Students logging into their courses next academic year may notice a shift in how assignments, grades and course materials are organized as Elon transitions from Moodle, its old learning management system, to Canvas by Instructure, its new one.
The decision followed a campuswide evaluation of Moodle that included surveys and open forums, according to Kelly Reimer, senior director of Teaching and Learning Technologies.
“Folks responded to surveys, they came to open forums and we really learned through that process that although Moodle was meeting needs in particular areas, it was missing the mark in other areas,” Reimer said.
As part of the evaluation process, the top five LMS needs that emerged from both instructors and students were gradebook and grading, course analytics, mobile interface, upgrade without interruptions and course communication tools. Reimer said those findings informed the recommendation to move to Canvas, which emerged as the leading option as the university mapped both platforms.
As Elon made the transition announcement earlier this month, nothing will change during the spring semester, and no courses will be impacted. Reimer said the university is figuring out when to make the transition next year to reduce disruption.
“We think about that timeline,” Reimer said. “We're thinking about students and their experience in the system, and what do they need to know before we make the full transition? What do our faculty need?”
In 2015, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction brought Canvas to all NC K-12 public and charter schools. According to the Instructure website, 24 four-year and five two-year institutions in North Carolina use Canvas. Among those institutions is Queens University of Charlotte. Reimer said that while that information informed Elon’s work, the biggest factor was understanding the current and emerging needs of the community
As part of the research, the university found that more than 50% of students, faculty and staff already have experience using or teaching with Canvas. Training will be offered to faculty first to ensure they are supported during the transition.
“Our primary sort of focus right now, as we think about training, is going to be with the faculty, because they've got to be in the system, have comfort and confidence in using the system, and then that way, they're building their courses, they're getting ready for this process,” Reimer said.
Some Elon students are already using Canvas, including those studying abroad. Sophomore Autumn Kelly is currently taking courses in France through Georgia Tech, which uses Canvas.
Kelly said she is not a huge fan of the platform, but she said the transition has been fine because they're similar platforms.
“There's definitely been a bit of a learning curve, especially way back in the beginning, when I had to figure out visa stuff, all of that was on Canvas through Georgia Tech,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the biggest difference for her is the structure of Canvas.
“Moodle is, you kind of go into your classes, and you just have really the one page for classes, and then maybe the other page for grades,” Kelly said. “Canvas has like a bajillion different pages you can go to and different channels compared to Moodle.”
Overall, Kelly said she likes Moodle more.
“I think that Canvas is good for Georgia Tech, because they're used to having really big lectures, but for smaller class sizes, it's just kind of not needed,” Kelly said.
Despite the complaints Kelly has about Canvas, she noted that it is just a website that she will get used to.
“I know the other people studying abroad with me from Elon also aren't huge fans of Canvas, and so I think it's probably at least some part due to just that we're not used to it,” Kelly said.
Reimer said she recognizes that change is hard for people, which will be a challenge during the transition period. A feedback form is available for students, faculty and staff to fill out to help build the university’s plan for transition.
“We want to build people's confidence in using the new system, because everybody uses the system,” Reimer said.