U of A begins two-year transition from eClass to Canvas

The University of Alberta has decided to switch its Learning Management System (LMS) from Moodle (eClass) to Canvas following feedback from students, faculty, and staff. By fall 2025, all courses will transition to Canvas.

Canvas became available to U of A students and instructors on August 6. Students can check to see if they have courses on Canvas using their CCID.

In fall 2023, the Office of the Provost announced that the U of A would be transitioning its LMS to Canvas. This transition is meant to “shape a modern teaching and learning experience” and “support the changing needs” of the university. 

The switch from eClass to Canvas also aims to improve the student experience as part of the Student Experience Action Plan (SEAP). According to Karsten Mündel, vice-provost (learning initiatives) and co-sponsor of the LMS project, this transition is in response to concerns raised by students and staff about eClass. 

“There was a concern [and] questions about whether eClass was up to the task,” Mündel said.

Another motive behind this transition is moving to a vendor-supported system, Mündel said. Moodle is a free, open source software package, operated by a group of academics across the globe. Canvas is owned and operated by Instructure. 

“We’re really able to benefit from all of the things that [Instructure does], all of the partnerships that they have. [This is] ultimately all in the service of a better learning environment for our students,” Mündel said. 

Canvas will become operational for all courses over a two-year period

The rollout of Canvas will take place over a two-year period, with three waves of implementation. 

Wave one of the rollout is scheduled for fall 2024. The decision to transition to Canvas for fall 2024 is up to individual faculties and instructors, Mündel said. 

“At the end of the day, it’s ultimately up to individual instructors. Depending on what they’re teaching and what their program has decided. Whether now is the right time for them or not,” Mündel said.

Wave two is scheduled for winter 2025. According to Mündel, this wave will primarily focus on the integration of features such as online proctoring and polling.

Mündel said the third wave will focus on courses that require accommodations for additional complex applications, such as math and engineering courses. All faculties will transitioning to Canvas by fall 2025.

“It’s a heavy lift for instructors to learn a new system. We’re doing everything we can,” Mündel said.

To select a new LMS, interested parties submitted proposals. Then a selection party vetted these proposals, according to Mündel.

Once the selection committee narrowed the competition down to two candidates, the finalists had the opportunity to present to the U of A community. 

“Those presentations were an important part of the final decision making [process] and ultimately resulted in Canvas being our new LMS.”