Week of 19 September 2016

The following information summarizes what is new in the edX platform this week.

The edX engineering wiki Release Pages provide detailed information about every change made to the edx-platform GitHub repository. If you are interested in additional information about every change in a release, create a user account for the wiki and review the dated release pages.

edx.org Website

EdX recently launched MicroMasters programs. Developed to advance careers, and based on the master’s programs of leading universities, each MicroMasters program is a series of higher-level courses that are recognized by companies for real job relevancy, and may accelerate a master’s degree. For more information, see MicroMasters Programs.

LMS

This release includes the following updates to the LMS.

  • New users who register an account while using a screen reader can now access the edX terms and services page and the edX honor code of conduct page. (AC-578)
  • On both the registration and sign in pages, the contrast has been increased for the informational text that appears below form fields, such as the Email and Password fields. (AC-577)
  • Learners who use a screen reader to access a survey created by the Survey Tool now hear the relevant question and answer text for each poll answer option.

edX Mobile App

Discussion posts are now identified as having been read when you interact with a post in the edX mobile app. Previously, interactions such as adding a response or comment to a post, or answering a question or marking a question as answered, caused the post to be identified as unread. (MA-2139)

For answers to frequently asked questions about the mobile app, see the If You Use the edX Mobile App section in the EdX Learner’s Guide, or, for Open edX installations, see the If You Use the edX Mobile App section in the Open edX Learner’s Guide.

Documentation

  • In the LMS, a new user assistance option is now available on every page. On the edx.org site, learners now select Support to ask questions, report problems, and access the edX FAQ. In addition, a new Help option is now available on each page. Selecting this option opens the EdX Learner’s Guide.

    For Open edX instances, selecting the new Help option opens the Open edX Learner’s Guide.

  • A new section that describes how to set up different sites for an Open edX installation is now available in the Installing, Configuring, and Running an Open edX Site guide. For more information, see Configuring Open edX Sites.