Item: Canvas
Rating: 8
Author: Brian Ditmer

Overall Satisfaction with Canvas

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Canvas is used to provide a learning management system for a community college district consisting of multiple campuses over a large geographical area. In addition, Canvas is being used with a state-wide licensing with more than 90% of learning institutions using it in the state of Washington. It's use provides a consistent and reliable interface for students.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The interface allows for an easy set of of learning modules with lectures, photos, videos and assessments.
The product update process is user-driven with a great deal of interaction with Canvas developers.
Since it is cloud-based, updates are rolled out without down-time.
There are many "apps" or externally developed utilities that integrate into Canvas.
On the back-end, Canvas provides a great deal of customization, branding and user options.
There is a great set of tutorials for users, user groups where knowledge is shared and technical support is drearily available.

Cons

Parts of the customization require knowledge of CSS, and other programming. Providing a user-friendly administration panel would be a plus.
If not done correctly, course content copying can get messy. I standardized check for file duplication would be great.

Return on Investment

It was a tough learning curve taking faculty from Angel to canvas. But once they got used to it, there was a tremendous amount of positive feedback.
Since it was a state-wide licensing, our district ROI was tremendous.
The customer service with Canvas is terrific. Users support one another, and the Canvas developers interact. A Beta environment is shared with anyone who wants it and updates can be tested out there against third-party utilities etc.

Alternatives Considered

Canvas provides a more user-friendly environment than Blackboard. It is also far more robust and requires less technical development than Moodle. Having used and managed all three, I would definitively recommend Canvas for any small to medium organization. Blackboard may be slightly more appropriate for large university systems, but cost must be considered and Canvas can certainly serve that role.

Likelihood to Recommend

Canvas is well suited where you have people who are, at least, somewhat familiar with CSS and scripting. Cost is lower than other LMSs. It is adaptable to many scenarios.

Canvas Support

Support Rating

Support is very good. Users also support one another and Canvas participates in these forums so often, and answers can be found without having to enter a support ticket. The beta environment allows users to "break" things and the developers work with users there to ensure that when an update is rolled out, everything will work.

Canvas Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Support cares about my success	None

Bug Resolution

Exceptional Examples of Canvas Support

Our support specialist worked with me for an entire afternoon to make sure that a publisher's content would be accessible in Canvas. Since the content was developed by the publisher and its workability with Canvas was really their responsibility it was above and beyond that our Canvas rep worked with me and the publisher rep to make sure that the accounting interface would work with the Canvas grade book.

Using Canvas

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using	Requires technical support

Easy Tasks

Setting up navigation of a learning element is easy.
Courses have a common feel, even with customizations.
Course backup and restore is very straightforward.

Comments

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My thoughts on Canvas

Software Version

Modules Used