July 12, 2022

This message is distributed to Senate-Faculty and Non-Senate-Faculty. (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)

The following is being sent on behalf of The LSIT/ID/CITRAL Instructional Support Team
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Dear Colleagues,

We’re writing with several updates on the conversion from Moodle (aka GauchoSpace) to UCSB Canvas. The project is proceeding well with a number of pieces falling into place.

The Canvas contract has now been finalized. Letters and Science Information Technology (LSIT) is excited to begin work with Instructure, Canvas’s parent company.

13 courses will run through Canvas in Summer A and B. Letters and Science Information Technology is surveying both students and faculty about their experience using Canvas; feedback is being used to inform the transition. The majority of students in the pilot courses have reported that it is easier to find and complete assignments and coursework in Canvas and that the “navigation is so much easier than GauchoSpace.” 

In Fall quarter, even more faculty will pilot Canvas. Thus far, 70 courses have indicated that they will use Canvas in Fall. This number includes large, mid-sized, and small courses in all divisions in the College of Letters and Science, courses in the College of Engineering, and courses in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. This range of courses will give LSIT a great sense of faculty and student experience. There’s still time to join the Fall pilot; if you’d like to do so, complete this form.

Recent Canvas Conversion Questions
When should I switch to Canvas?
Instructors teaching a new course or if you know Canvas or who have used it before should consider using Canvas beginning in Fall 2022.
Prior to Winter Quarter 2023, courses from the 2021-2022 academic year will be copied from GauchoSpace into Canvas. This will allow instructors to import courses they have previously taught easily from within Canvas. Instructors may find it easier to begin using Canvas in Winter 2023 when these migrated courses are available.

How will students access their courses if some are in GauchoSpace and some are in Canvas?
Students can log in to GauchoSpace as usual. If the course is in Canvas, there will be a button that says: “Log in to Canvas to access this course.” Students can click the button and it will take them directly to Canvas. LSIT is also developing a block in GauchoSpace showing students their Canvas courses.

Are the same external tools available in Canvas as in GauchoSpace?
GauchoCast (Panopto), iClickerCloud, Nectir, Gradescope, Google Assignment, Google Apps, Zoom and Eli Review are all available in Canvas.

When will GauchoSpace not be available for instruction?
The use of Canvas is not required until August 2023. GauchoSpace will be available for instruction through Spring 2023.

Submit questions via this form. 

Upcoming Canvas Basics workshops:

Wednesday, Aug 10, 2022 11:00 AM - Register here.
Tuesday, Aug 16, 2022 02:00 PM - Register here.
Friday, Aug 19, 2022 11:00 AM - Register here.
Wednesday, Aug 24, 2022 11:00 AM - Register here.
Thursday, Sep 1, 2022 12:00 PM - Register here.

Coming soon!
‘Sandbox’ sites in Canvas will be available for all instructors in August to begin testing new features or for developing course materials in Canvas. If an instructor would like a sandbox site prior to that date, or an additional site, please send an email to: help@collaborate.ucsb.edu 

In the coming weeks the Canvas transition team will be working on course templates from which instructors can choose. We’ll share those when they are available for your feedback. In the meantime, keep sending your questions and we’ll be back in touch soon.

Sincerely,
Pierre Wiltzius, Executive Dean, College of Letters and Science
Linda Adler-Kassner, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning
The LSIT/ID/CITRAL Instructional Support Team