51社区

Canvas Resources for Instructors

Canvas is a modern, intuitive learning management system selected by faculty, students, and staff to support teaching excellence at OHIO. Canvas can be accessed at .

Training and resources

The Office of Instructional Technology (OIT), Office of Instructional Design (OID), and Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment (CTLA) offer a diverse range of training and support resources to assist instructors. Visit the Canvas LMS Resources and Training webpage to browse group training sessions, departmental workshops, 1:1 consultations, and more.

If you'd rather get started with Canvas on your own, learn the basics of setting up your course in Canvas.

24/7 Canvas Support

All students, faculty, and staff can access a 24/7 Help Desk within  by selecting "Get Help鈥 in the left navigation menu.鈥疌anvas Support can help with any Canvas-specific issue through chat or a phone call. 

Canvas Experts Corner

The Canvas Experts Corner blog is your weekly dose of inspiration and expert guidance to elevate your Canvas experience. Going beyond the initial course set and basic how-tos, we'll dive into advanced features, explore innovative teaching strategies, and share expert tips to help you create an engaging learning experience for students.

Canvas Experts Corner Blog

Accessibility

51社区 is committed to providing cutting-edge information technology that provides our students with an accessible and exceptional user experience. Canvas and OHIO have both created resources to ensure your Canvas course content is accessible to each student you teach:

 

Prepare for Blackboard Retirement

All 51社区 instructors can access until June 2026. Instructors should review their course content in Blackboard and determine what should be migrated to Canvas, saved, or deleted.

  • Only migrate content to Canvas that is high quality and relevant to ongoing teaching activities.
  • Save content outside of Canvas for record-keeping purposes (eg, saving a grade book in OneNote). Or, if you're unsure if the content will be utilized in the future, save it for your personal records.
  • Delete unnecessary content. This can assist you in keeping track of reviewed materials and help reduce significant storage costs associated with Blackboard. 
    • Learn more about how to and things to consider beforehand. 

Course Retention

Previously, the University had an official . As of June 2026, to support the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, the University will retain all academic courses from the past seven years (dating back to June 2019) for two years (until June 2028). 

Academic courses are defined as courses generated from our Student Information System (PeopleSoft) for academic credit. This does not include Blackboard organizations, test courses, or any other kind of manually created courses. Instructors must save this type of content on their own if they wish to retain it.

After June 2028, all Blackboard academic course content will be deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please regarding the transition to Canvas. We will use these to create and regularly update our FAQs on the website. 

Access and Logistics

When can I log in to Canvas?

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff can log in to Canvas at . All instructors have one test course automatically created in their Canvas account to explore features or build content for future courses.

Students

As of the summer 2024 semester, all admitted OHIO students can access Canvas. 

What is the timeline for migrating to Canvas?

Migration to Canvas is being conducted in phases. Faculty and staff began developing courses in October 2023, and approximately 100 live courses were introduced during Spring 2024. Visit the Canvas implementation website for detailed timelines.

What is Phase 1? How were Phase 1 faculty selected?

Phase 1 of the Canvas implementation took place in the Spring 2024 semester and included about 100 live courses, specifically chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of disciplines and teaching styles. 

Each participating college collaborated with OIT to pinpoint faculty and courses that best fit the objectives of Phase 1, which include finalizing the platform setup, enhancing the student and faculty experience, and gauging training and support resources. There were approximately 100 courses in Canvas and 56 faculty participated in Phase 1. OIT is working with academic leaders to prepare for future terms to ensure students have a streamlined transition to Canvas so they are not operating in multiple LMSs for an extended period.

Why did 51社区 select Canvas as the future LMS?

The decision to transition to Canvas has been made after careful consideration of its many advantages and potential for enhancing teaching and learning experiences at 51社区. Further information about the selection process and its outcomes can be found in our .

Course Setup, Migration, and Support Resources

How do I get started creating my course(s) in Canvas? What if I encounter size limits when I migrate content to Canvas?

Once you're ready to begin, follow the steps outlined in the Canvas Faculty Hub for setting up your course.

It is important to be aware that Canvas has a course size limit of 2GB, which is different from Blackboard. There are a tips to reduce your files sizes, if needed, on the preparing your course for Canvas page. This is helpful if you are encountering difficulty with file size as you transfer content to Canvas. 

