Author: LMS Admin

Email sent to instructors using Canvas – August 14, 2024

Good morning. 

I would like to address some questions raised regarding the ability to combine class sections within the University’s learning management systems (LMS), Blackboard and Canvas. 

Each semester, a small number of faculty combine individual class sections to streamline section management; however, the act of combining non-cross-listed sections poses a risk under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Our students’ schedules are considered non-directory information, and we must work to retain the privacy of students beyond their individual course sections. 

While faculty may continue to combine non-cross-listed sections, we need your assistance to ensure the protection of student rights and privacy. Faculty combining sections are expected to clearly inform students that their course is part of a combined section and ensure that sensitive information such as grades and personal details are not shared across sections.  

When combining sections in the LMS, utilize group settings to maintain section-specific communications. Additional information and resources can be found here: https://its.gmu.edu/knowledge-base/canvas-combining-sections/ 

Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions. 

Thanks. 

Doug 

Doug McKenna 
University Registrar 
http://registrar.gmu.edu/

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the official launch of Canvas, George Mason University’s new Learning Management System! The LMS Project Team has been working through early set-up activities and we are excited to invite all instructional faculty members to begin exploring its features.

How to Log in to Canvas:

• Go to Canvas at Mason
• Log in with your Mason NetID and Patriot Pass Password (plus Duo Mobile for security) 

Explore our Getting Started for Faculty training resources, download the mobile app, and review the project timeline. We will continue adding training and support opportunities as they are developed.

Sandbox Environments

Starting today, each instructional faculty member has been provided a personal Canvas sandbox. This space is designed to acquaint you with the new system, develop your courses, collaborate on content, and smooth out any issues in a secure environment. If you need more than one sandbox course, we will begin accepting requests for additional courses starting in July 2024.

You also will see Growing with Canvas in your Canvas dashboard, a self-paced training course designed to orient faculty to Canvas. Recommended training pathways are available for your review to help you get started.

Opting into Canvas for Fall 2024

All fall courses will be in Blackboard unless you choose to use Canvas. For those eager to use Canvas in the Fall 2024 semester, complete this opt-in form. Please note that course sites will not be available until late June 2024. Once available, migrated courses or selections of content can be copied into your live fall courses. Visit our website to learn more about automated migrations.

We encourage academic units to have intentional conversations about their overall transition to Canvas. Sections with multiple labs, cross listing, recitation sections, and other unique scheduling needs should consider transitioning as a department to mitigate the impact on students.

We particularly invite the following faculty groups to consider opting into Canvas this fall:

1. Those who are new to George Mason
2. Those with prior experience using Canvas
3. Those who are developing new courses for Fall 2024 and beyond 

Need Assistance?

24/7 support is available within the Canvas platform by clicking “Help.” You can also review additional training and support resources. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and are excited about the new opportunities Canvas will bring to your courses.

Thank you for your participation and support throughout this project.

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services

Dear Colleagues: 

As the semester winds down, we would like to provide an update on the Canvas implementation, including information on course migrations and how to opt in to use Canvas for your courses in the fall 2024 semester.

Blackboard Course Migrations

The first wave of Blackboard to Canvas course migrations will begin at the end of this semester and include the most recent section of courses taught by each instructor from the summer 2022 to spring 2024 semesters. Course migrations will copy all instructor-added content in Blackboard courses to a course in Canvas. These courses can be used as a source to copy content into your live course whenever you decide to start teaching with Canvas.

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, you will receive a personalized email with a list of your “pre-selected” courses and a list of other course sites tied to you in Blackboard. You can select up to five additional courses from this section to migrate during this first wave. The email will be sent from “LMS Implementation Project <[email protected]>, with the subject “Canvas Course Migration Selection Site.”

To be included in this first wave of migrations, this form must be submitted by Monday, May 6. However, pre-selected courses will migrate to Canvas even if you do not complete the form. You will be notified when the migrations are available in Canvas in June, and you will be provided access to guides for navigating your migrated courses in Canvas. For detailed information, visit the website.

Interest in Canvas for Fall 2024

If you are interested in teaching one or more courses in Canvas in fall 2024, the opt-in form will be available in the coming weeks. Please note that course sites will not be available until June 2024. Once available, migrated courses or selections of content can be copied into your live fall courses. 

While all faculty can opt-in, we encourage the following groups to consider using Canvas this fall: (1) faculty who are new to Mason, (2) faculty with previous experience teaching in Canvas, and/or (3) faculty developing new courses for fall 2024 and beyond.

