As part of the University's ongoing digital transformation process, it has decided to make this change following feedback from staff and students through a series of surveys and focus groups from all areas of the University. Benefits of Canvas include its clear interface, the ability to tailor notifications, easier access to assessment marks and feedback, integration with Office365, a highly praised mobile app for both Android and iOS, and 24/7 support via live chat, email and phone.
Canvas has been working closely with the Learning & Teaching Development Service and NUIT to implement the service.
All students will be given access to Canvas in April 2020 with the option to access sample courses and training materials to familiarise themselves with the platform. Over 60 modules have already been identified as early adopters and students taking these modules will be using Canvas during semester two this year. To aid students with the transition, the University is running drop-in sessions from April onwards, with more information becoming available soon.
The University's contract with Blackboard ends on 31 July 2020 and will no longer be available to staff and students from this date. The University reassures students that all Blackboard content from the last three years will be migrated into Canvas. This means that students will have access to materials they had in Blackboard apart from submitted assessments. ReCap will be integrated with Canvas, ensuring that current and future recordings will continue to be accessible to students.
To find out more about the transition to Canvas, students can visit the Canvas project site.