LabArchives Love Data Week 2026

Love Data Week is an international celebration of data that aims to promote good data practices, while building and engaging a community around topics related to research data management, sharing, preservation, and reuse. Join LabArchives for a weeklong series of events dedicated to helping you improve the organization of your data while taking steps towards better overall data management through LabArchives Research ELN, Inventory, and Scheduler. To learn more about LabArchives at Georgia Tech visit the following links: LabArchives Education Edition and LabArchives Research Edition.

To register for the LabArchive sessions below, please visit their event page to register for a session!

Monday, February 9 at 11AM ESTLabArchives 101: The Basics of LabArchives ELN

New to LabArchives? This training is an essential starting point! This is a comprehensive overview of the features available in LabArchives Electronic Lab Notebook. Learn how to set up your account, create notebooks, manage materials, and share with your colleagues. Perfect for new users, this session will equip you with the foundational skills to streamline your research workflows with LabArchives.

Register for this session

Monday, February 9 at 8PM ESTNotebook and User Management

A session for those involved in the setup, arrangement and management of notebooks. Create notebooks efficiently by using templates and reusing content. Ensure data security with appropriate access control for team members and external collaborators.

Register for this session

Tuesday, February 10 at 1PM ESTResearch Data Management Tips and Best Practices

Learn how the various tools in LabArchives can support good data management and sharing. Topics will include naming the notebook, setting up notebook structure, complying with your data management and sharing plan, and managing permissions in the notebook.

Register for this session

Wednesday, February 11 at 5AM ESTOrganize the Chaos: Using LabArchives Inventory to Organize and Track Your Lab’s Inventory

An introduction to the benefits that using LabArchives Inventory offers researchers by streamlining the organization, tracking, and ordering of lab consumables. During this session, we’ll cover setting up items, managing orders, and customizing LabArchives inventory for your team’s needs.

Register for a session

Wednesday, February 11 at 2PM ESTOrganize the Chaos: Using LabArchives Inventory to Organize and Track Your Lab’s Inventory

An introduction to the benefits that using LabArchives Inventory offers researchers by streamlining the organization, tracking, and ordering of lab consumables. During this session, we’ll cover setting up items, managing orders, and customizing LabArchives inventory for your team’s needs.

Register for a session

Thursday, February 12 at 5AM ESTUsing LabArchives Scheduler to Manage the Booking of Lab Equipment

An introduction of the benefits that LabArchives Scheduler offers researchers with a simply powerful scheduling solution for any lab or research organization. During this session we will cover creating a Scheduler organization, adding resources, making reservations, and inviting colleagues.

Register for a session

Thursday, February 12 at 1PM EST Using LabArchives Scheduler to Manage the Booking of Lab Equipment

An introduction of the benefits that LabArchives Scheduler offers researchers with a simply powerful scheduling solution for any lab or research organization. During this session we will cover creating a Scheduler organization, adding resources, making reservations, and inviting colleagues

Register for a session

Friday, February 13 at 5AM ESTOptimizing Research Workflows using Templates, Widgets, and Forms in LabArchives

During this session we will dive into standardizing protocols and documentation processes to support good research data management. We will show ways to build comprehensive searchable and compliant forms to increase efficiency and quality of the research record.

Register for a session

Friday, February 13 at 2PM ESTOptimizing Research Workflows using Templates, Widgets, and Forms in LabArchives

During this session we will dive into standardizing protocols and documentation processes to support good research data management. We will show ways to build comprehensive searchable and compliant forms to increase efficiency and quality of the research record.

Register for a session

If you have any questions about using LabArchices in your Canvas courses at Georgia Tech, please reach out to the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu.

Prepare for a New Semester: Your Canvas Kickstart Guide

Welcome back! A new semester is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to set up your Canvas course for success. Whether you’re teaching one section or several, these tips will help you start strong and keep everything organized.

Combine Courses or Sections

Teaching multiple sections? Save time by merging them into one Canvas shell. Learn how by viewing the Combine Courses knowledge article.

Communicate Early

Early communication is vital. To communicate with students prior to the start of the term you will need to adjust both the start and end date for your course.

Pre-Course Surveys or Assignments

In order to have students complete a pre-course survey or participate in an assignment prior to the regular term start – you will need to adjust both the start and end date for your course. We suggest 12 days after the end of the term for the end date, afterward, the course will become read-only.

Use Draft State

If you would like to work on your course Assignments, Discussions, Modules, Pages, and Quizzes before allowing students access to the materials, you can save contenta s a “draft” (unpublished state). Please see the Canvas Guides below for additional information.

Manage Files

If you are allowing access to Files in the Course Navigation, the default setting in Canvas allows students access to the items that you upload into your Course Files, except for files uploaded directly into assignments, quizzes, and discussions. Please check to make sure the files you wish to share with or hide from students are marked as published or unpublished, respectively.

