In our first APAC webinar, Introducing IgniteAI: Secure, in-context AI for education, we explored what we call the AI conundrum: the mix of enthusiasm and apprehension that educators and learners feel when it comes to AI. Institutions see the potential, but they also face risks around trust, fairness, and oversight.
IgniteAI was created as Instructure’s answer to that conundrum. Built directly within Canvas, it focuses on solving the challenges educators have said matter most: saving time, strengthening engagement, and supporting inclusion, without duplicating tools that already exist.
In our follow-up session, IgniteAI in Action, led by Farrah King, Global Growth Product Marketing Manager, and Greg Faller, Director, Solutions Engineer, we moved from the “why” to the “how.” This blog highlights the practical ways IgniteAI is already helping educators put secure, education-first AI into practice.
Tackling the challenge of time
Instructors told us one of their biggest pain points is the time lost on repetitive tasks. Rubric design is a clear example: it’s essential for consistency but often takes hours to create or adapt for different assignments.
During the webinar, Greg showed how IgniteAI can generate rubrics in minutes, aligned with course outcomes and editable by the instructor. As he explained, "It’s not about replacing the educator’s judgment. It’s about giving them a starting point so they can spend more time with their learners instead of formatting a rubric."
The benefit is straightforward: less time spent on setup, more time for teaching.
Making discussions more meaningful
Online discussions are rich spaces for learner interaction, but many educators struggle to keep track of what’s being said and which themes are emerging. That’s where discussion insights come in.
Farrah demonstrated how IgniteAI can surface participation trends and common themes, giving instructors quick visibility into where conversations are thriving and where they may need guidance.
"This lets instructors step in at the right time, with the right support," she said.
For leaders, this means stronger engagement at scale without expecting staff to read every post in real time.
Building accessibility into everyday teaching
Ensuring content is accessible is critical, but it can feel overwhelming to check every file, link, or assignment. IgniteAI’s accessibility remediation feature was built to reduce that burden.
Greg walked through how the tool identifies issues such as missing alt text or poor contrast and offers suggested fixes that instructors can accept or adjust.
"Accessibility shouldn’t be a separate project," he noted. "It should be something that’s baked into the way you prepare your course materials."
This helps institutions create more inclusive learning environments for all learners without adding significant new workload.
What makes IgniteAI different
Each of these features is useful on its own, but what sets IgniteAI apart is the way it’s been designed around educator needs.
- Confidence: Features are transparent and secure, with clear "nutrition facts" showing how models use data.
- Adoption: Tools live inside Canvas workflows, so instructors don’t have to learn a new platform or change the way they already teach.
- Value: Every feature responds to challenges that educators identified as priorities in our surveys and conversations.
As Farrah put it, "Learning should drive the technology. Technology shouldn’t drive the learning." Together, these principles shape not just features, but a foundation institutions can build on.
What’s at stake for education leaders
Educators and learners are already experimenting with AI, which means institutions can’t afford to wait on the sidelines. At the same time, rushing in without safeguards risks eroding trust and weakening the learning experience. IgniteAI offers a path forward by focusing on the challenges educators have said matter most and addressing them in ways that are secure, transparent, and practical.
The features we’ve shown aren’t about doing everything AI could do, but about solving the problems that most directly affect teaching and learning. For leaders, that means being able to support innovation while protecting equity and building trust.
With IgniteAI, institutions don’t have to choose between innovation and caution. They can give educators tools that make a real difference today, while building the trust and transparency needed for the future of learning.
Ready to explore more about our approach to AI here? If you’re already a Canvas customer, reach out to your Customer Success Manager to learn more. New to Canvas? Learn how our LMS can support your goals today, and what IgniteAI will unlock next.
