Replacing Blackboard Learn with Canvas by Instructure
21 Jun 2024
Plans and updated timelines on our journey in moving CLE.
The CLE project team and IT Services have been working together to undertake the necessary analysis and design work to implement Canvas by Instructure as our replacement for Blackboard Learn.
The technical implementation plan was approved at the end of May. We are now working to provide you with clear supporting information, details of expected timeframe and answers to your questions.
What’s the plan in moving to Canvas from Blackboard?
Below is the proposed timeline with key dates to accompany the attached graphic. Timeline 2024-2025.pptx
| September 2024 | Transnational Education (TNE), GlobalMBA (GMBA), Executive Education (Exec Ed) colleagues provisioned access to Canvas to start building their course content. In addition, there will be provision of access for identified programmes. |
| January 2025 | Access provisioned for the whole organisation and will include access to training. Colleagues can start building course content. |
| February 2025 | Selected TNE courses and Exec Ed to go-live teaching students using Canvas. Semester 1 course content will be migrated to Canvas from Blackboard through third-party, K16 Solutions, to be used if required. |
| June 2025 | Semester 2 course content will be migrated to Canvas from Blackboard through third-party, K16 Solutions, to be used if required. |
| July 2025 | GMBA courses go-live teaching students using Canvas. |
| September 2025 | All courses using Canvas for teaching students. |
What do these dates mean for you?
The project team will work with eLearning teams and local governance groups to identify courses that would require earlier access to build in September 2024.These courses will require a longer lead time to build course content.These courses would not go live earlier than their normal programme start date in 2025/2026.
We will provision Canvas access to these identified staff groups to start building their courses from September 2024.
From January 2025, all colleagues across the University required to build course content will be given access. Training will be available from this point to support engagement from all colleagues.
From September 2025, all courses need to have transitioned to Canvas from Blackboard and all colleagues will need to use Canvas to deliver their teaching tostudents.
Why are we moving to Canvas from Blackboard?
It’s important to remember why we are making this move to Canvas.
Our contract with Blackboard will end in September 2025 and this is a well-timed opportunity for us to make real positive change.
This is chance to:
- 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.
Where can I find further information?
We understand you are eager to learn more about the move to Canvas by Instructure and what our next steps are in the journey.
- If you have any direct questions or concerns, please contact the project team using this form.
Our StaffNet pages have been refreshed to align with the approved technical implementation plan and will be the main source of news, updates and helpful tools to guide colleagues through the process.