Announcing Canvas: A new platform for NJIT digital learning!

This past year, NJIT has evaluated Canvas, an alternative to our current Learning Management System (LMS), Moodle. Canvas has become a market leader by offering an intuitive and responsive LMS. It is critical to ensure that our main digital learning platform is still relevant in today’s market. A pilot was conducted to solicit feedback from faculty and students. In the Fall 2018 semester, 15 courses with a total of 400 users ran in Canvas. Because of the evaluation of the pilot and with endorsement from the Teaching, Learning, and Technology committee and Faculty Senate, NJIT will be migrating from Moodle to Canvas beginning in the Fall 2019 semester. We believe that Canvas is the right choice, reflecting NJIT’s status as a R1 institution.

Why Canvas?

  • Out of 130 R1 institutions, 56% use Canvas (4% use Moodle).
  • 80% of NJIT pilot instructors had a positive experience with Canvas.
  • 71% of NJIT pilot students would recommend Canvas as an LMS.

This transition will begin in the Fall 2019 semester. While Canvas will be the new platform, instructors who are interested in using Moodle may continue to do so for the next academic year. The timeline for the transition is the following:

Canvas Timeline

Summer 2019: Moodle remains the primary system and select instructors use Canvas.

Fall 2019: Canvas becomes the primary LMS. All courses will be created and listed in Canvas. Instructors who wish to use Moodle will be able to do so upon request.

Spring 2020: Canvas is the primary LMS. Instructors can use Moodle upon request.

Summer 2020: Canvas is the primary LMS. Instructors can use Moodle upon request.

Fall 2020: NJIT retires Moodle and Canvas is used for all courses. Moodle course content is archived and available upon request.

You are welcome to stop by the Office of Digital Learning, located in Central King Building room G15. Digital Learning will work with instructors to migrate content, provide training, and help instructors with their courses. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one training and get you started with Canvas early if you are interested.

If you have further questions we recommend the transition FAQ page or contacting the IST Service Desk.