Students
Student launch experience
Here’s what your launch ticket includes as we start the switch from Moodle (eClass) to the new Canvas LMS for some classes starting Fall 2024:
Your roadmap to the LMS of the future
Your ticket to launch lets you relax while your instructor guides you to the right departure for any courses using Canvas starting Fall 2024, including a comprehensive set of help videos and guides in the online Canvas training portal.
Landing sites
There’s a lot to explore when you land in the Learning Management System of the Future, with features that speak to what our instructors and students want to see more of from their solution.
Top Canvas LMS features
Accessible: with inclusive design standards that enable people of all abilities to fully engage in learning
Data-driven: with robust analytics that help faculty support their student’s success such as Mastery Paths and Mastery Gradebook, as well as SpeedGrader and Global Calendar
Easy to use: with intuitive, mobile-friendly technology for students and instructors that works across all devices
Engaging: with tools and resources that enable modern, personalized learning experiences such as Canvas Studio that turns passive viewing into active discussion
Integrated: with seamless interoperability between academic tools and systems
Supported by Partners: with continuous improvement, training, and partnership with the LMS provider including a globally engaged user community
Q&A for students
You have questions and we have answers. We’re still putting the plan together, but here’s what we know so far.
What's changing?
The University of Alberta is on a two-year journey to implement a learning management system (LMS) of the future. This new Canvas LMS will gradually replace Moodle (also known as eClass) by Fall 2025, affecting most student-facing courses (excluding eClass External).
Why change now?
Three key factors are driving the urgency of this change:
System reliability - too many of our instructors, students and support teams have been impacted by system outages and delayed software updates with our current learning management system, which takes focus away from positive moments of impact
Sustainability - our current learning management system cannot support the wider range of learning experiences we want to design and deliver, combined with heavy system maintenance needs that are out of balance with the free cost of access.
Reputation - as a top-tier university, we are the last of the English-language U15 institutions to upgrade our learning management system, which is an important factor in how we attract and retain people, including students
What's not changing?
You'll still have the same on-campus support as your single point of contact during standard business hours for all LMS support needs (Moodle eClass or Canvas), with people who know you and how our university runs as they help you get the right 24/7 vendor support
Who's impacted by this change?
This is a university-wide change, meaning almost everyone may be impacted in some way. Across all groups who use Moodle, instructors and students will be most impacted in how learning is designed and delivered. IST will also be affected as they continue to be the first point of contact for all LMS support needs (Canvas and Moodle) during and after the transition to a new vendor-supported LMS with Canvas.
When is this change happening?
To minimize the disruption to people during this widespread change, the new Canvas LMS is being rolled out in three waves starting Fall 2024 through Fall 2025. This phased approach is more complex to deliver compared to a big bang all at once, which reflects our commitment to making the people experience our first priority on this change journey. Students will be guided to the relevant LMS by their instructors.
Will all of my previous work in eClass go away/be deleted?
No. People will continue to have access to necessary information. The plan for accessing legacy Moodle content will be part of the detailed migration plan that is developed through May 2024, in partnership with IST and our new Canvas LMS vendor partner. Along with migration of priority content for the courses being delivered Fall 2024 through Fall 2025, guidelines will be defined for access to historical data before and after Moodle is retired. More details will be provided as they become available.
What happens to Moodle during the transition?
Given the complexities of such a large transformation from our current LMS, we are running both Canvas and Moodle (eClass) in parallel for the first two years, and placing Moodle into read-only mode, affecting most student-facing courses (excluding eClass External) by Fall 2025. This sunset strategy allows for a three-stage transition to our new normal with Canvas. Once course creators are onboarded into the new LMS, they will effectively stop creating new content in Moodle. People will still have access to their course content in Moodle (read-only) under the current archive policy.