Speaker 1: The University of Alberta is embarking on a significant journey, one that promises to reshape the educational landscape for its students and faculty alike. This ambitious endeavour aims to revolutionise its digital learning environment, ensuring that it remains at the cutting edge of educational technology. This move signifies the University's unwavering commitment to providing a modern, engaging and highly interactive educational experience for everyone involved. At the heart of this transformation is the transition from its existing learning management system, eClass, to the innovative and highly acclaimed Canvas platform. This strategic decision reflects the University's dedication to staying at the forefront of educational technology, empowering its community with the best tools for success in an ever-evolving digital world. The decision to switch to Canvas is not merely a technological upgrade, it is a comprehensive overhaul of the University's approach to teaching and learning. It represents a pedagogical shift towards a more dynamic, interactive and student-centred learning environment, where students are encouraged to take an active role in their education. The University recognises the evolving needs of 21st century learners and educators, understanding that the future of education lies in adaptability and innovation. It aims to create a digital space that fosters collaboration, creativity and a deeper understanding of the subject matter, enabling students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This transition is a testament to the University of Alberta's commitment to continuous improvement and its vision for the future of education. The University embraces innovation wholeheartedly, striving to provide its community with the best possible learning and teaching experience, one that is both enriching and transformative. The adoption of Canvas marks an exciting new chapter in the University of Alberta's journey towards educational excellence, setting a new standard for what a modern university can achieve. The decision to adopt Canvas was not made in isolation. It was a carefully considered choice, reflecting the collective voice of the University of Alberta community. It was heavily influenced by feedback from the very heart of the University of Alberta community, its students, faculty and staff. This collaborative approach ensured that the needs and concerns of all stakeholders were taken into account. The University conducted extensive consultations and surveys to understand the shortcomings of the existing E-Class system and gather input on desired improvements. These consultations included town hall meetings, focus groups and online surveys, providing a comprehensive understanding of the community's needs. Students expressed a desire for a more intuitive and user-friendly platform. They wanted a system that was easy to navigate, reducing the time spent on technical issues and allowing them to focus more on their studies. They sought seamless access to course materials, improved communication tools and a more engaging online learning experience. Features like integrated video conferencing, real-time feedback and interactive content were high on their list of priorities. Faculty members echoed these sentiments. They were looking for a platform that could support innovative teaching methods and provide a more dynamic classroom experience. They highlighted the need for a platform that facilitated innovative teaching methods, streamlined grading and feedback processes and offered greater flexibility in course design. The ability to easily integrate multimedia content and interactive tools was particularly important to them. The University's IT support staff also provided valuable insights into the technical limitations of E-Class. They emphasised the importance of a system that was not only robust but also easy to maintain and update. They pointed out the challenges associated with maintaining and updating the ageing system. Frequent downtimes and the complexity of troubleshooting issues were major pain points that needed addressing. The feedback from the University of Alberta community was clear and consistent. There was a strong consensus on the need for a more modern, robust and user-friendly learning management system. There was a strong desire for a more modern, robust and user-friendly learning management system. The community wanted a platform that could keep up with the evolving demands of education and technology. Canvas, with its reputation for intuitive design, robust features and strong vendor support, emerged as the ideal solution to address these needs. Its ability to integrate with other educational tools and platforms made it a versatile choice for the University. This decision reflects the University's commitment to listening to its community and making decisions that directly benefit its students, faculty and staff. By adopting Canvas, the University of Alberta is taking a significant step towards enhancing the educational experience for everyone involved. Canvas distinguishes itself from eClass with its intuitive design and user-friendly interface. Students and faculty alike will appreciate the platform's clean layout, logical navigation and ease of use. This intuitive design minimises the learning curve, allowing users to focus on teaching and learning rather than grappling with complex technology. One of the key advantages of Canvas is its robust mobile app. This feature provides students with on-the-go access to course materials, assignments and announcements. This accessibility ensures that learning can happen anytime, anywhere, accommodating the needs of today's mobile-first students. Canvas also boasts a suite of integrated communication and collaboration tools. These tools facilitate seamless interaction between students and instructors, fostering a more engaging and interactive learning environment. The platform's flexibility allows instructors to tailor their courses to their specific teaching styles and the unique needs of their students. Canvas empowers educators to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences that go beyond the limitations of traditional learning management systems. The University of Alberta is committed to ensuring a smooth and successful transition to Canvas, the new learning management system that will enhance the educational experience for both students and faculty. To achieve this, the university has adopted a phased implementation plan, which has been meticulously designed to address the needs and concerns of all stakeholders involved. This approach allows for a gradual roll-out of the new system, ensuring that all users have ample time to adapt to the change. By taking it step-by-step, the university aims to minimise disruptions and provide continuous support throughout the transition period. The first phase of the implementation will focus on providing comprehensive training and support to faculty and staff. This includes hands-on workshops, online tutorials and one-on-one coaching sessions to ensure everyone is comfortable with the new platform. The university is committed to equipping educators with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively utilise Canvas in their teaching. This will not only enhance their instructional methods, but also improve student engagement and learning outcomes. The initial roll-out of Canvas will target a select group of courses and faculties. This pilot phase is crucial as it allows the university to identify any potential issues and address them promptly. This pilot phase will allow the university to gather feedback from early adopters and fine-tune the implementation process before the full-scale roll-out. Feedback will be collected through surveys, focus groups and direct communication with users. The university has set a target date of Insert Date for the complete transition to Canvas. This timeline provides a clear roadmap for the transition, ensuring that all necessary steps are taken in a timely manner. This phased approach reflects the university's understanding that a successful technology implementation requires more than just adopting new software. It involves a cultural shift, where everyone is on board and working towards a common goal. It necessitates careful planning, collaboration and ongoing support to ensure a seamless transition for the entire university community. The University of Alberta is dedicated to making this transition as smooth as possible, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the educational experience of students.