and promote reflection. It also helps educators more easily gather feedback, gauge understanding, and foster open reflection.
Note: Instructors will not immediately be able to download survey results/reports as they can with Classic Quizzes surveys. This is planned for release in Q1 2026.
Manually Schedule the Release of Grades and Feedback
December 13, 2025
In the Gradebook, instructors can manage the visibility of grades and feedback for individual assignments. By default, scores and comments are released together, but instructors can now schedule them to release separately. This feature gives instructors greater flexibility and control over feedback timing, allowing them to align the release of rubric scores and comments with grading workflows, review sessions, or instructional pacing. It helps ensure students receive feedback when it is most meaningful and actionable.
Modules Bulk Unpublish Supports Simple Published Files
December 3, 2025
While Unpublish All Modules and Items from the Modules page previously left all files in modules published, this feature will now unpublish files not using scheduled availability or link-only.
Retiring: Canvas ePortfolios Tool
June 30, 2026
As of June 30, 2026, users will no longer have access to Canvas ePortfolios and any associated content. Users seeking an alternative can reach out to the Canvas@Cornell team or check out Digication.
Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader Enforced
July 1, 2026
Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader will be enforced in all Canvas courses. The modernized SpeedGrader is designed specifically to support the needs of high-enrollment courses while preserving the familiar interface educators rely on.
Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader Enabled
January 17, 2026
Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader will be enabled by default in all Canvas courses. Users will still be able to disable this feature option until final enforcement in July 2026. The modernized SpeedGrader is designed specifically to support the needs of high-enrollment courses while preserving the familiar interface educators rely on.
New Comment Library Filter in SpeedGrader
November 15, 2025
When the Performance and Usability Upgrades for SpeedGrader feature option is enabled, a filter is added to the Comment Library. Instructors can filter by All Comments, Course Comments, or Assignment Comments. This update makes it easier to organize, locate, and reuse feedback, helping instructors save time and focus more on supporting student learning rather than retyping comments.
iClicker Login Change
August 13, 2025
As of August 13, 2025, all logins to iClicker must go through the Cornell Single Sign On two-step authentication service. This change applies to all instructors, students, teaching assistants, and course support staff. Please see “Getting Started with iClicker” for full details.
New Canvas Student Roles: Waitlisted and Audit
July 24, 2025
Starting Fall 2025 semester, there are two new roles for students in Canvas:
– Waitlisted Students: Any student who is on the official class waitlist will have their Canvas course role set to “SIS Waitlisted.” Instructors will see this on the People page in their course as seen in the screenshot below.
– Audit Students: Students who are officially auditing the class will have Canvas role display “SIS Audit.” Instructors will see this on the People page in their course similar to the above screenshot.
Students who have these new Canvas course roles will continue to have the same level access to the course as any other enrolled student.
FeedbackFruits adds more flexible feedback release
July 24, 2025
FeedbackFruits Peer Review and Group Member Evaluation tools now have an option for more flexible publishing of feedback, following many faculty requests. Feedback can now be published on a student by student or group by group basis. Standard publication of a full activities feedback is still possible in the same way as previously. Learn more in the Release Notes from July 2025.
Panopto Recordings Retention Policy
July 23, 2025
Cornell Information Technologies and the Center for Teaching Innovation have instituted a content retention policy for Panopto recordings. Recordings that have not been viewed in 4 years are automatically moved into the Panopto Archive. Content will remain in the Archive for an additional 2 years, after which it will be deleted from the system. Content that has been archived can be restored from the archive by the user prior to deletion. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Center for Teaching Innovation.
Hypothesis is Being Retired
June 16, 2025
As of June 16, the university will be transitioning to a license with Perusall, and will no longer be providing access to Hypothesis for social annotation.
Files Page Redesign
June 21, 2025
The Files page is redesigned. This update offers a cleaner, more intuitive interface that simplifies file organization and management. Improvements like pagination, sorting, and streamlined selection tools enhance usability, especially for users working with large file sets.
