AI Features in Canvas
As we continue to explore the ever-changing educational technology landscape, exciting AI-powered tools are becoming more available within Canvas. IgniteAI is Canvas's brand name for AI features integrated directly into the learning management system. These aren't chatbots or external AI assistants, they're specialized tools embedded exactly where you need them in your workflow. At UIW, IgniteAI features are not enabled by default, but are available for instructors to enable within their course settings. Instructors decide when and how to use AI features within their courses.
This guide covers the AI features currently available to UIW instructors and students. As new features are added to Canvas, this guide will be updated accordingly.
Feature Overviews
Expand each item to learn more about the current AI features in Canvas.
Smart SearchWhat is Smart Search?
Smart Search is an AI-enhanced search tool that helps you find course content more quickly and accurately. Instead of just matching keywords, Smart Search understands context and can surface relevant results from across your course, including pages, assignments, discussions, announcements, and files.
How to Enable Smart Search
Smart Search is enabled differently than other IgniteAI features. Instead of toggling a feature option, you'll find it in the course navigation menu. If it's not enabled or visible in your course menu, learn how to manage course navigation links.
How to Use Smart Search
- Access Smart Search from your course navigation menu
- Type your query using natural language or keywords
- Review results with context and relevance indicators
- Filter results by content type (pages, assignments, discussions, etc.) to narrow your search
For more information and answers about how this feature functions, reference the Smart Search FAQ.
IgniteAI Inbox TranslationsWhat are Inbox Translations?
Users composing a new Inbox message will see an "Include translated version of this message" option, now. Enabling this option will display a language selector next to the Translate button, allowing users to choose the desired language and specify whether the translated version should appear first or second. After a successful translation, the sent message will include the translated version.
How to Enable Inbox Translations
At UIW, Inbox translations are enabled for every user. No action is needed to enable the feature.
How to Use Inbox Translations
Learn How to Translate an Inbox Message
IgniteAI Translations for Discussions and AnnouncementsWhat are IgniteAI Translations?
IgniteAI Translations allow users to translate discussion posts and announcements into multiple languages. This feature improves accessibility and communication by allowing students and instructors to read and participate in course content in their preferred language. The translation displays alongside the original text, so both versions remain visible.
Supported Languages: Catalan, Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Additional languages will be available in future releases.
Note: Inbox translations are not enabled for UIW at this time. We are currently evaluating this feature for a potential future release. Interested in using this feature? Send feedback to canvas@uiwtx.edu.
How to Enable Translations
- Navigate to your course Settings
- Select the Feature Options tab
- Locate IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements
- Click the feature to enable it for your course
How to Use Translations
Enabling Translations in a Discussion
Even if the feature is enabled at the course level, you can choose which discussions can utilize translations. To activate translations in a specific discussion, click the Enable Translation button on any discussion page.
Translating an Entire Discussion Thread
- Ensure the Enable Translation button is active in the discussion
- Select your desired language from the dropdown menu
- Click Translate
- The entire discussion thread will display in both the original and translated languages
Translating an Individual Response
The following instructions are intended for translating both announcements and discussion posts.
- Locate the response you want to translate
- Click the three dots menu next to the response
- Select Translate Text
- Choose your desired language
- Click Translate
Both the original text and translation will display together. To remove the translation, click Reset. To disable translations entirely for the discussion, click Disable Translation.
Additional Resources: IgniteAI Translations
IgniteAI Discussion InsightsWhat are Discussion Insights?
Discussion Insights use AI to help instructors quickly evaluate the relevance and quality of student replies in discussion forums. The AI generates relevancy scores and evaluation notes for each student response, helping instructors identify which posts merit closer attention or feedback.
Important Notes
- Students cannot see Discussion Insights or AI evaluations of their replies
- AI-generated scores and notes cannot be edited or overridden—they are intended to support, not replace, instructor judgment
- Grading still occurs in SpeedGrader; Discussion Insights do not directly impact grades
- Rubrics are not considered in the AI evaluations
How to Enable Discussion Insights
- Navigate to your course Settings
- Select the Feature Options tab
- Locate IgniteAI Insights for Discussions
- Click the feature to enable it for your course
How to Use Discussion Insights
- Open a discussion in your course
- Click the Go to Insights button
- In the Discussion Insights Dashboard, click Generate Insights to analyze student responses
- Review the generated insights, which include:
- Relevance scores for each student response
- AI-generated evaluation notes
- Options to search for specific students or filter by relevance
- Use the Actions menu for each response to:
- View the reply in the dashboard
- Open it in SpeedGrader
- View it in context within the discussion
Additional Resources: Discussion Insights
IgniteAI Rubric GeneratorWhat is the Rubric Generator?
The IgniteAI Rubric Generator creates editable rubrics with AI-suggested criteria, point values, and performance levels based on your assignment name and description. This feature works best with open-ended assignments like essays, presentations, projects, and other subjective grading scenarios.
