Autumn teaching sessions are here again at UTS. Canvas sites always open to students one week before session starts. That means, for Autumn 2026, main session Canvas sites will be published from 9 February 2026.
Use our guide below to ensure you, your students and your Canvas site are ready for another bumper Autumn session ahead.
Before 9 February: get your subject site ready for students
- Is your Canvas site up to date? Before your site is published, check settings, assignments and content are up to date – use our downloadable step-by-step subject rollover checklist.
- Is your subject schedule up to date? Update and customise the subject schedule page in your ‘Get Started’ module so students know what’s expected of them week by week.
- Are your readings up to date? Update your Reading Lists with UTS Library as early as possible. Include reference to Academic Integrity resources, if you haven’t already.
- Have you provided clear guidance on the use of generative AI in your assignments? Keep in mind you cannot completely prohibit use of GenAI across a subject. Head to our site for Teaching and Learning with GenAI, which includes a resource on developing guidelines and links to a GenAI toolkit.
- Is your Canvas site accessible to all students? Make sure your Canvas site is accessible to everyone when teaching session commences.
9 February: Week 0
- Post a welcome announcement to introduce yourself to students and orientate them to your Canvas site. Make sure they know how you will be communicating with them throughout the session, how they can access support, and expectations regarding academic integrity and use of GenAI.
- Remind students that the option to request a 72-hour automated short extension is available in Canvas for most assignments. The option to request an extension is available 14 days before an assignment is due.
- Does OPELA run in your subject? In Autumn 2026, students who receive a Basic grade in OPELA screening tasks will be encouraged to attend a language development intensive during StuVac. As in previous sessions, students who do not complete an OPELA task will receive a sanction. If you have an OPELA task, please remind students and update your Subject Information if you haven’t already done so.
- If you want to know more about your cohort and how data can help prepare your subject, join the PowerBI Student 360 Subject Dashboard intro webinar on 10 February.
16 February: Week 1
- How will you help students develop a sense of connection to your subject and their peers? Build belonging into your first class.
Updates to our Digital Learning Environment in Autumn 2026
Learning technologies are always being updated. Here’s what you need to know about recent changes to common teaching tools at UTS:
- AcaWriter is being decommissioned by the UTS Connected Intelligence Centre (CIC). If you use AcaWriter in your subject, and you haven’t already been contacted by CIC or LDT, please contact the Education Portfolio.
- SparkPlus has had a major upgrade and is now accessed through Canvas – learn more about the new enhancements.
- Canvas SpeedGrader received some minor enhancements in January that should make marking in large classes easier.
- Portfolium is only available until 30 June 2026, when it will be shut down globally. Please complete any teaching in Portfolium, and export any project files, before this date. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good! Updates on a new Portfolio tool will be shared later in 2026.
- You may notice some minor changes to the ‘Important Guidance’ and ‘Study help and support pages’ in your Get Started module as we make some backend updates.
- Keep an eye out for a new feature this session allowing students to print Subject Information to PDF.
- Updates to CourseLoop will also have impacts on your Autumn subject preparation – we’ll have a couple of resources available next week to explain these changes.
If you have any questions, or would like to talk to someone, about any of the above changes, contact with us through https://edsupport.uts.edu.au
Professional learning for staff
A new year is a good time to renew focus on your own learning. Consider these opportunities to enhance your teaching practice this session:
- UTS Educational Fellowship Program – Work towards an AdvanceHE accreditation, supported by UTS. Information Sessions and EOI open from 2nd February 2026.
- Contemporary Approaches to Teaching MOOC – An online, free, self-paced course with proven results – next round starts 16th February 2026.
- Enhancing Teaching@UTS Program – Short on time but want to increase your teaching confidence? Register for this light-touch, 5-week online program, starting 6th March 2026.
Help and support for staff
- Education Portfolio support: Contact us through ServiceConnect (quick link: https://edsupport.uts.edu.au)
- UTS Library: Find out everything that UTS Library can do to help you prepare
- UTS Curriculum Support: UTS Curriculum Management in Sharepoint
Help and support for students
- Canvas 24/7 online and phone support
- IT Support: log a ticket for online IT support, phone 02 9514 2222 or drop-in to Building 10, Level 2, room 212 (CB10.02.212)
- UTS Student Centre for administrative and hands-on support
- Supporting Study page for support options, study resources, fun stuff, and general help with being a student at UTS