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Canvas Resources for Instructors

Canvas is a modern, intuitive learning management system selected by faculty, students, and staff to support teaching excellence at OHIO. Canvas can be accessed at canvas.ohio.edu .

Log in to Canvas 

Training and resources

The Office of Instructional Technology (OIT), Office of Instructional Design (OID), and Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment (CTLA) offer a diverse range of training and support resources to assist instructors. Visit the Canvas LMS Resources and Training webpage to browse group training sessions, departmental workshops, 1:1 consultations, and more.

If you'd rather get started with Canvas on your own, learn the basics of setting up your course in Canvas .

24/7 Canvas Support

All students, faculty, and staff can access a 24/7 Help Desk within  Canvas  by selecting "Get Help” in the left navigation menu. Canvas Support can help with any Canvas-specific issue through chat or a phone call. 

Canvas Experts Corner

The Canvas Experts Corner blog is your weekly dose of inspiration and expert guidance to elevate your Canvas experience. Going beyond the initial course set and basic how-tos, we'll dive into advanced features, explore innovative teaching strategies, and share expert tips to help you create an engaging learning experience for students.

Canvas Experts Corner Blog

Accessibility

Ohio University is committed to providing cutting-edge information technology that provides our students with an accessible and exceptional user experience. Canvas and OHIO have both created resources to ensure your Canvas course content is accessible to each student you teach:

Prepare for Blackboard Retirement

All Ohio University instructors can access Blackboard until June 2026. Instructors should review their course content in Blackboard and determine what should be migrated to Canvas, saved, or deleted.

  • Only migratecontent to Canvas that is high quality and relevant to ongoing teaching activities.
  • Savecontent outside of Canvas for record-keeping purposes (e.g., saving a grade book in OneNote). Or, if you're unsure if the content will be utilized in the future, save it for your personal records.
  • Deleteunnecessary content. This can assist you in keeping track of reviewed materials and help reduce significant storage costs associated with Blackboard.

Instructions for saving Blackboard content

Course Retention

Previously, the University had an official Blackboard Course Retention Standard . As of June 2026, to support the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, the University will retain all academic courses from the past seven years (dating back to June 2019) for two years (until June 2028). 

Academic courses are defined as courses generated from our Student Information System (PeopleSoft) for academic credit. This does not include Blackboard organizations, test courses, or any other kind of manually created courses. Instructors must save this type of content on their own if they wish to retain it.

After June 2028, all Blackboard academic course content will be deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please share your LMS questions regarding the transition to Canvas. We will use these to create and regularly update our FAQs on the website. 

Access and Logistics

When can I log in to Canvas?

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff can log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu . All instructors have one test course automatically created in their Canvas account to explore features or build content for future courses.

Students

All admitted OHIO students can access Canvas. Students are added to courses two weeks prior to a course's start date. Students will only be able to see courses in Canvas that instructors have published.

What is the timeline for migrating to Canvas?

The transition of live courses to Canvas is complete. For fall 2025, 100% of courses are in Canvas and no further instruction will occur in Blackboard. Blackboard will be retired in June 2026 following the archival of academic records. Learn more about our approach to content retention in Blackboard .

What is Phase 1? How were Phase 1 faculty selected?

Phase 1 of the Canvas implementation took place in the Spring 2024 semester and included about 100 live courses, specifically chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of disciplines and teaching styles. 

Each participating college collaborated with OIT to pinpoint faculty and courses that best fit the objectives of Phase 1 , which include finalizing the platform setup, enhancing the student and faculty experience, and gauging training and support resources. There were approximately 100 courses in Canvas and 56 faculty participated in Phase 1. OIT is working with academic leaders to prepare for future terms to ensure students have a streamlined transition to Canvas so they are not operating in multiple LMSs for an extended period.

Why did Ohio University select Canvas as the future LMS?

The decision to transition to Canvas has been made after careful consideration of its many advantages and potential for enhancing teaching and learning experiences at Ohio University. Further information about the selection process and its outcomes can be found in our Summary Report .

Course Setup, Migration, and Support Resources

How do I get started creating my course(s) in Canvas? What if I encounter size limits when I migrate content to Canvas?

