Canvas Implementation FAQ's

This page provides answers to a wide range of questions you might have about the transition to Canvas. The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) are regularly updated as new information becomes available.

  • Canvas Community Resources: The Canvas Community offers a wealth of valuable resources and guides for both instructors and students. These resources are designed to enhance your proficiency in utilizing and navigating Canvas more efficiently and effectively.
  • Accessible Canvas Support: For all VSU students and instructors, Canvas Support is readily available for technical assistance 24/7/365. Following our go-live, Canvas Support will serve as the initial point of contact for support and will provide timely assistance.
  • How to Reach Canvas Support: You can easily access Canvas Support through two methods:
    • On your computer, click the (?) Help menu, located in the Canvas navigation on the left side of your screen.
    • In the Canvas app on your mobile device, click on the three lines in the top-right corner of the screen. Canvas Support is just a click away to provide you with the help you need.

  • No, VSU's Migration Task Team is collaborating with K-16 Solutions, a third-party vendor, to facilitate the migration of VSU academic courses from Blackboard.
  • Support and documentation will be provided to assist faculty in manually migrating content for any courses that are not processed through the automatic migration tool.

Each faculty member will receive a dedicated Sandbox course within Canvas, separate from any specific course in Banner with a CRN. This personal Canvas space is provided for you to experiment with and evaluate various Canvas features freely. 

Any content you currently have within these tools in Blackboard will stay associated with the tool and will remain accessible through Canvas.

 

  • Course content will be duplicated as a copy of your previous courses in Blackboard. Please note that faculty won't be able to conduct instruction directly from this duplicated course. As with Blackboard, for each semester you will have live course shells with the VSU Course Design Template applied. Depending on your course or department, instructional content may be in the live shell, or you'll need to copy or import content into your Canvas courses for the semester.
  • The Migration team strongly advises faculty to thoroughly review and update all course content automatically migrated from Blackboard to Canvas before transferring it into a live shell for a new semester.
 

  • Currently, our team is offering assistance to both faculty and students as they acquaint themselves with the Canvas tools.
  • Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, the team will evaluate specific requests from faculty members. Faculty interested in such requests should complete a designated form and adhere to the provided guidelines. The review and approval process for third-party applications will involve collaboration with your department, the LMS Administrator, Information Technology Services, and the IT Security team. Stay tuned for further details in the near future.
 

  • Users seeking support and guidance on how to navigate and utilize Canvas will have various options at their disposal. Here are some of the options for VSU Canvas users:
    • Scheduled Training – Face to Face and virtual scheduled training options offered by VSU Canvas Training Champions will be available for all. In-person and virtual workshops throughout the Spring 2024 semester. Keep an eye on the VSU project website and watch for announcements to stay informed."
    • Self – Paced:
      • For New Canvas Users: If you're new to Canvas, “Growing with Canvas” is a self-paced course that will be accessible directly from your Canvas Dashboard.
      • Some Prior Knowledge of Canvas: If you are already familiar with Canvas, you can explore the Canvas Community, where you'll find user guides and helpful video tutorials. Access the Canvas Guides and Community from the Help Menu within Canvas.
    • Looking for More: If you're looking for comprehensive training, stay tuned for upcoming resources. We're in the process of creating a Canvas Resources link for both Faculty and Students, which will provide an extensive list of materials, documentation, and additional training and support resources. These resources will also be on the IT Training Sharepoint Site for class registration.

  • New to Canvas: The "Passport to Canvas" self-paced course designed to introduce students to the world of Canvas. This course will be conveniently accessible from your Canvas Dashboard.
  • Some Familiarity with Canvas: If you're a student and already somewhat acquainted with Canvas, explore the Canvas Community for comprehensive user guides and informative video tutorials. You can access the Canvas Guides and Community through the Help Menu in Canvas.
  • Looking for Advanced Resources: For those seeking even more, consider visiting the VSU's Canvas Resources link for Students. This resource will provide an extensive collection of materials, documentation, and links to further training and support options. You can find this course listed in the Help menu within Canvas.

  • Blackboard Decommissioning: Starting in August 2024, Blackboard will be retired and no longer accessible to users. Consequently, users will no longer have the capability to create or add any new content, resources, or files in Blackboard. As the transition continues, there will be limitations on adding new tools or new Blackboard organizations.
  • Archiving Course Material: All course material from Blackboard will be archived on the K16 Scaffold Platform. Detailed instructions on how to request access to archived course material will be provided in the near future.

Feel free to email your inquiries to Canvasinfo@vsu.edu. A member of the Canvas LMS committee will promptly respond to your email within a few days.