 

How do I migrate my Blackboard course content to Canvas?

There are two main ways to migrate your Blackboard course content to Canvas: Working from an OHIO template in Canvas, or importing full course content from Blackboard. Step-by-step instructions for both options are detailed in the .

What type of training and other support resources are available?

Access 24/7 Canvas support via phone, chat, and email right inside . Log in to Canvas at and select "Get Help" from the left navigation menu.

Additionally, the University is offering vendor-led workshops, 1:1 consultations, departmental workshops, and a diverse range of self-guided training. View the for more information.

Will organizations be available in Canvas?

Yes, you will be able to house your Blackboard Organization content within a Course in Canvas. In Blackboard, we had two types of containers for content: Courses and Organizations, the main differences being Organizations are not term-based and enrollments in Organizations are handled manually, not through the integration with our student information system. In Canvas, there is only one type of container, Courses, but we can adjust the settings of those courses to not be term-based and to have manual enrollments. This allows us to create the same functionality of a Blackboard Organization within a Canvas Course. 

You can request a non-term-based course by . In the "What kind of Canvas request are you making?" field, select "I am requesting a manually created course".

What will happen to old content in Blackboard that is not moved to Canvas?

Instructors will have access to Blackboard until June 2026 and should use this time to review their Blackboard course material and determine what should be migrated, saved, or deleted

In June 2026, to support the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, the University will retain all academic courses from the past seven years (dating back to June 2019) for two years (until June 2028).

Academic courses are defined as courses generated from our Student Information System (PeopleSoft) for academic credit. This does not include Blackboard organizations, test courses, or any other kind of manually created courses. Instructors must save this type of content on their own if they wish to retain it.

After June 2028, all Blackboard academic course content will be deleted.

When will my 'real' courses be accessible in Canvas for the upcoming semester?

Term-based courses load to Canvas and Blackboard eight-weeks prior to the start date of the course. This means instructors will have access to begin setting up their course that will later have students enrolled. Students will be enrolled in courses two-weeks prior to the start date of the course. 

Courses will only be accessible to students when instructors publish the course. Please only publish courses in one LMS to ensure it is easy for students to determine where the course will actually be taught. We also encourage faculty to contact students in advance of the term to let them know which LMS the course will use.

If you are unable to see or access a course in your Canvas Dashboard, view our help article.

When will students be added to my Canvas course?

Students will be enrolled in courses two-weeks prior to the start date of the course. This is the same time when students were added to Blackboard courses in the past. 

When a student adds or drops a course after this time, their course enrollment will be updated during the next Canvas data update, which runs three times per day.

Courses will only be accessible to students when instructors publish the course. Please only publish courses in one LMS to ensure it is easy for students to determine where the course will actually be taught. We also encourage faculty to contact students in advance of the term to let them know which LMS the course will use.

Supporting Students

My course is listed in both Blackboard and Canvas. Which will students see?

The Spring 2024 semester is the last term that courses will automatically load to both Canvas and Blackboard. For students to access any course material in either Canvas or Blackboard, instructors need to publish their course so it is visible to students. Instructors are encouraged to communicate with students at the very beginning of their course about how to access course material and which platform it will be available in.

Beginning in the summer 2024 semester, all courses will automatically load to Canvas. Only courses with special permission from their college will be available in Blackboard.

How do I ensure I share accessible content as I build courses in Canvas?

Delivering an accessible course is essential to providing a learning experience that meets the needs of all students. OIT's Digital Accessibility Network (OHIO-DAN) developed an excellent Faculty Checklist for Accessible Content resource that is a great starting point. This document outlines document types that are most accessible, as well as recommendations for delivering accessible multimedia content. Consider joining the OHIO-DAN to learn more about accessible teaching and learning practices through regular conversations and resource sharing.

How can I support my students as they learn to navigate Canvas?

A very critical component to student success is that students know where their courses are being taught. If you're teaching in Canvas, instructors can leverage these to help communicate with their students. These resources require your OHIO ID to view. They are view-only, so you will need to either download the documents to your device or copy/paste the content into your own materials.  

