When Canvas fully launches in the fall, Illinois State University can thank the more than 2,000 students and 60 faculty members who helped test it. Their participation paved the way for what promises to be a successful rollout of ReggieNet’s successor. Thanks to their feedback and the hard work of support staff, both instructors and students will enjoy a stable, versatile, and convenient digital learning space.
Pilot Program
Faculty members participating in the pilot program were identified in fall 2022 from a list of more than 150 volunteers. Instructors were selected based on the courses they taught to represent the widest possible range of course types, modalities, and academic disciplines. They were offered intensive training before the winter break to help them set up their courses. Even in these early stages, instructors provided valuable feedback on Canvas’ look and configuration through online discussions and direct communication with the Center for Integrated Professional Development.
“Our pilot faculty are magnificent,” says Dr. Anthony Piña, the center’s director of online education, noting the pivotal role pilot instructors have played in an ambitious plan. The replacement of ReggieNet is on a swift timeline, with only a year between the approval to purchase the system and final implementation.
Early in the semester, both instructors and students were asked to identify what worked well in their pilot Canvas courses and what still needed improvement. As the spring progressed, instructors were able to provide quick feedback as features were reconfigured or new ones added in Canvas. They also helped identify necessary connections to other assets in Illinois State’s digital ecosystem, such as Opscan test evaluation, integration with third-party publishers, and course combination. The pilot groups’ insights also allowed instructional and information technology support staff to craft a host of online guides and other resources to help maximize both faculty teaching and student learning with the new system.
Pilot faculty also helped to spread the word about the Canvas experience and its new features, including participation in two, in-person kickoff events and a recent live webinar, which was recorded.
Benefits
More than half the students in the pilot program say they had used Canvas before, most likely at a community college, or even in high school. That fact alone speaks to the popularity of Canvas, a market leader in digital learning spaces. About 75% of students reported that Canvas was easy to use or somewhat easy to use, and the same amount were satisfied or somewhat satisfied.
The switch to Canvas will bring several new benefits for students, including features long desired in ReggieNet.
Mobile Apps
Chief among these features is a mobile app for students, something never available with ReggieNet. The app will allow students to view the syllabus, announcements, lessons pages, and see their latest grades. It will also allow them to type and send messages through Canvas’ internal messaging system and participate in discussion forums. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.
In fact, Canvas comes with two apps, one for students and a separate one for teachers. Graduate teaching assistants may find it handy to load both on their phones, allowing them to interact with the classes they take and the classes they lead, all on their smartphone.
Centralized Functions
Students should find the overall Canvas experience a superior one. In addition to a cleaner, more modern interface, many of the common tools in Canvas are, unlike ReggieNet, integrated and centralized. For example, all of the messages for all of a student’s classes goes through one inbox. Not only does this make it easier to keep on top of things, but it also makes it far easier for students to set up notifications through their email or the Canvas app.
Likewise, the calendar feature in Canvas is equally centralized. This means that students only need to check one place to see all of the due dates for their assignments.
A Consistent Experience
The implementation of Canvas at Illinois State will include two important elements, course templates and robust professional development for instructors.
In terms of templates, all “blank” courses created in Canvas include a layout and configuration based on evidence-driven course design and teaching practices. While some instructors will “tweak” the layout, the hope is to provide students with a highly consistent experience from course to course. Faculty members will be encouraged to only change what needs to be changed, to help foster that consistent look and feel for students.
Throughout the summer, faculty can take advantage of in-depth professional development— training in the form of live workshops, self-paced tutorials, and consultations— all designed to empower them as teachers and, ultimately, to deliver rich learning experiences to students. Support staff will also be on hand throughout the summer to help faculty transfer their content from ReggieNet into the new system.
Timeline
Instructors who teach this summer have the choice to use either ReggieNet or Canvas. Students will be able to access their courses through the My.IllinoisState portal.
After final grades are submitted for the summer, around August 18, ReggieNet will be switched to a “read only” mode. Canvas will be the single, official LMS at Illinois State when fall classes start on August 21.
Instructors will have until November 30 to backup any remaining items from ReggieNet before it is shutdown for good.
Getting Help
Faculty can get instructional support from the Center for Integrated Professional Development by emailing ProDev@ilstu.edu or calling (309) 438-2542.
Students can get technical assistance by contacting the Technology Support Center at (309) 438-HELP.
