Migration to Canvas

Moving from Blackboard to Canvas 

After completing the Fall 2018 learning management system (LMS) pilot which included pilot courses taught in Instructure Canvas and Blackboard Ultra, on-campus vendor presentations with Q&A, feature comparisons, and a review of several key areas, the LMS Selection Committee voted unanimously to adopt Canvas as the campus-wide LMS.
 
In addition to offering similar tools and functionality (e.g., assignments, discussions, announcements, tests, rubrics) that we have in our current LMS, Canvas offers enhanced tools and features for communication, collaboration, and assessment, more opportunities for third-party integrations and improved course analytics. Canvas also provides a robust mobile app for students and faculty.  

What resources are available to help me learn how to use Canvas?

Student Resources

• Student Resource Guide

Faculty Resources

• View the online schedule of Canvas workshops and open labs. We encourage you to RSVP, but it is not required.
• If you cannot attend a Canvas workshop or open lab, schedule a one-on-one meeting with an instructional technologist. We are happy to help you in person, over the phone, or via WebEx if you cannot meet on campus.
• Access the Faculty Getting Started Guideto view a list of things you should do to get started with Canvas and online resources available to you.
• If you have any issues with Canvas or basic questions, please contact the I.T. Help Desk at 407-628-6363 or helpdesk@rollins.edu

 

Timeline 

Our current Blackboard LMS will be used for academic courses through the end of the summer 2019 term. Starting in fall 2019, all courses will be taught in Canvas. Blackboard will remain accessible to faculty, students, and staff until December 20, 2019 in order to view and export previous courses, assignments, grades, etc. Faculty and staff may access our new Canvas environment in April 2019 in order to review resources and start building courses.  
 
The IDT team understands that this is a big undertaking and will provide a variety of training and resources, including videos, open labs, themed workshops, and one-on-one consultations.  
 

Spring 2019  

• Continue using Blackboard 
• Campus-wide announcement sent to students, faculty, and staff 
• Faculty and staff will gain access to Canvas (April) 
• IDT team provides resources, training, and sandbox courses for faculty and staff(April) 
• Faculty, staff, and students should export data from Blackboard (e.g., content, grades, student submissions) 
• Fall courses will be created in Canvas (late April) 

Summer 2019 

• Continue using Blackboard 
• Early adopters may start teaching in Canvas (July) 
• IDT Team provides resources and training 
• Faculty, staff, and students should export data from Blackboard (e.g., content, grades, student submissions) 

Fall 2019 

• All academic courses will be taught in Canvas 
• IDT Team provides resources and training 
• Faculty, staff, and students should complete exporting Blackboard content, submissions, and grades and save locally 
• Faculty, students, and staff will lose access to Blackboard on December 20, 2019