New Turnitin Feedback Studio Experience
June 3, 2025
Instructors who use Turnitin Assignment as an External Tool (not just using Turnitin to plagiarism check a File Upload or Text Entry assignment), will be prompted to select if they want to use the new Feedback Studio experience or stay with the current view. What’s new in the enhanced feedback studio and grading experience.
Retiring: Discussion and Announcement Attachments
July 19, 2025
To streamline the user experience and create consistency across all Canvas features, the dedicated attach button in Discussions and Announcements will be removed. Users can continue to upload images, videos, and files via the RCE toolbar. All previously uploaded files using the “Attach” button will remain accessible, and no action is required on your part. To attach files after this update, simply use the tools available in the RCE.
Permalink for Discussion Entries
May 17, 2025
In Discussions, each reply includes a copyable permalink allowing users to share a direct link to that specific reply. If the reply is part of a thread, the thread will expand to reveal it. This makes it easier to navigate and reference specific replies in a discussion.
Text Blocks in New Quizzes
May 17, 2025
In New Quizzes, instructors are able to provide students additional context with standalone text or prompts that are not tied to questions on a New Quiz. This allows instructors to add sections to their quizzes that do not require a question to include instructions or other information to guide the student. In addition, it also improves ease of migration from Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes.
April 21, 2025
Gradescope has released a new locking rubrics feature. Instructors can now lock the rubric for their assignments to ensure no changes are made during grading. For each rubric, instructors can select one of these options:
– leave the rubric unlocked
– only allow those with an Instructor role in the course to edit the rubric
– allow no one to edit the rubric
March 30, 2025
Zoom AI Companion is one of the approved Artificial Intelligence tools in use at Cornell. It gives hosts and participants shareable meeting summaries and next-steps lists, “highlight reels” in recordings, catch-up options for people joining a meeting late, and more.
March 26, 2025
In New Quizzes, when creating Hot Spot question types, instructors can now define multiple correct hot spot areas. Existing Hot Spot questions can also be edited to add additional hot spot areas.
March 15, 2025
This feature allows instructors to structure discussions in a way that aligns with their teaching approach, guiding student engagement and interaction. When creating or editing a discussion, instructors can configure the default view settings, including thread collapse/expansion and sorting options for students, with the ability to lock these preferences if needed. Additionally, the Sorting section of Discussions and Announcements is redesigned.
March 15, 2025
The Import Content page is updated to clarify the import process with updated button text, improving workflow efficiency. The import button text is now Add Import to Queue and when an instructor’s time zone differs from the course time zone, both the local and course time zones are displayed.
August 3, 2024
An improved interface to access all aspects of Poll Everywhere for instructors is now available to instructor to use. See the Poll Everywhere page for details.
November 12, 2024
The Windows PowerPoint app has been updated to address display issues when presenting slides. Details and download information can be found on the Poll Everywhere support page.
March 15, 2025
When the Assignment Enhancements feature option is enabled (as it is by default), an Enable Self Assessment checkbox allows students to assess their own work using the assignment’s attached rubric. When the Enable Self Assessment checkbox is enabled, students can complete a self-assessment using the Self-Assess button after submitting an assignment.
January 18, 2025
In New Quizzes, a Student Analysis Report is available. Instructors can view this report by exporting the CSV file. In the Student Analysis Report, instructors can access a range of student data, including: Time Elapsed, Submission Attempts, Student Response, Points Earned, Overall Score, and more.
December 04, 2024
When exiting the Rubric Edit page, instructors see a warning indicating that unsaved work will be lost.
November 16, 2024
When importing group Assignments into a new course, the assigned Group Set will now import with the assignment also, rather than resetting to a default group set. Within the Group Sets, groups will still need to be created and have students enrolled. Group sets not associated with Assignments or Discussions still do not copy over to the new course.
Coming Soon
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Recently Released
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