University Technology's Teaching + Learning Technologies Team led an evaluation of learning management systems (LMSs) at CWRU. We began this project by examining the systems that students, faculty, and staff were already using. These included Blackboard Learn, Moodle, and eCurriculum. In order to determine whether these systems best met the University's varied needs, we evaluated a number of potential alternatives, including Blackboard's Ultra Experience, D2L’s Brightspace, and Instructure’s Canvas. Among other things, we invited vendors to CWRU to demonstrate their systems, administered usability tests, and conducted system pilots.
After the end of a thorough evaluation and a recommendation from our LMS Advisory Committees, Canvas was chosen as the new learning management system for the University.
The goals of the LMS Evaluation included:
- Determining how LMS’s are currently used at CWRU
- Identifying which features the CWRU community needs in an LMS
- Identifying the challenges that people face when using an LMS
- Evaluating and piloting other LMSs
- Determining which LMS best met the diverse needs of the CWRU community
In an effort to reach the project goals, UTech engaged the CWRU community in many ways. As part of this process, we:
- Hosted town hall-style meetings
- Surveyed the users of Blackboard Learn and other systems currently used at CWRU
- Recruited students, faculty, and staff to advisory committees
- Invited vendors to CWRU to demonstrate their systems and facilitate workshops
- Convened focus groups
- Administered multiple rounds of usability studies
- Piloted possible alternatives to Blackboard Learn
- Shared evaluation findings with faculty & staff and student advisory committees
- Made a recommendation to Faculty Senate
The evaluation component of this project has completed and we will now begin the process of transitioning the campus community to Canvas. Get more information on the LMS transition to Canvas.
Evaluation Timeline
- Hosted town hall-style meetings
- Surveyed the users of Blackboard Learn and other systems currently used at CWRU
- Convened focus groups
- Recruited students, faculty, and staff to advisory committees
- Invited vendors to CWRU to demonstrate their systems and facilitate workshops
- Administered multiple rounds of usability studies
- Piloted possible alternatives to Blackboard Learn
- Shared evaluation findings with faculty & staff and student advisory committees
- Prepared recommendation with next steps for CWRU’s CIO and Faculty Senate
Decision
Fall 2016 - Summer 2018
- Canvas was chosen as the new LMS at Case Western Reserve University.
- Classes could be taught in Canvas beginning in Spring 2017 and Summer 2017. All classes had to be using Canvas for Fall 2017.
- Blackboard remained available from Fall 2017 through Summer 2018 for archival purposes only.
- Blackboard to be shutdown on June 1, 2018.
Additional Resources from Evaluation & Transition
While the evaluation and transition part of the project are complete, we wanted to provide full transparency about the process. As such, here are some additional resources that were created and used during the evaluation and transition process. These resources are considered archived and will not be updated.
LMS Feature Comparison - a look at the different features in Blackboard and Canvas
Transition FAQ - questions that were most commonly asked during the transition to Canvas.