Canvas released to our test group

Today is a big day for us.  We released Canvas to our test group for fall quarter.  Our Canvas site is https://egator.greenriver.edu/. Our help site for faculty is here https://www.gatornet.greenriver.edu/elearning/canvas_help.html  It's a work in progress so check back often for new material. 

Canvas questions and answers.

• I would like to try it for many fall classes. How would I go about creating a shell?
• Creating classes will remain an admin function.  We’re still writing the programs that will load classes/users and probably won’t be done until next month sometime.  We’ll update the campus.
• Will we be using Tegrity with Canvas? 
• Yes we will.
• Is fall the last quarter we can use Angel or can we use it the entire academic year?
• Spring 2013 will be the last quarter for Angel
• If there's little time to train face-to-face on Canvas before the fall quarter begins, can I just use Angel again?
• Yes, we suspect most faculty will be using Angel in the fall.
• Point of clarification.....will you still be loading everything into Angel as well as into Canvas in the fall?
• Yes we will.  We'll continue to load everything in both systems through spring 2013 which will be the last quarter for Angel.

New Canvas update

We have our Canvas installation and are in the process of configuring and testing it.  We anticipate being done with the testing by the end of August if all goes well.  As we said before, our plan is to load all fall classes into Canvas.  We’ve asked people to test it for us and will want feedback from them but anyone is welcome to use it. As soon as we get it configured, we’ll start working on training materials.   If you plan on using Canvas in the fall, there are a couple of caveats though…..if you do choose to use it, it is with the understanding that we’ll all be learning so you can expect a few bumps in the road.  The second one….because we’ll be testing until the end of August, there will be a tight turn around time for fall.  And finally, all the training materials may not be ready.  Right now, we’re working on a training course that we’ll enroll everyone in.  Our training videos will probably take most of fall quarter to complete.  If you’re willing to live with that, you’re welcome to use it. 

We’ll have face-to-face training sessions scheduled as soon as we can, hopefully by the end of August.    We have two sessions scheduled for opening week.  We’ll update you on our progress. 

Canvas update

The state still hasn’t finalized a contract with Canvas so there is still a bit of tentativeness to this.  The state is almost ready to sign so if nothing changes from what we know now (we don’t expect changes), we’ll have Canvas sometime in July.  The eLearning office will start working on configurations and training materials.  Here’s our current plan:

·         eLearning will begin configuring Canvas as soon as we have access

·         We will create faculty accounts and classes as soon as we can

·         Training materials will be created

o   we’ll use those created by the state committee and those provided by Canvas

o   we’ll begin recording videos as we did with Angel

·         We plan to start offering training in late August and continue throughout the next academic year and beyond.

o   We’ll send email when we have dates

o   We’re planning hands on training.  We’ll help you build your class in Canvas

o   There is a tool that will allow you to import your Angel files but they will have to be moved around a bit.

·         We plan to load all courses and all user accounts (faculty, staff, and students) in both systems (Angel and Canvas) starting in the fall and continuing forward

·         We plan on having both Angel and Canvas until the end of spring 2013

o   spring 2013 will be the last quarter for Angel

·         All courses will have to be on Canvas starting next summer quarter 2013.

We’d love to hear from you if you are willing to run a course in Canvas in the fall to help us test.  We know it’s a lot to ask because we probably won’t have courses and accounts in Canvas until late August. That makes for a pretty quick turn around for a fall class. You’ll have to be comfortable with a bit of ambiguity since we’ll all be learning in the fall.  If you’re interested, please email me and know we really appreciate your help.

New question

Queston:  I realize that Angel is with us spring of 13, but I’m starting a new class and would like to construct it in Canvas. When is the earliest we’ll be able to use it with students?
Answer: We don’t have an answer to that question yet and won’t until the state writes the contract.  If we have the ability to make our own decisions, it would be fall 2012 for a small group of testers.  If we have to wait for consensus from the other 33 CTCs, it could be 2 or more quarters later.

Questions 3/31/12

Q: Will there be overlap between the time we get Canvas and when Angel goes away?

A:  Short answer, yes but we can't talk specifics until the contract is signed.  Your eLearning committee rep can fill you in on what we've been discussing to date.

Q:  Do you have an idea of how long Angel will be available to us?

A:  Our contract with them runs from 7/1 to 6/30.  So Angel will be with us at least until the end of next spring quarter (2013).

Questions 3/30/12

Q:  How will training be handled?

A:  We'll run hands on sessions starting as soon as we can and for as long as needed.  We'll also create training videos for users as we did for Angel.  As soon as we know when Canvas will be available to us, we'll start scheduling training sessions.

Q:  Will we be able to transfer our Angel classes? 

A:  The short answer is yes.  We don't know exactly how that will look until the final contract with Canvas is signed.

Q:  Can we begin loading class material onto the free demo site?

A:  OK to do it to try out some of your class materials.but I wouldn't put too much effort into it.  The free site doesn't have all the features that are in their production site.  If some of your stuff doesn't work, that could well be the reason why.