Course Design Support

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers assistance with designing and developing a new course, or re-designing an existing course by incorporating technologies to improve learning outcomes in various learning environments. Visit CTL’s Contact Us page and request a consultation.

Publish Your Course

Remember to publish your course in advance of the course start date.

Getting Help

Contact Instructure for 24x7x365 support (View Help on the global navigation menu in Canvas).

Faculty Hotline: 1-833-476-1172 

These new semester tips are also available on the Prepare for a New Semester knowledge article!

Honorlock: Final Exam Resources

A virtual classroom setting with three students seated at a table, each working on a laptop. The background features Georgia Tech branding colors in navy and gold, with the text ‘Honorlock Final Exam Resources’ and the Honorlock logo prominently displayed.

Final exams can be a stressful time for both faculty and students. The right resources and strategies can make the process smoother, more effective, and less overwhelming. Honorlock is Georgia Tech’s licensed platform for automated digital proctoring services. Below is a list of resources from Honorlock to support you with preparing exams and reviewing results.

Pre-Exam Resources

Set your course up for success with these essential guides and strategies:

  • 3 Ways to Honor Faculty Time: Discover practical tips to streamline your exam setup and maximize efficiency. Read more
  • Proctoring Essay-Based Exams: Learn best practices for administering and proctoring essay exams online. Explore the guide
  • Student Exam Anxiety? We’ve Got Help: Access resources to support students who may be feeling anxious about online exams. Find support and review FAQs for Students.
  • How to Talk to Students About Cheating: Get guidance on having constructive conversations about academic integrity. Read the advice

Post-Exam Resources

After the exam, these resources will help you review, interpret, and act on results:

  • Interactive Guide: Reviewing Proctored Exams: Step-by-step instructions for reviewing proctored exam sessions. Access the guide
  • View Your Results: Learn how to access and interpret exam results efficiently. View results
  • Best Practices for Reviewing: Tips for making the most of your exam review process. See best practices
  • Interpret Proctoring Flags: Guidance on understanding and responding to proctoring alerts. Learn more

By leveraging these resources, faculty can approach final exams with greater confidence and clarity. For more support or questions about using Honorlock, reach out to the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu.

Publishing Final Grades with the GradePub Tool

Person working on laptop to submit grades from Canvas to Banner

Final Grades season is here, and with it comes a pivotal moment on the academic calendar: providing students with timely, accurate feedback on their progress. Georgia Tech has rolled out an improved GradePub Tool! This tool is a streamlined solution for publishing grades directly from Canvas to Banner.  

Why use the GradePub Tool?

Previously, submitting grades meant managing downloads, file conversions, and uploads; a process prone to errors and inefficiencies. The improved GradePub Tool eliminates these steps by securely connecting Canvas to Banner, keeping all sensitive data within Georgia Tech’s systems.

Key Benefits of the GradePub Tool

  • Rapid Feedback: Grades appear in Banner instantly.
  • Reduced Faculty Workload: Submit grades directly from Canvas with just a few clicks.
  • Enhanced Security: No need to export grades; all data remains secure.

Faculty Tips for a Smooth Experience

  • Start Early: Get started early and reach out to the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu, if you run into any issues.
  • Leverage Canvas: GradePub works seamlessly with Canvas features.
  • Fallback Option: For complex grading scenarios, the GradePub Manual Export is still available.

For questions or support, contact the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech Canvas Data Retention: What You Need to Know

To comply with USG records management policies and maintain system performance, older academic and non-academic (non-Banner) Canvas courses will be periodically removed as outlined below. Starting December 15, 2025, academic courses that are seven years or older will be deleted.

Term in CanvasRemoval Date
Fall 2017 December 2025 
Spring 2018 December 2025 
Summer 2018 December 2025 
Fall 2018 December 2025 
Spring 2019 December 2026
Summer 2019 December 2026 
Fall 2019 December 2026 
Spring 2020 December 2027 
Summer 2020 December 2027 
Fall 2020 December 2027 

Key Points

  • Academic Courses: Banner-provisioned courses become read-only two weeks after term end and are deleted 7 years later.
  • No Recovery: Once deleted, courses and content cannot be restored. 

Why This Matters…

  • Privacy & Security: Aligns with USG retention standards. 
  • System Health: Prevents storage overload and performance issues. 

How to Save Your Content

Please review the Canvas Data Retention article for full details and support. 

Canvas Credentials is Becoming Parchment Digital Badges!

Canvas credentials icon of a certificate with an arrow pointing towards Parchment Digital Badges

Canvas Credentials is officially rebranding to Parchment Digital Badges on October 31, 2025!

This rebrand marks a significant step forward in Instructure’s mission to streamline digital credentialing and enhance the way learning achievements are recognized and celebrated. While the name and branding will change, rest assured—there will be no changes to functionality. Your experience issuing and managing badges will remain seamless and familiar. 

🔄 What’s Changing?

