Published on Aug. 4, 2016

The Mizzou community has chosen Canvas to be its new learning management system (LMS). During a campuswide LMS review process led by a faculty-based working group, a recommendation was made for Mizzou to move from Blackboard Learn to Canvas. UM procurement followed the LMS Review with a formal request for proposals (RFP) process and subsequently awarded a contract to Instructure Canvas.

The rationale for this recommendation was based on the following main features:

• Straightforward navigation and interface
• Easy to create and submit assignments
• Easier and more effective communication
• Integrated audio and video
• Mobile friendly
• Gold rated for accessibility
• More stable infrastructure
• Cost savings

All instructors who have used Blackboard with a class during the Summer 15, Fall 15, Spring 16 and Summer 16 semesters will receive individualized emails from Educational Technologies at Missouri (ET@MO) containing information about migrating those Blackboard sites to Canvas. While resources are available for instructors who would like to go ahead and move their site(s) now, instructors can also wait until receiving further detailed information about their course(s) before migrating existing Blackboard sites to Canvas. Blackboard will be available through the end of the Fall 2017 semester. More information will be coming soon.

Questions about the LMS Review and Canvas decision can be directed to Danna Wren, Director, Educational Technologies at Missouri, at 573-882-0645 or danna@missouri.edu, or Kevin Bailey, Director, Customer Services and Support, Division of IT, at 573-882-1639 or baileyks@missouri.edu.