Important Notes
- The Rubric Generator is not available for quizzes or auto-graded assignments
- Currently only available in English
- You cannot generate a rubric from the Rubrics menu—you must use the Create Rubric option from the assignment details page
- All generated rubrics are fully editable—you maintain complete control over the final rubric
How to Enable the Rubric Generator
- Navigate to your course Settings
- Select the Feature Options tab
- Locate IgniteAI Generator for Rubrics
- Click the feature to enable it for your course
How to Use the Rubric Generator
- Open an assignment and navigate to the assignment details page
- Click Create Rubric
- Configure your rubric settings:
- Enter a rubric name
- Select rating scale and order preferences
- Choose scoring method
- In the criteria section, provide:
-
Outcome Information: Describe what students should demonstrate (e.g., "Students will evaluate arguments and identify logical strengths and weaknesses")
-
Additional Prompt Information: Add specific guidance to shape the criteria (e.g., "Emphasize professional communication skills")
- Click Generate Criteria
- Review the generated criteria and make adjustments as needed:
- Regenerate the entire rubric if needed
- Edit, delete, or duplicate individual criteria
- Regenerate specific criteria
- Once satisfied, click Create Rubric to finalize
Video Overview: IgniteAI Rubric Generator
Additional Resources: IgniteAI Rubric Generator
Discussion SummariesWhat are Discussion Summaries?
Discussion Summaries automatically generate AI-powered summaries of discussion threads, helping instructors quickly understand key points, themes, and tone without reading every post. This feature can identify takeaways, recognize embedded images, assess tone, and provide quoted examples from student responses.
Important Notes
- Available to instructors only—students cannot view summaries
- Limited to 25 summaries per user per day across all courses
- Cannot view previous summaries or summaries generated by other instructors
- Not suitable for assessing discussion participation or grading purposes
- Cannot analyze contents of attached files or web links
- May not differentiate well in long threads where students share similar essay-length responses
Benefits
- Identifies topics, themes, languages, and key takeaways in discussions
- Assesses tone and provides quoted examples from posts
- Recognizes when images are embedded and can answer questions about them
- Saves time when reviewing discussion participation
How to Enable Discussion Summaries
- Navigate to your course Settings
- Select the Feature Options tab
- Locate IgniteAI Summaries for Discussions
- Click the red X icon and select Enabled from the dropdown menu so a green checkmark appears
How to Use Discussion Summaries
- Open a discussion in your course
- Click the Open Summary button
- Optional: Type a specific prompt in the text box to guide the summary (e.g., "What are the main themes?" or "Summarize student opinions on the reading")
- Click Summarize
- Review the generated summary for accuracy
- If needed, create a new summary by typing a different prompt or selecting another discussion
Remember: You are limited to 25 summaries per day. Use prompts strategically to get the most relevant information for your needs.
Additional Resources: Discussion Summaries
Khanmigo Teacher ToolsWhat are Khanmigo Teacher Tools?
Khanmigo Teacher Tools is a collection of 20+ AI-powered tools designed to support educators with common teaching tasks. Leveraging Khan Academy content, Khanmigo helps you write letters of recommendation, brainstorm discussion prompts, create individualized learning plans, generate lesson materials, provide feedback on student work, and more—all without leaving Canvas.
Unlike other IgniteAI features, Khanmigo is a third-party integration that requires a Khan Academy account and must be added to each course individually.
Important Notes
- Khanmigo Teacher Tools are exclusively instructor-facing—students cannot see or access these tools
- Requires a Khan Academy account (free to create)
- Must be added to each course separately via course navigation settings
- UIW has configured Khanmigo to share "None (Anonymized)" data, protecting student privacy
Learn more about Khanmigo Teacher Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what is AI generated?In Canvas, anything generated with AI is denoted with a dual star symbol and a colored border. For example, in the screenshot below, the top criteria was edited (removing the AI indicator), while the bottom criteria still displays the AI-generated indicator with the star symbol and colored border.
Is my course data used to train AI models?No. IgniteAI interactions stay within Canvas and never train external AI models without explicit institutional permission, which has not been provided. UIW retains ownership of all data.
How do I know when AI is being used in Canvas?All IgniteAI features include "AI Nutrition Facts" labels that show exactly where and how AI is being used. You can access this information via the AI label (found next to View as Student button) on a page that utilizes AI. This transparency allows you to make informed decisions about when to use AI-powered tools and what the content is being used (or not use) to accomplish.
Are IgniteAI features available in all Canvas courses at UIW?IgniteAI features must be enabled by instructors at the course level through Feature Options. Most features are disabled by default, giving you control over which AI tools to use in your courses. Contact canvas@uiwtx.edu if you have questions about specific features.
Can students see AI-generated content like Discussion Insights or Discussion Summaries?No. Features like Discussion Insights and Discussion Summaries are only visible to instructors. Students cannot see AI evaluations, relevancy scores, summaries, or other instructor-facing analytics. At this time, AI features in Canvas available to students are limited to Translations and Smart Search.
What's the difference between IgniteAI and third-party AI tools?IgniteAI is built directly into Canvas and designed specifically for education. Unlike third-party chatbots or AI add-ons, IgniteAI features are integrated into your existing workflows, maintain data security within Canvas, and give educators control over AI use.
Where can I learn more about IgniteAI?Visit the IgniteAI overview page, explore the IgniteAI Product Roadmap, or watch recent webinars including Introducing IgniteAI to see features in action.