We’re very pleased to report that UBC has selected Canvas as the replacement for Connect (Blackboard Learn). This critical step forward in the Learning Technology Renewal project was made possible thanks to the efforts of faculty and students who engaged with their peers to facilitate discussions about the future of learning technology at UBC, as well as the many members of the UBC community who were involved in the testing and piloting phases.
Based on the results of the needs assessment and evaluation phases conducted over the past 12 months, we’re confident that Canvas will improve the online learning and teaching experience for faculty and students by providing a user-friendly interface, new tools, and full mobile functionality. Canvas has been well-received by the faculty and students who have tested it at UBC and by faculty and students at other large R1 research universities.
Select UBC faculties will begin transitioning a number of courses from Connect to Canvas for September 2017, and by September 2018 all courses previously taught in Connect will have transitioned to Canvas. To get ready for this transition, the Learning Technology Hub is now finalizing the process for moving content from Connect to Canvas and working to integrate Canvas with UBC systems (such as the Student Information System) and external learning technology tools (such as iClicker).
It’s important to note that some third-party apps will not be fully integrated with Canvas until after September 2017—including LTI tools Piazza, LTI Blogs, edX, peerScholar, iPeer, and WeBWork. Canvas integration with textbook publishers’ online content will also take place after September 2017. Instructors may wish to delay transitioning to Canvas until these features are ready to go.
To prepare for the transition to Canvas, we recommend checking out the many Canvas training and support resources designed for faculty. If you would like more information about the Canvas implementation timeline, moving your content from Connect to Canvas, or creating an account in Canvas as part of our soft launch, please get in touch with your faculty’s Instructional Support Unit or the LT Hub.
