Learning Management System (eLearning Platform)

Tags Canvas
Overview

The scope of this service includes the following:

  • Vendor (Instructure) relationship management to plan, coordinate, implement, and communicate LMS platform maintenance and updates, including new or changing features with the campus community.
  • Vendor management associated with procurements of new integrated third-party software tools, and annual budgeting for license or subscription renewals needed to ensure access to the software, as well as support and maintenance provided by the supplier (for anything funded from the annual ITS budget allocation).
  • Assistance with the creation and integration of educational materials, assignments, activities, and assessments within Canvas that are optimized to meet specified teaching and learning objectives and designed to provide an accessible, easy to navigate, and enjoyable educational experience that adheres to research-informed best practices.
  • Access management, including managing the creation of new accounts, courses, and enrollments via student information system integrations and established manual processes, defining and granting privileges, and seamless access to integrated tools and information resources supported within the scope of this service.
  • Automated provisioning of individual pre-built templates within Canvas, each of which provide limited access that is restricted to participants within a particular course section, merged sections, training module, or some other group designation. The basic template can then be used to import content, activate certain features and functionality, and make changes to the navigation structure in order to tailor it to suit the needs of each instructional and educational experience.
  • Develop documentation, training, workshops, orientations, and provide individual consultations that are all offered to students, faculty, and staff.
  • Technical support for Canvas and the integrated software supported within the scope of this service (listed below), including implementation, troubleshooting, and resolving incidents and requests.
  • Authentication, data, and application-level integration of other third-party applications and information systems with Canvas that are supported by the University’s Information Technology Services organization, which include the following:  
    • Active Directory (the University’s Access Management System)
    • Banner (the University’s Administrative and Student Information System of Record)
    • Ethos (the University’s Single Sign-on System)
    • Panopto
    • Publisher content integrations, as requested and available, does not include support for access and use
    • Qwickly Attendance
    • Turnitin
    • VoiceThread
    • Zoom
    • Lockdown Browser
    • Program and Course Assessment tools
    • ePortfolio tools
    • Collaborative Tools
    • Impact
  • Project management support for the integration and/or implementation of new add-on software, novel applications of existing software, and major upgrades or replacements including the development of proposals, charters, and plans.

 

Eligibility

All students, faculty, and staff may access Canvas using their University-issued username and password combination to login.  Access to integrated third-party applications and different features and functionality are based on the access privileges granted in addition to basic access to Canvas.  Faculty and staff are provided support for developing content, utilizing resources, and integrating learning technologies.  Enrolled students may request support.

 

Features and Benefits

Canvas provides a standard eLearning platform for anyone at the University engaged in teaching and learning to share and manage information, engage, and interact online regardless of the modality of the educational experience (online, on campus, or some hybrid combination of the two).  Features include:

  • Course Assessment Management (Quizzes, Assignments, Grade feedback)
  • Collaboration and Engagement Tools (Discussion, Announcement, Group Tools, etc.)
  • Course Design Tools (Modules, Pages, Rich Content editor)
  • ePortfolio Tools (Folio)
  • Program Assessment features (Outcomes, or other integrated system)
  • Data Analysis tools (Impact)
  • Related administrative, instructional design, and technology support help provide a more consistent, unified, and satisfying user experience.

 

Prerequisites
  • A valid university-provided account in the LMS  (Canvas) is required for access to the system and third-party tools that are integrated.
  • Access to the LMS (Canvas) is either automatically provisioned based on assignments within Banner or granted through a request that is submitted in writing to Information Technology Services by the instructor/owner of a course space.

 

Requesting the Service

Click on “Request Assistance with LMS” or "Report an Issue with LMS" button from this web page in order to provide us with some basic information about your unmet, anticipated need, or issue and then submit your request.

 

Related Documentation

Service Descriptions:

  • Assessment Systems and Learning Analytics
  • ePortfolio Management
  • Instructional Design and Course Development
  • Polling and Surveys
  • Recordings of Presentations, Lectures and Class Proceedings
  • Technology Enhanced Classrooms, Labs, and Collaborative Spaces

Knowledge Articles:

 

Fulfillment Target

Target time intervals to initially respond to all reported incidents and requests for technical assistance that are not immediately resolved during first contact: 

  • Initial Response (During an in-class Emergency): Return phone call within 15 minutes of the reported incident. 
  • Initial Response (During Normal Business Hours): Return phone call or E-mail message within 1 to 4 hours of the reported incident or request. 
  • Initial Response (After Normal Business Hours): Return phone call or E-mail message before the end of the next business day of the reported incident or request. 

Within two business days, the Education Technology Office will respond to a request for a scheduled consultation.