LMS Transition FAQs
I use some course materials from a content provider (e.g., Pearson, Cengage, McGraw-Hill) that is integrated into Bb Learn. Will I still be able to do that in the next LMS? Accordion Closed
Yes, Canvas supports Learning Technology Interoperability (LTI) content integration, the most popular kind of integration in use today. If you would like to check to make sure your particular product is supported by a particular LMS, please contact us at LMS-Faculty-Help@nau.edu and we’ll be happy to confirm.
Will there be file- or course-size limitations in the new system? Accordion Closed
Yes, Canvas courses will be limited to 1000 MB, similar to the current limits in Bb Learn. Moving to a new LMS is a great opportunity to make sure that large video files are moved to Kaltura and that duplicate or unnecessary files are deleted.
Will there be resources available to help migrate course content from the current Bb Learn system to the next LMS? Accordion Closed
Yes, NAU is has contracted professional services to assist in content migration, versus doing all migration in-house. Regardless, NAU faculty and other content owners will have the ability to export/import their own courses, in addition to what is supported through third-party migration. The transition to the next LMS will serve as an excellent opportunity to refresh and transform content.
Does Canvas have some sort of adaptive release available to control access to content based on date, completion of other content, or other criteria? Accordion Closed
Yes, Canvas has Lock, Prerequisite, and Requirements features that allow for selective release of content.
Will faculty be able to copy their own course content in Canvas? Accordion Closed
Course copy controls and procedures will be determined during the implementation phase, but our hope is that instructors will be able to copy their own course content from semester to semester or section to section without submitting a request to the help desk. This and other LMS policies and business practices will be reviewed during implementation.
How long will Canvas be in use at NAU? Accordion Closed
NAU has engaged in a multi-year (5 year) contract with Canvas which may be renewed for multiple years after that. The current LMS (Blackboard Learn Original Course View) has been in use for over 10 years.
Will Canvas be integrated with Zoom or another web conferencing tool? Accordion Closed
Yes, Zoom is integrated into NAU’s Canvas instance.
Standardization of course content is important to get new faculty started and to hand over classes from one teacher to the next; will Canvas allow for standardization? Accordion Closed
Every LMS allows for some level of standardization of course content and structure, but academic programs will be responsible for enforcing that standardization. Transition to a new LMS is an excellent opportunity to provide more consistency and standardization between courses.
Video integration is really important. Will Canvas integrate with Kaltura? Accordion Closed
Kaltura is integrated into NAU’s Canvas instance.
Will Canvas be compatible with phones, tablets and other devices? Accordion Closed
Yes, Canvas is designed to be natively compatible with multiple devices, and also offers standalone apps for additional functionality.
If we taught on Canvas at a different University, will we be able to copy content from that system to NAU Canvas? Accordion Closed
Yes! Content can be exported from that system and then imported into NAU Canvas.
How long will we be able to access Blackboard after switching to Canvas? Accordion Closed
NAU will maintain an archive of Blackboard courses from the most recent two years (Summer 2021 through Spring 2023); these will be accessible until Summer of 2025.
Will Turnitin replace Safeassign? Accordion Closed
Yes, NAU is licensing Turnitin for originality reports, which will replace Safeassign (Blackboard’s built-in tool).
When can we start adding integrations (ex. to publishers)? What will that process look like? Accordion Closed
We have already begun integrating third-party applications and partner content into Canvas. This knowledge base article shows the current integration status for many tools. If you don’t see your particular product on that page, please contact us at LMS-Faculty-Help@nau.edu and we’ll be happy to help.
Will NAU be creating custom content that may be adopted into our courses such as templates, banners, buttons, color-coded modules, etc? Will this be auto-applied to all courses? Accordion Closed
Yes, NAU is developing branded graphics that may be used in your courses, as well as a general NAU template to be used as a starting point for new courses. Some of that template structure will be applied to courses as they are migrated from Blackboard Learn.
How long will we have access to Blackboard archives? Will we be able to reference material and transfer those archives to Canvas? Accordion Closed
NAU will maintain an archive of Blackboard courses from the most recent two years (Summer 2021 through Spring 2023); these will be accessible until Summer of 2025. Blackboard archives from courses prior to Summer 2021 will not be accessible.
Will we still have access to classlists.nau.edu in order to communicate with students prior to a course being available to students in Canvas? Accordion Closed
Yes, we plan to maintain the Classlists mailing tool after the transition to Canvas.
How will non-credit courses be identified for migration? Accordion Closed
The implementation team will reach out to instructors of non-credit courses with content migration information.
Will students and instructors have to authorize Canvas to access integrated tools such as McGraw Hill content or Turnitin assignments? Accordion Closed
Possibly; some integrated tools will prompt the user to authorize access to external content.
Will instructors get a notification in Canvas when a student drops a course? Or if they are added to the course after the publish/start date? Accordion Closed
No, Canvas will not send notifications of student enrollments or drops. Faculty may view their current rosters in Peoplesoft, or using the Class Roster Request form.
Will F2S be available in Canvas? Accordion Closed
Currently, F2S will still be available for use. We are engaging in assessing the feasibility of new tool support for student communications.
Can you run a report that will show you all current missing assignments in a course? Accordion Closed
Yes, using the New Analytics tool in Canvas, an instructor may generate a report to show missing assignments, late assignments, course activity, and other important course data.
When using Rubrics in Speedgrader, can you pop the rubric out like you can do in Bb Learn? Accordion Closed
Although there is not a way to open the rubric in a new window, one can resize the speedgrader toolbar to expand the rubric out and increase visibility.
Will instructors be able to edit their names and add their credentials to their Canvas profile? Can they add their pronouns? Accordion Closed
Instructors and students may edit their profile in Canvas, but may not edit their name. Pronouns may be available in the future.