Canvas is now the default classroom learning management system for all courses, and users are no longer able to create new course sites in Sakai. Instructors of record listed in DukeHub are automatically added to their corresponding Canvas sites.

Whether you have already begun using Canvas at Duke, or this Fall will be your first time teaching with it, continue reading for important updates and resources.

Unclear on what's happening with Sakai and Canvas at Duke? Wondering what your options are for learning to use Canvas in time for your Fall courses? The Canvas Project Team will describe the current status of the transition to Canvas at Duke in this virtual Town Hall. Topics will include:

There will be time for Q&A at the end of the town hall presentation. This event will be recorded and made available at go.canvas.duke.edu. 

If you plan to teach a Fall course in Canvas that was previously taught using Sakai and would like the content migrated from Sakai into Canvas for you, please submit your request no later than Friday, August 2, 5 pm ET. This ensures that we will be able to have your content migrated in time for you to review, edit and publish your course. Requests will be accepted after that date, but we cannot guarantee they will be completed in time for the first day of Fall classes.

Sometimes it's just easier to learn something new or to chat through an issue with someone face-to-face, so we are pleased to offer the following opportunities to work with you in-person to help you prepare to teach with Canvas this Fall.

If you have never used Canvas and need to know how to get started ASAP, join us for this Canvas Quick Start session. In just one hour we will run through the basics of using Canvas and provide you with resources to set up your Fall courses.

If you have some Canvas experience or training, but are ready to improve your course sites to give you and your students a better experience in Canvas, join us for this interactive workshop and level-up your Canvas skills.

Come and work in person on your Canvas sites, and our teaching consultants will be available in the room to help answer your questions as you work. Plus, in the company of other instructors you can share ideas and information about how you’ll be using Canvas. No registration needed; simply come and go as you need to.

The following workshops will be held via Zoom. All times Eastern.

Introduction to Canvas
Mon, August 12 from 12 - 1:30 pm | Register now
Recommended for those with little-to-no experience with Canvas. This session will include some of the basic “getting started” and Canvas configuration information.

Designing Your Canvas Site for Student Success
Tue, August 13 from 12 - 1:30 pm | Register now
Recommended for all instructors. This session will focus on the core of Canvas – the Modules tool – and how to use it and several other key Canvas tools to best organize your site to support student success.

Assessing Student Learning in Canvas
Wed, August 14 from 12 - 1:30 pm | Register now
This session will cover assessing student learning in Canvas using quizzes, graded discussions, assignment submissions, and the gradebook.

Accessibility in Canvas
Thur, August 15 from 12 - 1 pm | Register now
This session will cover the principles of accessibility and how to apply them when designing your course sites in Canvas. We will also review tools within Canvas you can use to improve the accessibility of your course. 

New to Canvas? If you prefer to learn on your own, the Canvas at Duke website has many self-directed learning materials for you to choose from including videos, self-paced guides, and the Growing with Canvas course. If you prefer live instruction, register for one of our upcoming workshops.

If you have a question about using Canvas (e.g. “How do I send an announcement to my class?”), we encourage you to take advantage of Canvas’ 24/7 support. Within 5 minutes you will be connected with a live Canvas representative via chat or phone, and emails are answered within approximately one hour. The Canvas Instructor Guide is also an incredibly thorough resource.

If you have a more teaching-focused question (e.g. “How can I best organize my site?” “What features will help students accomplish my learning objectives?”), we invite you to schedule a 25-minute one-on-one consultation or stop by our open online office hours.