Once you're ready to begin, follow the steps outlined in the Canvas Faculty Hub for setting up your course .

It is important to be aware that Canvas has a course size limit of 2GB, which is different from Blackboard. There are a tips to reduce your files sizes, if needed, on the preparing your course for Canvas page. This is helpful if you are encountering difficulty with file size as you transfer content to Canvas. 

How do I migrate my Blackboard course content to Canvas?

There are two main ways to migrate your Blackboard course content to Canvas: Working from an OHIO template in Canvas, or importing full course content from Blackboard. Step-by-step instructions for both options are detailed in the Moving Course Content from Blackboard to Canvas help article .

What type of training and other support resources are available?

Access 24/7 Canvas support via phone, chat, and email right inside Canvas . Log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu and select "Get Help" from the left navigation menu. The University also offers individual consultations, departmental workshops, and a diverse range of self-guided training. View the Canvas Training webpage for more information.

Will organizations be available in Canvas?

Yes. Canvas uses only one container type, courses, but settings can be adjusted to replicate Blackboard Organizations within Canvas. Learn more about Organizations in Canvas . When you're ready, submit a request a for an organization-type purpose by selecting 'I am requesting a manually created course' in the Canvas request form and provide as many details as possible about your organization so we can set the course up in the appropriate area within Canvas.

What will happen to old content in Blackboard that is not moved to Canvas?

Instructors will have access to Blackboard until June 2026. In June 2026, to support the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, the University will retain all academic courses from the past seven years (dating back to June 2019) for two years (until June 2028). For more information, review Retaining and Retrieving Previous Course Content .

Academic courses are defined as courses generated from our Student Information System (PeopleSoft) for academic credit. This does not include Blackboard organizations, test courses, or any other kind of manually created courses. Instructors must save this type of content on their own if they wish to retain it. Please review the Blackboard Retirement page for a complete timeline on when different content will be deleted.

After June 2028, all Blackboard academic course content will be deleted.

When will my 'real' courses be accessible in Canvas for the upcoming semester?

Term-based courses load to Canvas eight-weeks prior to the start date of the course. This means instructors will have access to begin setting up their course that will later have students enrolled. Students will be enrolled in courses two-weeks prior to the start date of the course. Courses will only be accessible to students when instructors publish the course. 

If you are unable to see or access a course in your Canvas Dashboard, view our Troubleshooting Course Access help article.

When will students be added to my Canvas course?

Students will be enrolled in courses two-weeks prior to the start date of the course. When a student adds or drops a course after this time, their course enrollment will be updated during the next Canvas data update, which runs three times per day. Courses will only be accessible to students when instructors publish the course. 

Do Test Courses in Canvas get deleted if not in use for a certain amount of time? If so, what is that time frame?

Manually created courses that have no activity for a period of two years will be eligible for deletion. OIT will notify the instructor of the course at least 30 days in advance of the planned deletion to provide an opportunity to retain their content outside of Canvas. Learn more about content retention in Canvas .

Supporting Students

How do I ensure I share accessible content as I build courses in Canvas?

Delivering an accessible course is essential to providing a learning experience that meets the needs of all students. OIT's Digital Accessibility Network (OHIO-DAN) developed an excellent Faculty Checklist for Accessible Content resource that is a great starting point. This document outlines document types that are most accessible, as well as recommendations for delivering accessible multimedia content. Consider joining the OHIO-DAN to learn more about accessible teaching and learning practices through regular conversations and resource sharing.

How can I support my students as they learn to navigate Canvas?

The easiest thing instructors can do is to let students know on or before the first day of class how to access course materials online. Consider sharing a link to Canvas to get students started and letting them know they can get technical support directly within Canvas 24/7 by visiting the "Get Help" menu. 

Instructors can also leverage these student-facing resources to help communicate with their students. These resources require your OHIO ID to view. They are view-only, so you will need to either download the documents to your device or copy/paste the content into your own materials.  

Additionally, you can let students know that a student orientation course, Passport to Canvas , is available to them. This training is self-guided and allows students to stop when they need a break and pick back up where they left off. It is a great way to get comfortable using Canvas. 

