ODU's relationship with Blackboard is coming to an end. Learn more about our plans to migrate Blackboard courses to Canvas.
After extensive research and a rigorous RFP process, ODU will be replacing Blackboard with Canvas as our official Learning Management System (LMS) over the next year. While we acknowledge that switching platforms presents some challenges, we are doing everything we can to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible. We will have training and support available at every step of this journey.
Canvas provides faculty with the resources they need to improve the student learning experience:
- An intuitive, easy to learn interface, including an improved mobile app experience;
- Enhanced and easy to manage syllabus, course calendar, and course schedule that automatically updates due dates for course activities;
- Improved workflow for more streamlined grading;
- A dashboard that quickly summarizes all relevant course events and items;
- Simplified student collaboration and group options; and
- 24-7 phone and live chat support with Canvas, along with improved instructions, videos, and guides.
We encourage your questions and feedback (elearningadmin@odu.edu) as we go through this process together.
Migration & Archives
A third-party vendor, K16, will help us with course migration. They'll start by importing Blackboard course content from the most recently available courses you teach into Canvas templated courses. This is a very intensive white-glove migration process where every effort is made to identify matching functionality between Blackboard and Canvas. Each piece of your course content will be carefully migrated as cleanly and completely as possible. Of course there may be instances where functionality doesn't quite match, requiring post-migration review and manipulation, but we will make sure faculty have the support needed for a smooth transition.
In addition to migration services, K16 will archive all Blackboard courses and organizations (including content, student data and grades) through the end of our Blackboard contract. Should you need access to these archives, you can contact the ITS Help Desk.
Training
You will have all of the support necessary for a successful transition and beyond.
Growing with Canvas
As an initial step, faculty and staff are encouraged to log into https://canvas.odu.edu with their MIDAS ID and password. If you look in your Dashboard or Course list you will find a course called "Growing with Canvas." This course, available to everyone, is a great place to start learning about Canvas and how to use it. Additionally, you can select the Help option from the left menu to access the Canvas Training Portal and explore a wide variety of available online, virtual and on-demand training.
Passport to Canvas (Quick Start Guide for Students)
Students can find a course called "Passport to Canvas" in their Dashboard or Course list, or browse Canvas' extensive resources.
The Academic Resource Center covers Canvas basics in one-on-one coaching sessions. They've put together this checklist for students wo want to get to know the main features. Contact arc@odu.edu or call (757) 683-5370.
Training from Instructure (the makers of Canvas)
Instructure is offering multiple 3-hour training sessions for instructors. These live sessions (presented over Zoom) will cover Canvas basics, working with content and using the platform's tools. You'll need to be able to view the instructor in Zoom while you follow along with the exercises in Canvas; it might be helpful if you have dual monitors and a headset with a microphone. The training schedule lists all the sessions available, along with their Zoom links. (You'll need to log in with your MIDAS ID and password to view the schedule and links.)
After learning the basics, you can dive deeper in a CLT workshop (see below).
Training from the Center for Learning and Teaching
Additional training sessions and workshops are provided by ODU CLT staff. See the CLT Canvas Workshops & Training page for descriptions and schedules.
Faculty Forums
Information Technology Services, the Center for Learning and Teaching, and the Center for Faculty Development held faculty forums in November. You can watch (or rewatch) a recording here.