In light of the last year of remote teaching, it is more clear than ever that we rely on our campus academic technology environment to support faculty and students in the most straightforward, flexible, and robust manner possible.
A move to Canvas will allow for a higher diversity of learning experiences and teaching innovations at Portland State. According to the 2020 ECAR survey, PSU students want a high quality and consistent digital learning experience with course materials online and accessible from any device. After engaging with faculty, students, and staff, the committee found that D2L is not meeting this need and presents many significant barriers to successful teaching and learning.
In contrast, PSU students participating in the Canvas pilot program described Canvas as “very intuitive” and easier to access and navigate. As one student put it, “Every time I was using D2L I just wished it was Canvas.” With this move, PSU will be on the industry standard Learning Management System used by our regional competitors.