Features and Integrations

Which features are different in Canvas and which are the same from Blackboard?

Canvas offers many similar features to Blackboard with key differences. Explore our Canvas vs. Blackboard comparison chart for detailed information and suggested workarounds.

Which third party integrations, like Turnitin or Panopto, are available in Canvas?

OIT's using third-party integrations in Canvas page provides details about integrations (external tools applications) that are available in Canvas. Please read the installation instructions on the third-party integrations help page to access the desired tool.

Will Panopto recordings used in Blackboard be available in Canvas?

By the end of August 2025, all Panopto content created in Blackboard by active users will be available in Canvas's instance of Panopto after account merging activity in summer 2025. Please visit the Sharing Panopto Content Between Blackboard and Canvas help article for more information.

Can I import Blackboard question pools to Canvas?

There are differences between question pools, banks, and blocks, which are often used interchangeably. We expect most content types to transfer to Canvas. If you have any difficulty with a specific file type during the import process, please seek help within Canvas. You can start a chat or call their hotline by logging into Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu and selecting "Get Help" from the left navigation menu. OIT can also support you through a consultation to discuss your individual needs for moving course content. You can schedule a consultation through the Canvas Training and Resources webpage .

How do I request a feature or integration in Canvas?

Before requesting an integration, check the list of current third-party integrations to ensure it is not already available. 

To request a feature or a new integration (external application or product) in Canvas, please submit a ticket through the Canvas Ticketing Page for feature and integration requests and review the vendor Technology Review process. In the "What kind of Canvas request are you making?" field, select "I am requesting an integration in Canvas".

Which proctoring, student integrity, and anti-cheating tools are available within Canvas?

Proctortrack , an online proctoring solution, is available within Canvas. Proctortrack does have a fee associated with use (either department-pay or student-pay). To learn more about Turnitin, OIT's supported plagiarism detection tool, review Creating a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas . Top Hat also supports monitored exams , as a solution that may align well with in-class exams. You can see a full list of third-party tools available within Canvas on this webpage .

Given that we have SafeAssign and Turnitin in Blackboard for plagiarism detection, will Canvas be able to check against old submissions from Blackboard?

Turnitin will check submissions made through Turnitin assignments from both Blackboard and Canvas. In Canvas, we will have Turnitin available as the academic integrity product since SafeAssign is a Blackboard-specific feature. To learn more about Turnitin in Canvas, review Creating a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas .

Will the course owners and faculty have the ability to add and remove users in Canvas?

In Canvas, course owners and faculty have the ability to add and remove Designers, Teaching Assistants (TA), and Instructors (which Canvas calls Teachers), and the ability to add but not remove Students from their courses. The reason behind not allowing students to be removed is to prevent students from being accidentally removed from a course that they should be enrolled in and to prevent the potential loss of their submitted data. If a manually added student needs to be removed from a course, that can be done through a request to the OIT Service Desk.

Will Canvas support pushing grades to the Faculty Advising Center so we do not have to enter them manually?

We do not have plans to push grades from Canvas to the Faculty Advising Center. 

Common Blackboard Features and their Canvas Equivalents

Can instructors add people to their courses in Canvas?

Instructors can add or remove instructors, TAs, and designers from Canvas courses. They can add students to courses as soon as they are admitted, but instructors will not be able to remove them. This is to prevent the accidental loss of data. If a manually added student needs to be removed from a course, instructors can submit a Canvas ticket to OIT for assistance.

Can an instructor send out a class announcement in Canvas?

Yes, instructors can post class announcements in their Canvas course. An additional feature in Canvas announcements is that instructors can allow students to comment or like announcements and can schedule an announcement to post later. However, instructors cannot force an email message to students regarding announcements and cannot set an expiration date for announcements. 

Can an instructor copy a course in Canvas?

Instructors can copy course content such as assignments, modules, pages, and discussions from an existing Canvas course into new or empty courses. Directions for how to copy course content is available in the online Canvas guide. 

Can an instructor merge two courses in Canvas? 

Yes. In Canvas this process is referred to as Cross-Listing rather than merging. Directions for Cross-Listing are available in the OIT Knowledge Base.  

How does the Canvas calendar work?

