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Author Release Notes

Author Platform

2026

Features: 

  • Improved sign in pages

  • In spring 2026, work was completed for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, such as additional tooltips, alternative navigation with tab, and other clarifications in reports, for example.

  • We've improved error messages for AI-related issues.

Issues: 

  • We've improved many simultaneous connections to Amazon Bedrock to avoid issues. Smartform reports now list LO's in the same order in the activity.

Align

2026

Features: 

  • In spring 2026, work was completed for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, such as Tab order simplified to not include card arrows.

Issues:

  • The intro page not scrolling to the bottom in some cases has been resolved.

SmartForm

2026

Features: 

  • Optimized handling of activities with a large number of student input tables for better performance.

  • In spring 2026, work was completed for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Furthermore, we've improved error messaging for cells receiving data from students such as date, text, or numeric entries.

Issues: 

  • Resolved "," in four-digit numbers, breaking formulas.
  • Long responses now display properly in the end-of-activity PDF layout.
  • Attribution export now includes all image placemat content.
  • Entering a name when pasting a table now creates a unique usable value.
  • Returning to a learner input table now formats properly and row controls work.
  • Resolved cell heigh issue on data entry via Safari.

SmartVideo

2026

Features:

  • Can copy and paste a node, then change the time of the new node.

  • In Spring 2026, work was completed for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards.

  • We've improved feedback for "Select All That Apply" so that its clearer to see what students select and which responses are correct. Furthermore, unlisted Vimeo videos can now be used. 

Issues: 

  • Resolved issue when returning to previous questions at the end of an activity.
  • Improved audio experience, reducing repetition on MCQ events when multiple events are at the same time stamp.
  • Begin/Play button is now available on the intro and character screens with long content.

SmartChat 

 

August 2026

Fall 2026 UI/UX Release

Features:

NOTE: these apply to left right and single screen presentation mode

  • Help dialog no longer open by default on loading
  • Top toolbar resized smaller with cleaner buttons supporting full focus
  • Promoted objectives have cleaner presentations
  • New avatar set replaces avatars from 2020
  • Avatars smaller and presented in a circular frame
  • Welcome Background image functionality added.
  • Gradient and translucent backgrounds used when possible throughout
  • Existing and new Background images placed on Workspace tab, with improved quality on image generation
  • New layout for Intro, Avatar selection, and Cast (now Personas) for a cleaner, more integrated look.
  • New layout for Activity Screen, with more room around the dialogs, better use of color, italics for event nodes, and cooler tones for response buttons.
  • New progress bar
  • Improved score feedback pop-up for both, vast improvement for Single Screen
  • Cast icons appear in better location/size relative to conversation, especially single screen
  • New layout for materials buttons, with better focus selection indicators and backdrop
  • New Report card view for Activity Feedback, providing a top summary of how the student performed with easy-to-follow comments listed below, a seemingly more traditional format.
  • Activity feedback elements defaults to normal sized font (instead of large)
    PA updated to support the creation of Backgrounds during the character step and Welcome image in the final step.

Issues:

  • At the end of the activity, the activity area shifted slightly.
  • Progress bar was not properly capturing progress against auto-forwarded questions
  • Objectives in an edge case could not be flagged as hidden.

July 2026

Issues:

  • Image Match MCQ now displays properly in Score Review Mode
  • Image Match now displays correct feedback.
  • Image Long Text Description field button on very tall images, now scrolls down to the bottom and button.
  • Cartesia voices that no longer exist fail silently but generate warning message in editor.
  • Activities use current LLM regardless of what they used prior.
  • Edge case where ‘hide objective’ would not work.

June 2026

Features:
  • Cartesia Sonic 3.5 voice model
  • Flexibility and quality of images for the Intro page, Background image, and materials, with Stable Diffusion Large.
  • Updated Production Assistant to use Claude Sonnet 4.6.
  • Updated Open Response to be evaluated with Claude Sonnet 4.6.

Improvements to Generate Playbook: 

  • Improved interview
    • PA is less chatty, focused on getting the information it needs to make a good activity purpose, and moving to step 2.
    • Improved quality of Activity Purpose.
    • Better at knowing when to ask follow-up questions and when the move forward.
  • Questions are more seamlessly integrated into the story rather than feeling like an interruption or a repetition of themes.
  • Open Response
    • Focus is on making the right decision and picking the right evidence, not trying to figure out exactly what is being asked.
    • Both choices, correct and incorrect, should have supporting evidence in the activity.
  • Overall, Generate Playbook improvements in quality and performance.

Issues:

  • Resolved messaging if a Reference Doc was too large.
  • Additional support for lang tags added to names, descriptions, and buttons.

April and May 2026

Features: 

  • In Spring 2026, extensive work was completed for compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards.

Issues:

  • Overall Score can now be used as a token for Conditional nodes.


March 2026

Features: 

  • Warning for when an Avatar is available for the student in the selection pool, but is also being used by a character in the activity.

  • Warning(s) have been added when score values have been set to negatives, to prevent accidental scoring errors.
  • For users deploying to an iFrame, you can hide the microphone from the settings panel, as it will not function wrapped inside an LMS.
  • AI image generation now defaults to on.
  • The name field will now use Autocomplete, using a first name when relevant.
  • Additional text controls in Settings now include entries for Open Response, such as 'Waiting'.
  • Additional Accessibility fixes, in Aria labels, Regions, and Layout.
  • Control has been added to disable microphone for individual open response.

Issues:

  • Removed the control 'wipe existing nodes' as it was redundant.
  • AI input dialog on Open Response nodes removed, as control should be through the PA.
  • Goto control on search, comments, or warnings, now scrolls the goto areas into view.
  • Readspeaker fix for when webReader.js is unavailable.