What stage are we at?
We are currently in Phase 3 of this project, which focuses on implementation of the new Canvas learning management system, data migration and conversion of all WebCT courses to Canvas, and training and support of instructors. This phase will last from December 2012 to January 2014.
Phase 3 began in January 2013 with a pilot project involving eight courses developed and delivered in Canvas. This pilot project will be expanded in the summer semester, and the large-scale delivery of courses in Canvas will begin in September 2013. The final wave of course conversions will be in place for the spring 2014 semester. WebCT will be retired at SFU in December 2013.
A Canvas support website was launched in February 2013. We invite you to visit www.sfu.ca/canvas for Canvas news, announcements, and resources.
Online Canvas course request forms will be available to instructors as of March 1, and instructor orientations, including demonstrations and training, will be available at the same time (accessible through the Teaching and Learning Centre's Learning Technology portal at www.sfu.ca/learntech).
In preparation for the fall 2013 semester, extensive support for the development of Canvas-based courses will be available beginning in July 2013.
Here are the key activities of Phase 3:
| Phase 3 | Implementation | (December 2012 – January 2014) |
| Carry out pilot project in Canvas with eight courses (Spring 2013) | ||
| Launch Canvas support website (Spring 2013) | ||
| Make Canvas course request forms available to all instructors (March 1, 2013) | ||
| Begin instructor orientation (demonstrations and training) (March 2013) | ||
| Expand pilot project to include additional courses (Summer 2013) | ||
| Begin development of Canvas courses for fall semester (July 2013) | ||
| Begin large-scale delivery of courses in Canvas (Fall 2013) | ||
| Complete data conversion of all WebCT courses to Canvas (Spring 2014) | ||
| Retire WebCT at SFU (December 2013) |
Previous phases
| Phase 1 | Evaluation | (September 2011 – May 2012) |
| Define initial scope | ||
| Consult with instructors, students, and staff | ||
| Consolidate requirements | ||
| Prepare cost estimates | ||
| Forums and focus groups | ||
| January 9 | CODE Instructors Focus Group | |
| January 11 | Beedie Faculty Focus Groups (Segal and Burnaby) | |
| January 12 | Faculty of Health Sciences Focus Group | |
| January 12 | Beedie Faculty Focus Group (Surrey) | |
| January 16 | Beedie Student Focus Group | |
| January 17 | FAS Instructor Focus Group | |
| January 17 | Student Focus Group | |
| January 23 | CANCELLED – Student Open Forum (Burnaby – Student Central) | |
| January 24 | SFUFA Open Forum (Burnaby) | |
| January 24 | CANCELLED – Student Open Forum (Burnaby – Student Central) | |
| January 25 | SIAT Faculty Open Forum (Surrey) | |
| January 25 | CANCELLED – Student Open Forum (Burnaby – Student Central) | |
| January 26 | Faculty of Education Focus Group (Burnaby) | |
| January 30 | EAL Student Focus Group (Burnaby) | |
| February 1 | EAL Student Focus Group (Burnaby) | |
Phase 1 details
Most of the activity in this phase involved the project team consulting with members of the SFU community to identify key requirements for the new technology solutions to support teaching and learning after WebCT. The consultations addressed both functional needs – how users want technology to support their teaching and learning activities – and technical needs – what SFU requires for system integration, security, and so on.
The functional-needs team members did the following:
- Conducted interviews, meetings, focus groups, and surveys to identify users' requirements
- Used materials, where possible, from comparable institutions that had gone through this process
- Conducted test scenarios for instructor and student testing of short-listed applications
- Developed a support plan for transition, pre- and post-migration instructional design and content fixes, and future sustainment
- Estimated future functional support needs and costs
- Created and executed Phase 1 communications plan
The technical-needs team members did the following:
- Set up test instances of short-listed applications for functional evaluation
- Evaluated applications for fit to SFU's technical infrastructure, security, backup, ability to integrate with class rosters, future provisioning of course space, availability of content migration tools, etc.
- Described any technical show stoppers that would make an application unsuitable for implementation
- Evaluated technical support needs
- Estimated costs for license, infrastructure, maintenance, and support
| Phase 2 | Selection and implementation planning | (June 2012 – November 2012) |
| Issue request for proposals to replace WebCT LMS (May 31) | ||
| Test instances of short-listed applications | ||
| Publicly announce choice of new LMS (Canvas) (October 1) |
||
| Purchase application(s) and services | ||
| Plan implementation phase | ||
Phase 2 details
Phase 2 focused on the selection of a new learning management system and implementation planning. This phase lasted from June 2012 to November 2012.
The selection process began with the issuing of a request for proposals (RFP) incorporating the results of the Phase 1 consultation process on May 31, 2012. The submission deadline set in the RFP was June 28, 2012. The proposals were reviewed by an evaluation committee, and qualified candidate systems were test-driven by faculty, staff, and student volunteers in July and August.
The evaluation committee then recommended a preferred candidate – the Canvas learning management system developed by Instructure – to the Executive Steering Committee. The steering committee presented a recommendation to the Learning and Teaching Coordinating Committee, and this committee recommended the solution to SFU's IT Strategies Committee for a decision. The university's Board of Governors was informed of the selection on September 27, and Jon Driver, Vice-President, Academic, announced the decision publicly on October 1, 2012.
Once Canvas was chosen, the project team began preparing an implementation plan. Eight courses were selected for a pilot project that began in January 2013. Additional courses will be added to the pilot project in May 2013, and in September 2013 the large-scale migration of courses from WebCT to Canvas will be launched. The migration process is expected to be largely complete by spring 2014.
