Summary
In 2025, Instructure announced a suite of AI-powered feature options designed to support teaching and learning within Canvas. OIT will conduct a preview of these options during the spring 2026 semester for faculty partners. The goal of the program is to assess the effectiveness of these feature options in meeting faculty and student teaching and learning needs. While this initiative reflects growing interest in AI-driven teaching tools, long-term enablement of these Canvas feature options is not guaranteed. Findings from the preview will be shared with advisory groups and IT governance to inform the next steps.
Canvas IgniteAI Feature Options
| Feature Option | User Permission | Additional Notes | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| IgniteAI Generator for Rubrics | Faculty only | Requires Enhanced Rubrics (separate from IgniteAI) to be enabled by instructors. | March 1–June 3 |
| IgniteAI Insights for Discussions | Faculty only | N/A | March 1–June 3 |
| IgniteAI Summaries for Discussions | Faculty only | N/A | March 1–June 3 |
| IgniteAI Question Authoring for Quizzes | Faculty only | Available only in New Quizzes (separate from the IgniteAI suite). | March 1–June 3 |
| IgniteAI Translations for Discussions and Announcements | Faculty and students | Student-facing guide | March 1–June 3 |
| IgniteAI Search for Courses | Faculty and students | N/A | March 1–June 3 |
Canvas continues to expand its suite of IgniteAI options, and new features may roll out during the preview period that are not currently listed here. As availability may change, please revisit this page for the latest updates. We anticipate the preview period will last through the end of the Maymester grading period.
Process
Launch
The feature options included in the preview project will be available for faculty to enable during the first week of March 2026. Faculty can join the preview by enabling one or more feature options. Options can be enabled in Canvas on a per-course basis, under Feature Options in Settings. Participation is encouraged but completely voluntary. More information on how to enable Canvas features can be found at Canvas Feature Options.
The project team will host two informational sessions where presenters will demo the options and answer questions. Faculty can register for these sessions at these links:
- March 6, 2026, 10–11 a.m. (Zoom registration link)
- March 9, 2026, 11 a.m.–noon (Zoom registration link)
The project team will also provide vendor documentation and troubleshooting resources for faculty and will establish escalation paths for technical issues.
Finally, the project team has established Canvas Feature Preview, a Microsoft Team where members can ask questions and share other information and feedback. Faculty who have enabled IgniteAI features are encouraged to join. The group will serve as an ongoing space for conversations about upcoming Canvas beta features and their use in teaching and learning.
Analysis
During the preview period, the project team will:
- Liaise with faculty to collect qualitative feedback through periodic individual check-ins and the Canvas Feature Preview MS Team.
- Deploy mid-preview and post-preview surveys to gather faculty feedback.
- Analyze data to evaluate the usability and pedagogical effectiveness of the AI‑powered feature options included in the preview project.
- Prepare a summary report with recommendations.
- Document lessons learned to inform future Canvas feature preview projects.
OIT Technical & Business Operating Principles
- User experience matters: Through the preview, assess faculty experience using various Canvas AI features.
- Strategically use governance: Collect and analyze usage data and feedback to support leadership and IT governance in informed decision making.
- Innovate where it matters: Determine which Canvas IgniteAI features demonstrate utility for wider faculty adoption.
- Limit redundancy and control IT sprawl: Through the preview, identify which Canvas IgniteAI features offer unique or superior functionality compared to existing university-approved AI tools.
- Understand higher ed landscape: Further our commitment to supporting evolving pedagogical practices in the context of AI, with particular focus on LMS workflows and teaching and learning needs.
Project Participants and Roles
- Jessica George, Academic Technology Professional
- Raj Singh, LMS Administrator
- Luke Prather, LMS Program Manager
- Rebecca Kallemeyn, Program Manager for Academic Technology Initiatives, Consulting & Training
For additional information, please email Jessica George (jessica.george-1@colorado.edu).
