Canvas will be the only LMS available for courses starting summer 2025. As we prepare to fully transition to Canvas, this resource is designed to help you get ready to teach in fall 2025 with confidence in our new learning management system. This checklist will guide you through the essential steps to ensure your course is set up and ready for students.
1
By May 1 – Check your courses pages…
…by logging into Canvas to confirm that all relevant prior courses in Blackboard have been migrated. Recent requests and spring 2025 courses will be available in June 2025.
2
By June 1 – Download any student work…
…in Spring 2025 Blackboard sites that you may need (e.g., to support Incomplete grades or write letters of recommendation). Review our Bb Retirement Resources to learn more.
3
In June – Make a plan to learn Canvas…
- Get an introduction: Attend one of our bi-weekly Getting Started with Canvas sessions and review other training and support resources.
- Learn high–impact strategies: Register for the Summer Canvas Bootcamp, review curated Canvas videos from prior Canvas workshops in Growing with Canvas (covers content creation, course module design, assignments, quizzes and exams, gradebook, and more!) or attend a training.
- Get specific advice for your course: Explore 24/7 chat support within Canvas, contact a Canvas Mentor or ITS support.
4
In July – Start to prepare your fall course(s)…
- If updating a course migrated from Blackboard, check the structures that have been created and identify any necessary adjustments to your courses. Use the Migration Cleanup Guide.
- Check the location and accessibility of key course content.
- Organize content for easy student access.
- Ensure your gradebook has been configured for your course needs.
- Test your course using the “Student View” feature.
- If working in a Bb Migrated course, copy to your live Fall course.
5
By Wed., Aug 20 – Open your course and communicate with students…
- Make your course available to students. Here are instructions for publishing a Canvas course.
- Send an announcement message to students welcoming them to the course (messages cannot be sent if the course is not published) .