We're introducing a redesigned activity setup: a guided, three-step flow that replaces the long single-page form. You'll be able to opt in from 2 October 2026, and become default by December 2026.
The options you rely on are all still there. There's simply far less to take in at once, and less hunting for the setting you need.
Why We're Changing It
Setting up an activity takes longer than it should. Deadlines, grading, collaboration and group settings all appear at once, in a layout that grew each time we added a tool. Instructors tell us setup feels intimidating the first time, and many ask a learning designer for help.
We designed the new flow around one principle: simple for most instructors, with depth for the ones who need it.
Less to take in. A clear path from start to finish, with visible progress instead of one long form.
Independent by default. A first-time instructor can set up an activity end to end without help.
The Four Biggest Changes
1. A Guided Three-step Flow
Setup is now organised into three clear stages, shown in the top bar so you always know where you are:
| Stage | What you do |
|---|---|
| 01. Build activity | See your whole activity and its steps in order. Add or remove optional steps (for example, Reflection). |
| 02. Edit steps | Configure each step, one at a time. Every step has a student preview and its own Advanced settings. |
| 03. Setup activity | Set what applies to the whole activity: deadlines, grade weighting and groups. |
You can move between stages freely, it's a guide, not a locked wizard.
2. Deadlines and grading now live in one place
Previously, deadlines were set inside individual steps and grading was its own separate step. Both now sit together in 03. Setup activity.
Deadlines: every step's date in a single view, so you can see the whole schedule at a glance instead of clicking through each step to check.
Grade weighting: per-step weighting in one place.
3. Collaboration settings moved to the step they affect
Today all collaboration options sit in one block under the instructions, which makes it hard to tell what each one changes. Each option now lives on the step it controls:
"Hand in individually or as a group" moves to the Hand in step.
"Review individually / within group / outside group / as a group" moves to the Give feedback step.
You set collaboration where it applies, instead of reading a list up front and working out what it does. Choosing how students collaborate becomes a decision you make in context, rather than a list you interpret up front.
4. A simpler interface, with the depth still there
We've surfaced only the settings most instructors need, and moved others into Advanced settings on each step. Each step also shows an illustration of the student's side, so you can check your setup as you build.*
* In V1 this is a static image. We plan to replace it with a live preview that updates as you set up the activity.
Rollout Timeline
| When | What happens | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| From 2 October 2026 | Opt-in opens. Eligible institutions can switch, in stages through October to December. Your PSM handles the switch. | Talk to your PSM when you're ready. You can also choose to wait. |
| December 2026 | The new setup becomes the default for all eligible institutions. | Nothing |
| After December 2026 | The current setup is retired on a date we'll confirm and communicate in advance. | Nothing |
We will not switch you over without notice. Between October and December the choice is yours, and your PSM will confirm before anything changes. We are publishing in August so that institutions get at least three months' notice before the default changes.
Who This Applies To
Most institutions will be able to switch during the opt-in period. Two groups will stay on the current setup for now:
Institutions using FeedbackFruits in Microsoft Teams. The new setup isn't available in the Teams integration yet.
LTI-only institutions (no API connection). These setups need additional work before they can move across.
If either applies to you, nothing changes in December. You keep the current setup, and we will come back to you with a separate timeline. Your Partner Success Manager will confirm your institution's status, so you do not need to work out which category you fall into.
What Is Not Changing
Your existing activities. You do not need to rebuild, re-save or migrate anything. Activities you have already created continue to run.
Scope. We changed how instructors set up activities. Students see the same experience.
Your tools and features. Every setting you use today exists in the new setup. Some have moved, and this article lists where.
Templates and reusing activities. Copying a template or reusing an earlier activity works as before.
Grades, submissions and existing student work. The switch does not touch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to redo my existing activities?
No. Existing activities need no action from you.
Will old activities move to the new setup flow?
Yes. Open an old activity in edit mode and you will see the new setup.
Will my students notice anything?
No. We changed the instructor setup experience, and students see no difference.
Can I switch back if I do not get on with it?
During the opt-in period, yes. Your Partner Success Manager can move your institution back to the current setup while we fix the problem. We would like to hear what went wrong first.
Do any settings behave differently?
No. The settings work the same way. The layout and visuals changed.
Where did [setting] go?
Deadlines and grading now sit in 03. Setup activity, and collaboration options sit on the step they affect. We are updating our help centre articles tool by tool, and your PSM or our support team can point you to anything specific.
What if my institution is not ready in December?
Talk to your Partner Success Manager. We want the switch to land at a sensible point in your academic calendar.
Did you test this with instructors?
Yes. We tested prototypes with instructors and refined the design with early access partners before general rollout.
Where To Get Help
Help centre: We are updating articles tool by tool ahead of the opt-in period, with new screenshots and locations.
Your Partner Success Manager: For your institution's timeline, eligibility or opting in.
Support: For questions about a specific setting or activity.
Tell us what feels faster, what you had to hunt for, and what you would change. Contact your Partner Success Manager or support. We phased this rollout so that we can act on what we hear.