| Canvas: the University's New Learning Management System |
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The Office of the Provost and the Penn Libraries announce the forthcoming implementation of Canvas, a University-wide learning management system (LMS) that will allow faculty and students across Penn to use one integrated set of tools to manage all their courses. Currently, some Schools and programs use Blackboard, while others (including the Graduate School of Education, the Law School, and the Wharton School) have already made the transition to Canvas.
Over the past year, the Penn Libraries conducted a comprehensive pilot test of Canvas. Most instructors in the pilot found that Canvas offered better teaching tools than Blackboard and met or exceeded their course development needs. Based on this pilot and the positive experiences of faculty in GSE, Law, and Wharton, the Provost and the Council of Deans charged a group of IT administrators from the Schools to work with ISC and the Penn Libraries to evaluate the possibility of a single University-wide LMS.
As a result of this consultative and collaborative process, Canvas will be implemented as the University’s LMS during the 2013-2014 school year. Canvas, along with Blackboard, will be available for instructors wishing to use them for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 courses. By Summer 2014, Canvas will be fully implemented across the University, and Blackboard will no longer be available. Schools and programs currently using Canvas will see no change.
In the weeks ahead, each School will contact its instructors directly with more details about specific plans to assist instructors with this transition. Instructors interested in learning more about Canvas are encouraged to visit http://canvas.upenn.edu/about or contact canvas@pobox.upenn.edu
Canvas workshops are designed for faculty, instructors, administrative staff, and teaching assistants. All sessions will be held in the Weigle Information Commons Seminar Room (Room 124, Van Pelt Library). Laptops will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.
What’s the Big Deal About Canvas? A fast-paced introduction to the Canvas learning management system designed to give instructors who prefer to learn on their own an overview of the tools and capabilities of the system. This is not a hands on session. Brown bag lunches welcome.
Tuesday, August 6: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Canvas Basics: New to Canvas? Learn how to add and organize your course site in this introductory hands-on workshop. No prior Canvas experience needed.
Thursday, August 1: 10-11:30 a.m.
Monday, August 12: 1:30-3 p.m.
Tuesday, August 13: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14: 12-1:30 p.m.
Monday, August 19: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 22: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 27: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wednesday, August 28: 10-11:30 a.m.
Blackboard to Canvas: This workshop is intended for faculty transitioning from Blackboard. Learn how to migrate your content to Canvas and how to leverage the new tools and features of Canvas in your teaching.
Wednesday, August 7: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 13: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 15: 10 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, August 21: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Monday, August 26: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Assessment and Grading in Canvas: Learn how to set up your Canvas Gradebook and create assignments in this hands-on workshop on assessment tools.
Thursday, August 8: 10-11:30 a.m.
Monday, August 12: 10-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, August 14: 3-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 20: 10:30 a.m.-noon
Thursday, August 22: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 27: 3:30-5 p.m.
Thursday, August 29: 1:30-3 p.m.
Canvas Office Hours: Canvas questions or quandaries? Come to office hours for hands-on assistance with your Canvas site.
Thursday, August 1: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Friday, August 2: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Monday, August 5: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 6: 3:30-5 p.m.
Wednesday, August 7: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 8: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Friday, August 9: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Monday, August 12: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 13: 10-11 a.m., 2:30-5 p.m.
Wednesday, August 14: 10-11 a.m., 1:30-3 p.m.
Thursday, August 15: 12-2:30 p.m., 4-5 p.m.
Friday, August 16: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Monday, August 19: 10-11 a.m., 12:30-1:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 20: 12-1:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Wednesday, August 21: 3:30-5 p.m.
Thursday, August 22: 10-11 a.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Friday, August 23: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Monday, August 26: 10-11 a.m., 1-2 p.m.
Tuesday, August 27: 10-11:30 a.m., 1-3:30 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 28: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.
Thursday, August 29: 4:30-7 p.m.
Friday, August 30: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
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