August 2026 Canvas Updates and Training Opportunities
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
As the fall semester approaches, several Canvas updates, training opportunities, and instructional technology changes are taking effect. Below are the key updates Rutgers instructors should know about.
At a Glance
BigBlueButton: Recording retention changes take effect August 31, 2026
WeVideo Training: August 26
Respondus Training: August 19, 20, and 27
Gradescope Training: August 20 and September 4
Canvas: August 2026 release updates
New Canvas Tool: Rutgers Post’em
BigBlueButton Recording Storage Changes Effective August 31
As part of the Rutgers Academic Technology Advisory Council’s ongoing efforts to promote the effective and sustainable use of academic technology resources, Rutgers Canvas and the Office of Information Technology will not renew the university’s premium BigBlueButton hosting and recording-retention service.
What Is Changing
BigBlueButton, formerly known as Canvas Conferences, will remain available for live online meetings.
Beginning September 1, 2026, BigBlueButton meeting recordings will be retained in Canvas for a maximum of two weeks.
Consider Using Zoom in Canvas
Instructors may use the Zoom integration in Canvas for:
Live class sessions
Virtual office hours
Student group meetings
Other synchronous course activities
Zoom recordings are retained for 180 days, providing instructors with additional time to manage and preserve recordings needed for future use.
Preserving Recordings for Longer-Term Use
If you need to retain a BigBlueButton or Zoom recording beyond its standard retention period, download the recording and upload it to Rutgers Kaltura.
Migration of Existing BigBlueButton Recordings
Rutgers OIT is working with Blindside Networks, the university’s BigBlueButton hosting provider, to migrate eligible recordings from past meetings to Kaltura.
Additional information about the migration process and any actions required from instructors will be shared as it becomes available.
This change will not otherwise affect Rutgers Canvas or the ability to use BigBlueButton for live online meetings.
Introduction to WeVideo Training
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 11 a.m. EDT
Rutgers faculty and staff are invited to an introductory training session for WeVideo, the university’s expanded interactive video platform.
The session is especially useful for instructors transitioning from PlayPosit. The interactive features familiar to PlayPosit users remain available in WeVideo, along with additional video creation and editing capabilities included with the Rutgers enterprise license.
During the Session
The WeVideo team will:
Introduce the new WeVideo interface
Show instructors how to locate migrated PlayPosit content
Demonstrate interactive video features
Highlight additional video creation and editing capabilities
Whether you are an experienced PlayPosit user or new to interactive video, the session will provide a practical foundation for using WeVideo during the upcoming semester.
Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor Training
Respondus is offering several training opportunities for instructors planning to use LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor with online assessments in Canvas.
LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
This webinar introduces LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor and reviews recommended practices for using the tools with Canvas assessments.
Upcoming sessions:
McGraw-Hill ALEKS + Respondus Monitor
This webinar is intended for instructors and administrators planning to use Respondus Monitor proctoring with online exams in McGraw-Hill ALEKS.
Gradescope: Keep Learning Standards High and Grading Time Low
As generative and agentic AI change the assessment landscape, many instructors are reconsidering handwritten assessments as a way to evaluate students’ authentic thinking, reasoning, and writing processes.
Gradescope combines the benefits of handwritten assessments with digital grading tools designed to improve efficiency, consistency, and feedback.
This interactive session will explore strategies for:
Grading handwritten assessments more efficiently while maintaining consistency and fairness
Reducing repetitive grading tasks through AI-assisted OCR answer grouping and rubric-based workflows
Coordinating grading across instructors, teaching assistants, and teaching teams
Using grading analytics to identify common misconceptions and inform instruction
Upcoming sessions:
Canvas Release Notes: August 2026
Several Canvas updates this month improve grading, security, and the overall course experience.
New Quizzes: Native Canvas Integration
The New Quizzes Native Canvas Integration is now enforced for all institutions.
Why it matters: The change provides a more consistent New Quizzes experience and reduces reliance on the previous integration architecture.
SpeedGrader: Upgraded Experience Now Enforced
Canvas has made the improved SpeedGrader experience the default for all institutions.
Why it matters: Instructors receive a modernized grading experience with faster load times and a cleaner interface.
User Navigation: Mandatory Token Expiration
Canvas now requires expiration dates for user-generated tokens associated with non-administrator roles. Instructor tokens expire 90 days after creation, while student tokens continue to expire after 30 days.
Why it matters: Expiring tokens reduce the security risk created by long-lived or forgotten access tokens.
Canvas Messages: Attachment Links Now Require Login
When a Canvas conversation containing an attachment generates an email notification, users must now sign in to Canvas before opening the attachment.
Previously, attachment links included in these notifications could be opened without authentication.
Why it matters: Requiring authentication helps ensure that course files shared through Canvas conversations are accessible only to authorized users.
Course Syllabus: Improved File Link Security
Canvas has changed how files linked from the Course Syllabus are authenticated, particularly when a syllabus is public but the remainder of the course is not.
Why it matters: The change provides more secure access to course files and reduces the possibility of unintended file sharing from public syllabi.
New in Canvas: Rutgers Post’em
Rutgers Canvas recently introduced Rutgers Post’em, a tool that allows instructors to privately share individualized information with students using CSV files.
Instructors can upload multiple files throughout the semester, while each student sees only the information assigned to them.
Ways to Use Post’em
Post’em can be used to share:
Grades and feedback calculated using advanced spreadsheet formulas
Attendance records
Updated or progressive feedback throughout the semester
Differentiated assignments, questions, or resources for individual students
Post’em Resources
Academic Technology Services Rutgers University–Newark
For assistance with Canvas or instructional technology, please contact Academic Technology Services at atshelp@newark.rutgers.edu.