Canvas Access and Sandboxes

Each faculty member will automatically be provided a Canvas sandbox in the coming weeks. Sandboxes are a safe space to explore Canvas, design courses, collaborate on content, and resolve potential issues before going live. Additional sandbox courses can be requested beginning in July 2024.

As always, we encourage you to visit the project website, https://lms.gmu.edu, for updates and other important information, including links to training, quick-start guides, and FAQs. Thank you for your continued cooperation and engagement throughout this process.

Charles Kreitzer    
Executive Director, Mason Online  
Office of the Provost    

Joy Taylor    
Executive Director, Learning Support Services    
Information Technology Services    

Dear Colleagues:

We are pleased to provide you with a monthly update on the progress of the Canvas implementation. Since our last update, the project team has been diligently working to ensure a smooth transition to Canvas as our primary Learning Management System (LMS) in the following areas:

3rd Party App Integrations
We are integrating more than 70 third-party applications, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2024. These integrations span a variety of categories, including enterprise applications such as Zoom and Poll Everywhere, publisher connections like Pearson, and course media solutions like Kaltura. 

Sandbox Courses 
Sandbox course sites serve as dedicated spaces for practicing with Canvas and developing content for forthcoming courses. Anticipated for availability in late April, these environments are for instructors and administrators to experiment with Canvas functionalities, refine their skills, and create engaging materials for future classes.

Fall 2024 Courses in Canvas
For the upcoming fall 2024 semester, we expect 30-40% of courses offered will be hosted in Canvas. In preparation, we strongly encourage specific groups to transition to Canvas for course delivery, including new-to-Mason faculty, instructors with previous experience teaching in Canvas, and those developing new courses during the summer term.

Feedback and Suggestions
We value your feedback and suggestions as we continue refining our Canvas Implementation. If you have thoughts, please share them at lms.gmu.edu or through your school/college’s Advisory Committee representative (https://lms.gmu.edu/committees/). 

Resources and Support
Updated information and resources, including a migration timeline, frequently asked questions, and ongoing project status updates, are available at lms.gmu.edu. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Canvas Implementation Team at [email protected]. 

Thank you for your cooperation and support throughout this process.  

Charles Kreitzer 
Executive Director, Online Operations 
Office of the Provost 

Joy Taylor 
Executive Director, Learning Support Services 
Information Technology Services 

Email sent to Mason community

Dear Colleagues: 

After a multi-layered and comprehensive process, we are happy to announce the selection of Canvas by Instructure as George Mason University’s new Learning Management System (LMS).  

Throughout the Request for Proposal process, the engagement from groups across the university was invaluable in making this selection, and we are immensely grateful for everyone’s participation and patience during the negotiation of the contract. Feedback from the vendor demonstrations this spring showed that the Mason community overwhelmingly preferred the functionality, ease of use, and integrated tools offered by Canvas over the other solutions.  

Additionally, many in the Mason community are already familiar with Canvas: 

• 63% of faculty who responded to the LMS survey indicated they have previously used Canvas 
• 72% of students surveyed indicated they have previously used Canvas 
• 70% of R1 institutions use Canvas; In Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area, Canvas schools include American University, Georgetown, James Madison University, Marymount University, Northern Virginia Community College, Old Dominion University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech 

An implementation team of diverse members of the Mason community has been established to ensure a smooth transition. Because this shift in LMS providers is a major change for the entire university, a phased approach will be utilized to aid with the rollout and adoption of the new platform. The implementation phase is scheduled to officially kick off in January 2024. 

While additional details will be shared with the community in the coming weeks, a high-level timeline for the implementation process includes: 

·         Spring 2024: System setup, configuration, and testing 

·         Summer 2024: Limited pilot 

·         Fall 2024: First wave of courses migrated to Canvas 

·         Spring 2025: Remaining courses migrated to Canvas 

·         Fall 2025: Final move to Canvas; Blackboard no longer available 

Throughout the transition, comprehensive training, various resources, and hands-on assistance will be available to aid the Mason community. For up-to-date information about the project, including governance committees, timelines, FAQs, and information on how you can participate visit lms.gmu.edu. 

Thank you again for the input and support in making this decision for the university. Email questions to the implementation team at [email protected]. 

Ken Walsh, PhD                                                                       Jackie Ferree 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President                        Senior Vice President, Operations and Business Services