Supporting student success in OHIO’s transition to Canvas

As Ohio University transitions to Canvas as our new learning management system (LMS), the University wants to ensure that all students are set up for success in their fall 2024 courses.

Because some colleges are migrating to Canvas in a phased approach, students may have courses in both Canvas and Blackboard this semester. It is vital to their success that they know where their course is being taught.

Please note, Canvas transition timelines have been confirmed by leadership in each college. Instructors must follow the guidance provided by their colleges regarding which LMS platform to use for the fall semester.

The University is providing the following recommendations for all instructors.

Publish your course in only one Learning Management System (LMS)

All courses will load in both Canvas and Blackboard. When you’re ready for students to access your course, be sure to publish it in only one system. 

If you're using Canvas, publish your Canvas courses. Then, please add a course description to your Blackboard course that points students to Canvas, but do not publish the Blackboard course. (Note: All courses appear in a student’s Blackboard account, even if they’re unpublished. Unpublished courses will still be visible to students, but they will appear locked and display the course description you added.) 

If you’re using Blackboard, just ignore the course shells in Canvas. Publish your courses in Blackboard. (Unpublished Canvas courses will not appear to students.) 

Communicate with your students

The University has compiled the following student-facing resources. They require your OHIO ID to access and are view-only, so you will need to either download the documents to your device or copy/paste the content into your own materials.    

• Message your students: Email your students before classes start with the link to the platform you’ll use (canvas.ohio.edu, blackboard.ohio.edu, or any other system you plan to leverage). Additionally, if you’re using Canvas, send the student email message to students who missed your course introduction during the first day of class. 
• Include a note in your syllabus: Use the recommended syllabi language found in the Course Information section of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment’s (CTLA) Syllabi Guide.
• Inform your students during the first class session: If you’re using Canvas, add the provided PowerPoint slides to your first-day presentation to acquaint students with Canvas. These slides are unformatted, allowing you to apply your presentation template and formatting. 

If you’re unsure which system to utilize for your fall courses, please talk to your department chair. There is no need to notify the Office of Information Technology or the Registrar’s Office which system you will use; both will have the appropriate courses and student enrollments available. However, you must follow the transition plans set by your college or department. 

Canvas help 

Canvas will be hosting virtual office hours at select times beginning Aug. 20. Instructors can leverage an expert Canvas consultant to answer their questions and work on their course in real-time. To learn more or add these to your calendar, visit the CTLA’s event registration webpage and search “Canvas”. 

For more information about Canvas, visit the Canvas Faculty Hub.