Canvas Migration Update
Oct 1, 2013
Overview
In 2012, CU Online undertook an effort to evaluate the feasibility of consolidating
from two learning management systems, eCollege and Blackboard, down to a single
system. Consolidation of systems would lead to direct cost savings, improvement of
academic technology service and an accelerated investment in new technology.
After consulting with various faculty and administrative governance groups, CU
Online released an RFP for a single LMS. A review committee of three staff and three
faculty with representation from both campuses eventually selected Canvas.
Final selection and contract negotiations completed at the end of 2012, and CU
Online launched a pilot during Spring 2013, including approximately 40 online
courses with a total enrollment of almost 1,000 students. Mid-spring, all faculty
participating in the pilot voted to move forward with Canvas, and a student survey
revealed no strong preference for either the new LMS or the incumbent systems.
Over the summer of 2013, an additional 2,000 students used Canvas. And this fall,
97% of all LMS enrollments are in Canvas.
Key Deliverables
 Fall enrollments
o Canvas = 58366 (97% of LMS enrollments)
o Blackboard = 1998
o eCollege = 282
 Estimated Spring Canvas percent: < 99%
 Training January through August
o 61 workshops
o 1024 faculty in attendance
o Plus, one-on-one and special department and college-requested
sessions.
 Over 750 courses, online and face-to-face, converted by CU Online. Spring
conversions are being queued now.
 Implemented portal authentication (use email name and password as login)
 Prior to spring course enrollment: Implement near real time enrollment
provisioning and deprovisioning.
 Integration of Panopto and iCliker applications.
 Conversion costs covered by conversion savings this AY.
Current Projects
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Working with IR on data-driven “early alert” and student performance
reporting.
Expect to launch Turnitin plagiarism detection for Spring 2014 term for all
Canvas users
Evaluating extension of Big Blue Button Web conferencing for all Canvas
users
Evaluating near-real time course provisioning and deprovisioning.
Working with registrar on new ISIS-provisioned course roles: Observer
(course guest and designer).
Working with the School of Education and Human Development on improved
outcomes and rubric functionality.
Will run Canvas Attitude Surveys for faculty and for students later November
of this year.
Future
The CU Online team is tracking a number of future directions for academic
technology based on the consolidated Canvas platform. Some ideas include greater
enrollment flexibility, improved dashboards and data tracking, enhanced
integration with CU systems, better integration with 3rd party tools, course
templates and quality review, expanded training curriculum and more.
CU Online will continue to work with individual units and governance groups,
including the OIT Tech Review Committees, for guidance around future
improvements and expansion of service
Blackboard and eCollege contracts will expire June 30th, 2013. Blackboard content
will be archived. We are still negotiating with eCollege on content archiving, but
expect to have eCollege archives available for at least 12-24 additional months after
June 30, 2014.
Resources
Login: http://canvas.cuonline.edu/
Faculty Resource Site: http://www.cuonline.edu/upgrade
CU Online Help Desk: cuonlinehelp@ucdenver.edu, 303.315.3700