Will we be running both Blackboard and Canvas at the same time?

Yes, Blackboard Learn and Canvas will be functional during the LMS migration project. We will run a small pilot of courses in Canvas during the Fall 2024 semester. Continued adoption of Canvas will continue in the Spring 2025 semester with an expansion of the Fall 2024 semester pilot. This means students may have courses in both systems during the 2024-2025 academic year.

What is the timeline for moving to Canvas?

We will be moving to Canvas over the 2024-2025 academic year. Please see the project timeline for more information.

What’s different about Canvas?

The Canvas LMS platform includes intuitive features that are focused on an improved student experience. Some features that make Canvas stand out from its competitors are:

• Greatly improved student experience with features students have asked for, such as improved calendar and to-do lists, common course structure, and an excellent mobile app
• Widely used among higher education research institutions
• Intuitive user interface, with less start-up time for new instructors and students

What tools will be available in Canvas? Will integrated tools in Blackboard be in Canvas?

Canvas has similar tools to Blackboard and other learning management systems like quizzes, announcements, discussions, and other built-in tools. Nearly all existing third-party tools integrated into Blackboard, such as Echo 360, Zoom, Kahoot!, VoiceThread, Qwickly Attendance, Kaltura, and publisher tools will be available in Canvas. More information will be communicated as the project progresses.

What support will you provide instructors for the transition to Canvas?

Course migrations can move existing Blackboard courses to Canvas. Extensive training and support options will be available in multiple modes and formats. More information will be communicated as the project progresses.

How can I be part of the pilot?

The Provost Office released a call for faculty volunteers for the Fall 2024 Canvas pilot. The Provost Office worked with CITS Instructional Development to identify 20 faculty and 53 courses to run in Canvas for the fall 2024 pilot. More information will be communicated as the project progresses.

How will course migrations work?

UMass Dartmouth will use two options to migrate course content from Blackboard to Canvas: a 3rd party company to batch migrate courses and self-service course migration using an export/import process. There will be zero to minimal loss of content during the migration. Migrated courses need to be checked by faculty to ready them for students. Some work may include reorganization of content as Canvas uses a module structure to organize content.

What will happen to my Blackboard courses?

Blackboard will be discontinued in Summer 2025. For courses that are not moved to Canvas or to access student content in courses (which will not be moved to Canvas), an archive of Blackboard courses will be maintained for data retention. Faculty should export their Blackboard courses to retain records of them as well. More information will be communicated as the project progresses.

When will I be able to get a Canvas account to start learning and testing?

Faculty training for Canvas and wider access to Canvas for course management will occur sometime after the start of the fall 2024 semester. In conjunction with training, faculty will have access to sandbox/practice courses in Canvas.

I’m developing a new course. Which system should I use?

Blackboard is the only option for the 2024-2025 academic year. Only a small select group of faculty are utilizing Canvas as part of a pilot in the fall 2024 semester. Faculty training for Canvas and wider access to Canvas for course development will occur sometime after the start of the fall 2024 semester.

What will happen with Organizations and course sites not part of official terms?

Organizations and non-course-related content will be addressed once appropriate alternatives are identified. More information will be communicated as the project progresses.

How can I provide feedback or ask questions?

Please use the Canvas Feedback and Inquiries Form to ask questions, provide feedback, and report issues.