  • Include a note in your syllabus: Incorporate the to inform students about the use of Canvas for your course. 
  • Integrate the PowerPoint Slides into your first-day slide deck: Add the provided to your first-day presentation to acquaint students with Canvas. These slides are unformatted, allowing you to apply your presentation template and formatting. 
  • Message your students: Email your students one week before classes start to let them know your course will be available in Canvas and send them the URL: . Additionally, send the to students who missed your Canvas introduction during the first day of class.
  • Create a course description for your Blackboard course shell: Utilize the to direct students to Canvas. Do not publish your Blackboard course.  Do not make your Blackboard course available to students; you can update the course description without publishing the course. 

Additionally, you can let students know that a student orientation course, , is available to them. This training is self-guided and allows students to stop when they need a break and pick back up where they left off. It is a great way to get comfortable using Canvas.鈥

Features and Integrations

Which features are different in Canvas and which are the same from Blackboard?

Canvas offers many similar features to Blackboard with key differences. Explore our Canvas vs. Blackboard comparison chart for detailed information and suggested workarounds.

Which third party integrations, like Turnitin or Panopto, will be available in Canvas?

For a comparison of features between Blackboard and Canvas, please visit the What is Different in Canvas page. OIT's provides details about integrations (external tools applications) that are available in Canvas. Please note that the process to link an application/integration to your course is different from how the tools connected in Blackboard. Please read the installation instructions on the to access the desired tool.

Will Panopto recordings used in Blackboard be available in Canvas?

Panopto is now available in Canvas with the same features that were available in Blackboard. The Panopto application for Canvas looks and operates differently because it is designed specifically for Canvas. All content you made previously within Panopto should be available within the Panopto for Canvas product, but will require some review or relinking to your new courses. Please visit the for more information.

Can I import Blackboard question pools to Canvas?

There are differences between question pools, banks, and blocks, which are often used interchangeably. We expect most content types to transfer to Canvas. The Office of Instructional Design developed this great guide to walk through how to export and import pools, tests, and rubrics. If you have any difficulty with a specific file type during the import process, please seek help within Canvas. You can start a chat or call their hotline by logging into Canvas at and selecting "Get Help" from the left navigation menu. OIT can also support you through a consultation to discuss your individual needs for moving course content. You can schedule a consultation through the Canvas Training and Resources webpage.

How do I request a feature or integration in Canvas?

Before requesting an integration, check the list of current to ensure it is not already available. 

To request a feature or a new integration (external application or product) in Canvas, please submit a ticket through the for feature and integration requests or leverage the vendor technology review form. In the "What kind of Canvas request are you making?" field, select "I am requesting an integration in Canvas".

Which proctoring, student integrity, and anti-cheating tools are available within Canvas?

, an online proctoring solution, is available within Canvas. Proctortrack does have a fee associated with use (either department-pay or student-pay). Turnitin can check submissions for plagiarism in Canvas, if enabled. To learn more about Turnitin in Canvas, review . OHIO does not offer Respondus lockdown browser at this time. You can see the .

Given that we have SafeAssign and Turnitin in Blackboard for plagiarism detection, will Canvas be able to check against old submissions from Blackboard?

Turnitin will check submissions made through Turnitin assignments from both Blackboard and Canvas. In Canvas, we will have Turnitin available as the academic integrity product since SafeAssign is a Blackboard-specific feature. To learn more about Turnitin in Canvas, review .

Will the course owners and faculty have the ability to add and remove users in Canvas?

In Canvas, course owners and faculty have the ability to add and remove Designers, Teaching Assistants (TA), and Instructors (which Canvas calls Teachers), and the ability to add but not remove Students from their courses. The reason behind not allowing students to be removed is to prevent students from being accidentally removed from a course that they should be enrolled in and to prevent the potential loss of their submitted data. If a manually added student needs to be removed from a course, that can be done through a to the OIT Service Desk.

Will Canvas support pushing grades to the Faculty Advising Center so we do not have to enter them manually?

We do not have plans to push grades from Canvas to the Faculty Advising Center.

Common Blackboard Features and their Canvas Equivalents

Can instructors add people to their courses in Canvas?

Instructors can add or remove instructors, TAs, and designers from Canvas courses. They can add students to courses as soon as they are admitted, but instructors will not be able to remove them. This is to prevent the accidental loss of data. If a manually added student needs to be removed from a course, instructors can contact Canvas Support for assistance.