The Canvas calendar is populated based on dates added to courses by the course instructor, such as assignment/quiz due dates, and to-do items. Both students and instructors have access to the calendar feature for all their enrolled courses and groups. An Instructor Guide to the Calendar is available in the online Canvas guide.  

Can you create a manual grade column in the Canvas gradebook? 

Instructors cannot add a manual grade column directly to the Gradebook in Canvas (as you could in Blackboard). You must create a new assignment, and in the “Submission Type” settings, set to “No Submission.”

Are there any Blackboard features without a Canvas equivalent? 

The Canvas and Blackboard Comparison chart shows a list of features without a direct equivalent, as well as suggested workarounds where possible for items such as glossary, journals, and wikis. This page is no longer updated since 100% of courses will leverage Canvas in fall 2025.

Does Canvas have a tool to detect plagiarism? 

Yes, Turnitin is OIT's supported tool for plagiarism detection. Turnitin can be used in different ways within Canvas based on your instructional goals. Check out Creating a Turnitin Assignment in Canvas to learn more about your options.

Can an instructor customize the navigation menu in their courses? 

Instructors can re-organize and hide items on the Course Navigation menu. However, navigation menu items cannot be renamed or added in Canvas. You can organize your course's menu by selecting "Settings" in your course menu and then choosing the "Navigation" option on the top menu. On this page, you can drag to reorganize tools from your menu.

How can an instructor get a Canvas course shell early so they can start building?

All instructors automatically have one test course available in their Canvas account. Your test course should appear on your Canvas Dashboard and in your Courses tab in the left navigation menu. The course name will include “Instructor Test Course” and your OHIO ID.

You can also create additional test courses through the "Start a New Course" button on the Canvas dashboard. If you plan to enroll anyone as a student in your test course, please submit a Canvas ticket to OIT for support to ensure the course is placed in the appropriate space in Canvas. Share as much detail as possible about the purpose of the course and who you plan to enroll so we can provide appropriate guidance.Faculty may also request test courses on behalf of graduate students.

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Canvas implementation was a pivotal step in transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas. This phase occurred during the Spring 2024 semester and included about 100 live courses, specifically chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of disciplines and teaching styles. The intent of Phase 1 was to harness detailed feedback from both students and instructors, to refine the platform's features and user support ahead of a wider rollout. 

Insights from Phase 1 prompted enhancements in technical support and user training, ensuring that subsequent phases of the Canvas rollout will benefit from a more polished and user-friendly experience. The Phase 1 Final Assessment Report is available for OHIO faculty, staff, and students to review.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities: Teaching and Learning Advisory Community

To learn more about the new LMS implementation process, share your feedback, or ask questions, consider joining the Teaching and Learning Advisory Community . These sessions will collect your questions and concerns, share our timelines, and provide information where possible. If we cannot answer your questions, we will follow up. Otherwise, all questions and answers will be added to the public FAQ section of our website. 

Join the Microsoft Team for the Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community

Advisory Community meetings are flexible and open. Anyone can attend. To get the most out of the experience, we recommend joining a special Microsoft Team that we have created to keep track of community-related conversations, documents, and meeting dates: 

Screen shot of Teaching and Learning Technologies join dialog
  1. Sign up for the Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community on Microsoft Teams.
  2. When prompted, either:
    • Download the Teams app, or
    • Use the web app instead
  3. Check your email for a welcome message with more information on how to get the most out of the online group.

Any time the community meets, an online meeting space will be available inside of Microsoft Teams that you can use to participate remotely. The community's space in Teams also can be used to conduct chat-based conversations outside of scheduled meetings.

We also will post relevant files in the Team, such as agendas and minutes.

Fall 2023 Canvas Question and Answer Sessions

These sessions were hosted via our existing Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community channel. These question and answer sessions were intended to address early questions faculty had about Canvas. Details about future Canvas events will be disseminated through University communication channels, including email and OHIO Employee News.

Date Slide Deck
Wednesday, September 6 September 6 slide deck (PPTX)
Tuesday, September 12 September 12 slide deck (PPTX)
Thursday, September 21 September 21 slide deck (PPTX)
Thursday, September 28 September 28 slide deck (PPTX)
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