This Spring, main session Canvas sites will be published from Monday 20 July 2026. Ensure you, your students and your Canvas site are ready for the upcoming Spring session.
Before 20 July: get your subject site ready for students
- Check that your Canvas site is up to date – before your site is published, check settings, assignments and content are all up to date.
- Check that your subject schedule is up to date – update your subject schedule page in your ‘Get Started’ module so students know what is expected of them week by week.
- Check that your reading lists are up to date – update your Reading Lists with the UTS Library as early as possible.
- Embed the UTS Library Study Guide on Generative AI into your ‘Get Started’ module, add some brief guidance on the use of GenAI specific to your subject and explore additional guidance on teaching and learning with GenAI.
20 July: 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.
- 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.
- If OPELA runs in your subject in Spring 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 done so already.
27 July: Week 1
- Post an announcement sharing the UTS Library Study Guide on Generative AI and be as explicit as possible on how GenAI can or can’t be used for various assessments in your subject, including steps on how GenAI usage should be acknowledged if used.
- Add clear and explicit guidance to each assignment submission page to share how GenAI can or can’t be used, including steps on how GenAI usage should be acknowledged if used. Draw students’ attention to this guidance in your first lectures/tutorials.
Updates to our Digital Learning Environment in Spring 2026
Here’s what you need to know about recent changes to commonly used teaching tools at UTS:
- Canvas Rubrics were upgraded in Autumn. If you weren’t teaching in Autumn or are unfamiliar with the changes, explore this guide on how to add and edit a rubric using enhanced rubrics.
- Portfolium is no longer available through Canvas, and it won’t be available at all after December 2026. Make sure you’ve removed references to Portfolium in your subject and tell your students to download any project files they want to keep ASAP. Explore alternatives that you can leverage in your subjects if needed.
- AcaWriter was decommissioned earlier this year. If you use AcaWriter in your subject, and you haven’t already removed references to AcaWriter in your subject, explore alternative approaches that you could use instead.
If you have any questions or would like to talk to someone about any of the above changes, contact us through https://edsupport.uts.edu.au.
Help and support for staff
- Education Portfolio support: Contact us through ServiceConnect (quick link: https://edsupport.uts.edu.au)
- UTS Library: Find out how the UTS Library can help you prepare
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
- Important Guidance page for specifics on important and time sensitive information, assessment procedures and advice, and academic integrity
- Supporting Study page for support options, study resources, fun stuff, and general help with being a student at UTS