Canvas Credentials is being rebranded as Parchment Digital Badges, now part of the Parchment Award suite, one of the Instructure brands. This is a change in branding only — there are no changes to how the product functions or how it’s accessed. The only noticeable changes will be the new logo in the interface where “Canvas Credentials” previously appeared and the URL to our Canvas Credentials instance will invoke Parchment. 

Here’s an example of the new branding in the product interface:

New Parchment Digital Badges interface

💡 Why the Rebrand?

This rebrand aligns Canvas Credentials with Parchment, the world’s largest credential exchange network. Joining forces will create a more unified and powerful ecosystem for digital credentials that: 

  • Connects learning career outcomes using real-time labor market data. 
  • Supports stackable, skills-based badges that reflect real-world competencies. 
  • Empowers learners to showcase their achievements across platforms like LinkedIn, resumes, and digital portfolios. 
  • Simplifies credential management for institutions and organizations. 

🔗 Resources & Support

YouTube Ads in Canvas: What’s Changing and How to Keep Your Courses Ad-Free 

On Friday, October 3, 2025 (note: originally September 22nd), any existing or newly added YouTube videos embedded in Canvas may begin showing advertisements and video recommendations, potentially disrupting the learning experience. This change comes as part of YouTube’s updated integration policies, and it’s important for educators and instructional designers to prepare accordingly. Please note that these ads are controlled by YouTube and cannot be disabled within Canvas. 

What’s Changing?

YouTube videos embedded directly in Canvas will no longer be ad-free. This means: 

Viewers may see ads, suggested videos, and links back to YouTube. The viewing experience may become less focused and more distracting. 

On October 3, 2025, there will be a message overlay displayed on YouTube videos in Canvas to alert viewers that ads may be displayed. This message will display before playing the video on the browser.  On the Canvas mobile apps, the message will be displayed at the top of the page. 

Why Kaltura Helps?

To provide a cleaner, ad-free viewing experience for students, we recommend using Kaltura to embed YouTube videos in Canvas.  See the help articles below:  

If You Choose to Use Direct YouTube Links…

If you prefer to continue using direct YouTube links or embeds, please consider adding a disclaimer to your course: 

“Some videos may display advertisements. These ads are not affiliated with or endorsed by Georgia Institute of Technology.” 

This helps to clarify with students that any ads shown are outside of Georgia Tech’s control. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu.  

Kaltura Capture Not Compatible with macOS Tahoe

Dark blue backgroud with an alert and video symbol displaying the text "Kaltura Capture Not Compatible with macOS Tahoe"

Please note that upgrading to macOS Tahoe currently causes all new Kaltura Capture recordings to produce corrupted video files. Playback freezes both in Kaltura MediaSpace and when viewed locally on the device. Upgrading to macOS Tahoe at this time will render Kaltura Capture unusable until a fix is released. We are actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as the vendor releases a resolution.

Please contact the Digital Learning Team at canvas@gatech.edu, if there are any further questions.

    Padlet Workspace URL Update

    Colorful Padlet Logo

    We are very excited to announce improvements to GT’s Padlet account access URL. It is moving from gatech.padlet.org to padlet.com/gatech on September 17, 2025.

    Please note that once the migration to the “.com” domain happens, the old URL will be redirected to the new URL, and the integration with Canvas will not be impacted. 

    🛠️ What’s changing 

    • Users can sign up or log in with SAML by going to padlet.com/gatech
    • Improved safety permissions to restrict access for students to only use and share Padlets within the Gatech account. Read more here

    📝 What you need to do 

    • Bookmark your new school URL: padlet.com/gatech
    • Read the migration resources below. 

    📚 Migration resources 

    To help your team get up to speed, we’ve created three quick-start guides: 

    1. From Backpack to Padlet for Schools: Explains the migration taking place. 
    2. Teacher Quick Guide: Walks teachers through where to find their padlets, how to share them, and what’s new. 

    ❓Questions 

    📢 Deprecation of Qualtrics Contact List Triggers

    Laptop displaying a warning about the deprecation of Qualtrics Contact List Triggers

    Effective December 1, 2025, Qualtrics will officially deprecate Contact List Triggers. This means: Existing triggers will stop functioning. Contacts will no longer be added to lists via triggers. No new triggers can be created.

    🔄 What’s Replacing Triggers?

    Qualtrics is transitioning to a more robust and flexible system called Contact List Workflows, available in the Actions tab. These workflows offer:

    • Enhanced automation capabilities
    • Better integration with survey distributions
    • Improved reliability and reporting features

    ✅ Required Action

    To avoid disruption:

    • Review your current surveys and workflows.
    • Replace all Contact List Triggers with the new Workflow Tasks before December 1, 2025.

    🛠 Resources & Support

    • Step-by-step guides are available in the Qualtrics Experience Community
    • For assistance, contact the Customer Success Hub Contact List Triggers.