Instructure Offers Platform Innovations in 4 Areas to Assist Teaching and Learning

Instructure announced several enhancements to its Canvas learning platform at its annual conference in July. The new capabilities serve teaching/learning, analytics, lifelong learning, and platform integration, the company said.

The new solutions in each of these four areas include:

Teaching and Learning:

  • AI-assisted course templating to create course page layouts (soon available in beta);
  • Module bulk publishing, improved gradebook filters, course pacing and assignment submission for students;
  • Right-and-wrong answer rationale; and
  • Integration of AI writing tutor Khanmigo (from partner Khan Academy);

Admin Analytics (available in beta now) for administrators:

  • Three separate dashboards with single and compound filters (overview, course, and student);
  • Ability to export data; and
  • Conversational AI using everyday language;

Lifelong Learning:

  • Canvas Credentials for course credentialing and learner records, including offering a learner passport in beta for a portable, shareable record of stackable, verifiable education and work-related competency evidence; and
  • Canvas Catalog for diverse course offerings;

Platform integration:

  • Integration between Canvas LMS, assessment management system Mastery Connect, Canvas Catalog, and Canvas Credentials; and
  • Addition of AI-powered chatbot PandaBot for the Instructure Community.

"This work underscores our continued commitment to build the extensibility and advanced capabilities of Canvas products, while also promoting simplicity for both educators and learners," said Shiren Vijiasingam, Instructure's chief product officer. "With the introduction of AI capabilities into our core products — both with our own innovation and that of our strategic partners found in our beta emerging AI marketplace — we aim to meet the immediate and future needs of our community with substantive improvements that help to drive best practice in pedagogy and curriculum."

To learn more, visit the company blog page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • large group of college students sitting on an academic quad

    Student Readiness: Learning to Learn

    Melissa Loble, Instructure's chief academic officer, recommends a focus on 'readiness' as a broader concept as we try to understand how to build meaningful education experiences that can form a bridge from the university to the workplace. Here, we ask Loble what readiness is and how to offer students the ability to 'learn to learn'.

  • Abstract futuristic background with blurry glowing wave and neon lines

    Microsoft Intros 'Cowork' Feature for Copilot, AI Updates

    Microsoft has announced a trio of AI updates, spanning Microsoft 365 Copilot, Security Copilot and Microsoft Foundry.

  • Abstract speed motion blur in vibrant colors

    3 Ed Tech Shifts that Will Define 2026

    The digital learning landscape is entering a new phase defined by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, rising expectations for the student experience, and increasing pressure to demonstrate quality and accountability in online education.

  • glowing crystal ball with network connections

    Tech Outlook 2026: What Higher Ed Tech Leaders Expect this Year

    We asked higher education technology leaders for their predictions on how the tech landscape will change for colleges and universities in the coming year. Here's what they told us.