Canvas

Canvas is a web-based learning management system (LMS) that enhances the teaching and learning process. Canvas is DelVal's platform for managing the online delivery of course materials and class communications. 

The degree to which Canvas is used in a course varies. Some instructors supplement an on-campus classes by putting their syllabus and handouts on the class course site while other instructors conduct their course entirely through Canvas, without any on-campus sessions.

Canvas is accessed from the DelVal App Hub.

See also Canvas Basics and Troubleshooting Guides. Consider enrollment in a self-paced Online Canvas Orientation (login required).

Getting Started

See Features at a Glance for an overview and Preparing Course Sites for detailed getting started directions.

Live Training Recordings

Each session was unique, but ultimately all sessions covered the essentials for faculty.

Training Agenda: and Cumulative Q & A document

• Friday, April 19 - 2-3:30pm - session recording

• Wednesday, April 24 - 6-7:30pm - session recording (recommended for those that didn't attend live)

• Friday, April 26 - 2:30-4pm - session recording

• Wednesday, June 26 2:30-4pm session recording

• Wednesday, August 8 2-3:30pm session recording

• Friday, August 16 11am-12:30pm session recording

NOTES OF IMPORTANCE

Course sites are created when terms are published in Colleague (contact Support with timing concerns).

Upcoming course sites are blank/empty/ready to be prepared - see Preparing Course Sites for options and directions on how to get started.

Only the first 20 courses appears on your dashboard. Click on Courses (the book icon on the main menu) then All Courses to display you full list. You can star ones you want to appear on your dashboard.

Faculty must publish both course and content in order for students to have access. This is no longer automatic.

Courses cannot be renamed, but faculty and students can nickname them (their view only).

Canvas will be used solely for courses (contact Support if you need a team/department Sharepoint site).

3rd Party Tools are typically available as External Tools (plug-in icon within text editor). 

Course Evaluations are accessible under profile page

Brainfuse (supplemental tutoring and writing center services) is available on the global navigation (main menu).

Turnitin (anti-plagiarism scanning service for assignments) is available as of July 1. This replaces Blackboard's built-in similar service. 

Some functions you were familiar with in Blackboard are no longer available (advanced settings and features such as self and peer evaluation, journals and blogs to name a few). Settings will need to be simplified and activities using these features will need to be redesigned. Similarly, some applications that you may have available to you in other Canvas systems, may not be available in ours.

Course content from Summer 2023 onward was migrated over to Canvas. See optional step #2 of Preparing Course Sites for how to use/import this existing content into your new Canvas course site.

Transition Timeline

Campus has transitioned to Canvas during the Spring 2024 term. Here is a quick overview of dates to note:

Feb-April: System setup and transition preparation. Working with Canvas representatives to prepare system and perform account setup, integrate related applications, and complete all necessary back end system work to transition from one system to the other, including archival of records within Blackboard.

Mid-April: Migration of course content to Canvas. Content from the last year in Blackboard will be converted and made available in Canvas. See migration term timeline. Current spring course content will be migrated after the semester ends and made available in Canvas in June just before our contract ends. You can, however, save content from Blackboard to later import into Canvas. See preparing course sites, specifically the section regarding exporting content from Blackboard.

May 1: "Go Live" in Canvas. All courses starting after May 1st will be conducted in Canvas. Instructors will receive account access no later than two weeks prior to their course start date.

June 30: Licensing agreement with Blackboard ends. Access to Blackboard is no longer available.

Training, Support and Resources Available

DelVal Resource Site – this site under development provides 24/7 access to DelVal specific resources

Help Button – click on the Question Mark (?) within Canvas main menu to access a variety of help related topics

Commons – click on the icon within Canvas main menu to access and share community resources

Call-in Consultations – scheduled personal assistance to address specific needs

Open Learning Labs – walk-in office hours for 1-1 assistance, Q&A, demos, faculty showcases, etc

Sandboxes - use any of your migrated content shells as personal space to 'play' with features

Online Orientations – self-paced training sites, open enrollment

• Grow with Canvas – faculty training site

• Passport to Canvas – student perspective training

Live Virtual Training Sessions

• Live training sessions with Canvas representatives

• Recordings available for playback any time, posted above in this resource site