Get ready to move from Blackboard to Canvas
We’re enhancing the student learning experience with a new central learning environment (CLE). Canvas by Instructure will replace Blackboard Learn across The University of Manchester by September 2025, offering an improved and more intuitive platform.
Our existing contract with Blackboard Learn is due to end after 14 years. We have therefore undertaken a full open tender process to identify the most suitable CLE to meet our needs.
This is a well-timed opportunity for us to make real positive change and the chance to:
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- Ensure our students have a more consistent experience,
- Review and declutter our content,
- Increase our flexibility to deliver and repurpose teaching in a variety of formats,
- Take advantage of massively improved functionality to create high quality content,
- Use this functionality to continue to improve how we use our CLE,
- Empower our colleagues with improved tools to help them teach,
- Make it easier to share and embed best practice across all communities, and
- Provide a more robust, reliable tool for everyone involved in Teaching, Learning and Student Experience.
Instructure was announced as the new supplier in November 2023 after a rigorous testing period involving over 260 students and colleagues was conducted to identify what users need from the CLE. We immediately moved into the discovery phase of the project to work with the supplier in configuring the CLE to our needs and developing Governance sub-groups to support these discussions.
We are now in the next stages of developing our central learning environment. Courses are migrating from Blackboard to Canvas, and we are creating comprehensive training resources to support students and staff. We will continue to engage our community through regular open meetings and clear, informative communications.
Canvas microsite
Find all the information you need to support our move from Blackboard to Canvas here.
Access the SharePoint microsite
Access Canvas
Want to access Canvas? Log in to your University of Manchester account.
Access your Canvas account
Further information
You can now access the Canvas microsite for staff via the link above. This site provides all the key information to support our transition from Blackboard to Canvas. Here, you’ll find the latest updates, training resources, communication materials, useful links, and essential documents to help you adopt the new platform smoothly.
Canvas project governance
In March 2024, governance groups with University-wide representation were established to contribute, review and support the decisions and actions needed to prepare Canvas as our new CLE to replace Blackboard. This governance structure contributed to the implementation phase of Canvas and informed key decisions required.
As we move closer to the Canvas launch, the project has reviewed and refreshed the governance structure to focus on key stakeholders responsible for changes in their areas, aiming to streamline communications and project updates. This will ensure clear and consistent messaging to our stakeholders.
Actions are now centralised in the project, making it easier to update and track progress. This consolidation will benefit the colleagues involved in managing tasks more efficiently.
Governance groups
- The DLE Advisory group reviews the design and delivery of the technology infrastructure and the associated change in processes. The group will review the changes to processes, tool trials, procurement and selection, ensuring decisions identified by the DLE project team follow our standards and principles and appropriate criteria are in place to evaluate options.
- The CLE Realisation group agrees and undertakes the activities required to design, deliver, review and approve decisions regarding all aspects of the technology and pedagogical infrastructure and the associated change in processes. As well as ensuring the CLE is supported from a technical perspective, this group also ensures the required activities are completed within the timeframe required. Where appropriate any risks/issues identified will be escalated to the DLE Advisory group. The group will run beyond September 2025 to collate and review feedback and inform longer term change activities (beyond 2025) towards BAU.
- The CLE Solutions group is a forum that discusses lower-level design decisions and make changes, where required. eLearning Managers and ITS colleagues will make informed decisions before changes are implemented.
- The CLE Priorities (Tech & Project) group discusses outstanding tasks, mainly focused on VLE Team/Business Architect activity and identifying where people need support and track lower-level activities.
- The Project Delivery group aligns across the workstreams, from planning through to communication. The group is involved with collective addressing issues, proposing ideas, and solving of problems. Translation of strategy into actions and agreement of who will do what and when. Review of the previous meeting and actions, challenging the way of working.
Contact us
For any queries regarding the move to Canvas by Instructure, contact us by clicking this form.
