Overview

Beginning in the Spring of 2024, teams across Quinnipiac launched an evaluation of our current learning management system (LMS), Blackboard Original. This evaluation is dedicated to ensuring that our LMS effectively supports the university community and our teaching and learning objectives as the University of the Future.

The teams involved in this evaluation are:

Quinnipiac Innovations in Learning and Teaching (QILT) →
Teaching and Classroom Technology (TCT) team from Information Technology
Faculty Senate ITC
A LMS evaluation committee made up of faculty from across the University

This evaluation will include the latest version of Blackboard - **Blackboard Ultra,** and Instructure’s platform - Canvas. Currently, Quinnipiac uses Blackboard Original and has for some time.

Both Blackboard Ultra and Canvas offer enhanced features from our existing LMS, and both have key differentiators. Those differentiators, along with the below considerations, will guide the evaluation to find the LMS that best fulfills our needs for in-person, hybrid, and fully online learning:

Student Assignments, Discussion Boards, Assessments, and Grading
Student Experience and Interaction
Content Creation and Content Management
Course Design
Course Administration
Tool Integrations (ex. YuJa, Zoom, etc)
Tablet & Mobile App Functionality
Communication Features
Required Technology Infrastructure
Considerations raised from the evaluation survey (the survey closed June 30, thank you for your participation!)

<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_orange.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_orange.svg" width="40px" /> Regardless of the next platform selected, it's important to note that significant effort, even if we remain with Blackboard, will be required to migrate our courses within the LMS. The migration from our current Blackboard version to Blackboard Ultra will still involve extensive re-design and re-construction of course materials to align with the enhanced features and structure of the updated system. Therefore, this period of change presents us with an opportune moment to explore which LMS best serves our needs and to make a well-informed decision grounded in the intrinsic value of the platform - rather than the convenience of sticking with the status quo.

</aside>

Timeline

2024

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" width="40px" /> Early Spring: LMS evaluation group formed

</aside>

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" width="40px" /> End of April: Evaluation survey opened for community feedback and ideas, and a sandbox request form made available for those who want to try either platform.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" width="40px" /> Mid-June: QILT begins reach-out initiatives to schools, departments, and programs to address questions and anticipate unique needs.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" width="40px" /> June 30: Evaluation survey closes. Sandboxes will remain open and available upon request.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark-line_green.svg" width="40px" /> July: QILT will host three demo sessions of Ultra & Canvas for the University community (recording below), followed by open office hours later in the month with Blackboard and Canvas.

</aside>

September 5: QILT will host a final demo session of Ultra & Canvas for faculty.

</aside>

End of September: Final decision made.

</aside>

How You Can Get Involved

Parallel to the evaluation group conducting their evaluation, we’ll have several opportunities for community members to demo both Blackboard Ultra and Instructure’s Canvas platform and provide feedback. Please keep an eye out for e-mail communications over this summer and the beginning of Fall.

Survey

The evaluation survey opened on April 29 and closed on June 30. Thank you for your participation!

Sandboxes

We’ve closed the sandbox request form while we’re working on the final decision. When the final decision is announced, we’ll re-open the form to request a sandbox in the chosen platform! In total during the evaluation, 89 faculty and staff members received a sandbox.

If you have a sandbox already, we’ve created pages with links to resources to use as you explore the platforms:

Ultra & Canvas Demo

QILT held three demo sessions on Ultra and Canvas for the university community. Our goal was to introduce attendees to both learning management systems and demonstrate how basic instructional tasks look in each system.

https://qu.yuja.com/V/Video?v=10792993&node=46787358&a=36365315

Frequently Asked Questions

As we answer questions from the community, we’ll update this list.

<aside> <img src="/icons/mail_blue.svg" alt="/icons/mail_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Contact QILT with questions or comments →

</aside>

Evaluation Information

Why is this evaluation happening right now?
Who is evaluating Blackboard Ultra and Instructure’s Canvas?
Who is making the final decision?
When will a final decision be made?
Where can I learn more about Blackboard Ultra and Instructure’s Canvas?
Where can I provide my feedback on Blackboard and give my opinions on the most important features and requirements of our next LMS?