Can an instructor send out a class announcement in Canvas?

Yes, instructors can post class announcements in their Canvas course. An additional feature in Canvas announcements is that instructors can allow students to comment or like announcements and can schedule an announcement to post later. However, instructors cannot force an email message to students regarding announcements and cannot set an expiration date for announcements. 

Can an instructor copy a course in Canvas?

Instructors can copy course content such as assignments, modules, pages, and discussions from an existing Canvas course into new or empty courses. is available in the online Canvas guide. 

Can an instructor merge two courses in Canvas?聽

Yes. In Canvas this process is referred to as Cross-Listing rather than merging. are available in the OIT Knowledge Base.  

How does the Canvas calendar work?

The Canvas calendar is populated based on dates added to courses by the course instructor, such as assignment/quiz due dates, and to-do items. Both students and instructors have access to the calendar feature for all their enrolled courses and groups. An is available in the online Canvas guide.  

Can you create a manual grade column in the Canvas gradebook?聽

Instructors cannot add a manual grade column directly to the Gradebook in Canvas (as you could in Blackboard). You must create a new assignment, and in the 鈥淪ubmission Type鈥 settings, set to 鈥淣o Submission.鈥

Are there any Blackboard features without a Canvas equivalent?聽

The Canvas and Blackboard Comparison chart shows a list of features without a direct equivalent, as well as suggested workarounds where possible for items such as glossary, journals, and wikis. 

Does Canvas have a tool to detect plagiarism?聽

Turnitin offers an integration called which allows you to use the native Canvas assignment features with the addition of the originality check from Turnitin.

Can an instructor customize the navigation menu in their courses?聽

Instructors can on the Course Navigation menu. However, navigation menu items cannot be renamed or added in Canvas. 

How can an instructor get a Canvas course shell early so they can start building?

All instructors automatically have one test course available in their Canvas account. Your test course should appear on your Canvas Dashboard and in your Courses tab in the left navigation menu. The course name will include 鈥淚nstructor Test Course鈥 and your OHIO ID.

Additionally, all instructors of record, including graduate students and staff, can request additional test courses, often called manually created courses. Faculty can also request manually created courses on behalf of graduate teaching assistants or as part of a required teaching assignment for a course.

鈥痶o request a manually created (test) course and include a description about the purpose of your manually created course(s).  

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Canvas implementation was a pivotal step in transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas. This phase occurred during the Spring 2024 semester and included about 100 live courses, specifically chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of disciplines and teaching styles. The intent of Phase 1 was to harness detailed feedback from both students and instructors, to refine the platform's features and user support ahead of a wider rollout. 

Insights from Phase 1 prompted enhancements in technical support and user training, ensuring that subsequent phases of the Canvas rollout will benefit from a more polished and user-friendly experience. The is available for OHIO faculty, staff, and students to review.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities: Teaching and Learning Advisory Community

To learn more about the new LMS implementation process, share your feedback, or ask questions, consider joining the Teaching and Learning Advisory Community. These sessions will collect your questions and concerns, share our timelines, and provide information where possible. If we cannot answer your questions, we will follow up. Otherwise, all questions and answers will be added to the public FAQ section of our website. 

Join the Microsoft Team for the Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community

Advisory Community meetings are flexible and open. Anyone can attend. To get the most out of the experience, we recommend joining a special Microsoft Team that we have created to keep track of community-related conversations, documents, and meeting dates: 

Screen shot of Teaching and Learning Technologies join dialog
  1. on Microsoft Teams.
  2. When prompted, either:
    • Download the Teams app, or
    • Use the web app instead
  3. Check your email for a welcome message with more information on how to get the most out of the online group.

Any time the community meets, an online meeting space will be available inside of Microsoft Teams that you can use to participate remotely. The community's space in Teams also can be used to conduct chat-based conversations outside of scheduled meetings.

We also will post relevant files in the Team, such as agendas and minutes.

Fall 2023 Canvas Question and Answer Sessions

These sessions were hosted via our existing Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community channel. These question and answer sessions were intended to address early questions faculty had about Canvas. Details about future Canvas events will be disseminated through University communication channels, including email and OHIO Employee News.

DateSlide Deck
Wednesday, September 6
Tuesday, September 12
Thursday, September 21
Thursday, September 28