U of A begins two-year transition from eClass to Canvas

The College of Alberta has determined to change its Studying Administration System (LMS) from Moodle (eClass) to Canvas following suggestions from college students, school, and workers. By fall 2025, all programs will transition to Canvas.

Canvas turned accessible to U of A college students and instructors on August 6. College students can test to see if they’ve programs on Canvas utilizing their CCID.

In fall 2023, the Workplace of the Provost introduced that the U of A can be transitioning its LMS to Canvas. This transition is supposed to “form a contemporary educating and studying expertise” and “assist the altering wants” of the college. 

The swap from eClass to Canvas additionally goals to enhance the scholar expertise as a part of the Scholar Expertise Motion Plan (SEAP). Based on Karsten Mündel, vice-provost (studying initiatives) and co-sponsor of the LMS challenge, this transition is in response to considerations raised by college students and workers about eClass. 

“There was a priority [and] questions on whether or not eClass was as much as the duty,” Mündel mentioned.

One other motive behind this transition is shifting to a vendor-supported system, Mündel mentioned. Moodle is a free, open supply software program package deal, operated by a gaggle of lecturers throughout the globe. Canvas is owned and operated by Instructure. 

“We’re actually capable of profit from all the issues that [Instructure does], all the partnerships that they’ve. [This is] finally all within the service of a greater studying surroundings for our college students,” Mündel mentioned. 

Canvas will develop into operational for all programs over a two-year interval

The rollout of Canvas will happen over a two-year interval, with three waves of implementation. 

Wave one of many rollout is scheduled for fall 2024. The choice to transition to Canvas for fall 2024 is as much as particular person colleges and instructors, Mündel mentioned. 

“On the finish of the day, it’s finally as much as particular person instructors. Relying on what they’re educating and what their program has determined. Whether or not now’s the correct time for them or not,” Mündel mentioned.

Wave two is scheduled for winter 2025. Based on Mündel, this wave will primarily concentrate on the mixing of options equivalent to on-line proctoring and polling.

Mündel mentioned the third wave will concentrate on programs that require lodging for added advanced purposes, equivalent to math and engineering programs. All colleges will transitioning to Canvas by fall 2025.

“It’s a heavy raise for instructors to study a brand new system. We’re doing all the pieces we are able to,” Mündel mentioned.

To pick out a brand new LMS, events submitted proposals. Then a variety occasion vetted these proposals, in keeping with Mündel.

As soon as the choice committee narrowed the competitors down to 2 candidates, the finalists had the chance to current to the U of A group. 

“These shows have been an necessary a part of the ultimate resolution making [process] and finally resulted in Canvas being our new LMS.”