The start of Michaelmas term marks the final phase of the rollout of the Canvas virtual learning environment across Oxford. By the end of 2020 more than 95% of students will be using Canvas to support their teaching and learning, with over 60,000 users having access to the virtual learning environment.
The Canvas Programme team would like to thank staff and students for their support since the start of activities in 2018, with special thanks to our early adopters who gave their time and effort to pilot Canvas so that we could improve it for other users. For the next few months, we will focus on supporting Canvas users and preparing for the handover of the Canvas service to the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Early life support for new users of Canvas
This year’s rollout has taken place against the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, making support from the Canvas team for new users all the more important. Extensive, hands-on support will be available until the end of 2020 for new users to ensure that their experience is as smooth as possible.
Help and guidance materials for Canvas are available in the guides to using Canvas at Oxford, which can be accessed once signed into the VLE.
Canvas support for flexible and inclusive teaching
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canvas Programme has been working closely with the Centre for Teaching and Learning since Trinity term to support the move to remote teaching. From academic year 20/21 the University is taking a flexible and inclusive approach to teaching and learning, and the Programme team will continue to work with departments and faculties to ensure the appropriate tools and content are in place to support this approach. Guidance, resources and materials to support flexible and inclusive teaching are available on the Teaching Remotely webpage. If you have any questions about flexible and inclusive teaching or need additional assistance, please contact digital.education@ctl.ox.ac.uk
Using Canvas for teaching and learning; Canvas ‘Terms of Use’
The use of Canvas is currently governed by a ‘Terms of Use’ policy to help support the use of the VLE for teaching and learning. This will help to deliver a consistent learning experience for students using Canvas across the University. We encourage you to read the policy and to contact digital.education@ctl.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Canvas and Accessibility
The University strives to ensure that any technology in use complies to recognised international standards of accessibility. An Accessibility statement in relation to the Canvas virtual learning environment is available which describes the accessibility features in Canvas, discusses how to report any issues, provides guidance on how to make Canvas courses accessible and explains how the University is working with Instructure (owners of Canvas) to improve accessibility features.
Transition of Canvas activities to the Centre for Teaching and Learning
Work will start in October 2020 on transferring responsibilities for Canvas from the Programme to the Centre for Teaching and Learning. We will continue to report on the transitional activity in the coming weeks.
Help and support with Canvas
General queries should be sent to canvasoxford@it.ox.ac.uk
If you have any questions about flexible and inclusive teaching, please email digital.education@ctl.ox.ac.uk
Additional help can be found in the Help section on the Global Navigation menu once you are logged into Canvas.
