Technology Learning Services Newsletter Archives (2023)

Our team prepares a weekly newsletter that is emailed to faculty and staff every Wednesday night. This page contains links to the Sways of all previously distributed newsletters for 2023. Please use the hyperlinks below to open any of these archives. The previous years' newsletter archives are available on the blog posts, IDT Newsletter Archives (2020), IDT Newsletter Archives (2021), and IDT Newsletter Archives 2022. To subscribe to our weekly newsletter, please email your request to IDT@uhcl.edu.

• Volume 4, Issue 1 - Week of January 11, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 2 - Week of January 25, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 3 - Week of February 1, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 4 - Week of February 8, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 5 - Week of February 15, 2023 - 1st issue presented with Articulate Rise
• Volume 4, Issue 6 - Week of February 22, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 7 - Week of March 1, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 8 - Week of March 8, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 9 - Week of March 15, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 10 - Week of March 22, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 11 - Week of March 29, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 12 - Week of April 5, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 13 - Week of April 12, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 14 - Week of April 19, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 15 - Week of April 26, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 16 - Week of May 3, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 17 - Week of May 10, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 18 - Week of May 17, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 19 - Week of May 24, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 20 - Week of May 31, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 21 - Week of June 7, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 22 - Week of June 14, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 23 - Week of June 21, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 24 - Week of June 28, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 25 - Week of July 12, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 26 - Week of July 19, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 27 - Week of August 2, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 28 - Week of August 9, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 29 - Week of August 16, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 30 - Week of August 23, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 31 - Week of August 30, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 32 - Week of September 6, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 33 - Week of September 13, 2023
• Volume 4, Issue 34 - Week of September 20, 2023

Canvas Post-Announcement News (Part 2)

NOTE: The following information is also available in the IDT team's full Canvas Post-Announcement Newsletter in Sway.

Our Transition Plan

UHCL is in the very early stages of transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas. University Technology Advisory Committee (UTAC) reviewed a tentative plan in October 2022. Below is the high-level visual timeline for the UHCL transition plan. We expect to complete our transition by the end of Spring 2024.

The following additional resources outline UHCL’s tentative transition timeline and plan:

• [Document] Blackboard to Canvas: Transition Plan (October 2022) NOTE: This document is subject to change, especially in the period until the Provost makes his presentation at the November 2022 Faculty Senate meeting.
• [Video] Canvas Preliminary Transition Plan [11:48]
• [Webpage] IDT Canvas Faculty Support Page

When Can I Start Using Canvas?

Instructors cannot yet teach their UHCL classes in Canvas. However, there are several opportunities for faculty to get practice in using Canvas:

• Volunteer to be an "early adopter" or "Canvas champion." Complete and submit the online Canvas Pilot Program form for more information or to volunteer.
• Review the IDT team's document for Canvas "early birds" to complete the following:
• Sign up for a free Canvas account and begin learning Canvas and preparing your Blackboard courses for migration in Instructure's "public" Canvas system. NOTE: Instructors must not teach their UHCL classes from this public system. Think of it as a "sandbox" space to familiarize yourself with the new LMS, import into and edit your existing Blackboard course content in Canvas, or practice building a new course "from scratch" in the new environment.
• Complete the Introducing Canvas course available on UHCL's LinkedIn Learning system. NOTE: We recommend that you obtain a free Canvas account and create a blank shell on their public system in which you can practice as you advance through the two-hour training.
• Make plans to participate in the Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) team's upcoming informational and initial Canvas familiarization sessions beginning in November 2022.

“Early Adopters” and Canvas “Champions”

We recognize that UHCL faculty and staff may already have experience with, expertise in, or are simply eager to learn the Canvas LMS. Faculty have the option of volunteering to be a Canvas "early adopter," Canvas "champion," or both via our team's Canvas Pilot Program online request form.

• "Early Adopter:" faculty member who would like to prepare their course(s) and deliver them in Canvas before the SP24 full deployment semester. Early adopters may opt to first teach in Canvas in either the SU23 or FA23 semesters.
• Canvas "Champion:" faculty member with previous Canvas experience willing to support other instructors throughout the Canvas transition, provide regular feedback via the UTAC, and participate in Canvas informational and professional development sessions.

OIT's Instructional Design and Technology team looks forward to collaborating with all early adopters and Canvas champions throughout this exciting transition!

What Options Exist for Training/Support?

OIT's Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) team is planning a robust schedule of informational and training opportunities that will begin in late October or early November 2022. Visit the IDT team's new Canvas Faculty Support webpage for the latest resources.

This "special edition" of the IDT weekly newsletter is the first of many electronic communications to the campus to keep everyone informed over the next 18 months. Our weekly newsletter will be the primary means of electronic communication. To continue receiving those newsletters, please email IDT@uhcl.edu to opt into the newsletter mailing list. Less frequent electronic communication may originate as emails from either IDT@uhcl.edu or SupportCenter@uhcl.edu, so please keep an eye out for emails from those addresses, especially if they reference Canvas in the subject.

We invite faculty to use our "early bird" instructions document to familiarize themselves with Canvas while we finalize training and professional development opportunities. The document includes instructions for creating a free Canvas account and information about a LinkedIn Learning course that can get you acclimated to the new system.

What’s Next?

OIT is working with the University of Houston System (UHS) to secure a contract for a UHCL-specific Canvas environment. The IDT staff is continuing our documentation efforts and setting a schedule for professional development and informational sessions beginning in November 2022.

Faculty with questions currently are welcome to contact their college's University Technology Advisory Committee (UTAC) representative or contact the Support Center to request a consultation with a member of the IDT team.

Canvas Post-Announcement News (Part 1)

NOTE: The following information is also available in the IDT team's full Canvas Post-Announcement Newsletter in Sway.

Provost’s Message from the Academic Affairs Update 10-24 Email - Learning Management System (LMS) Update

The University Technology Advisory Committee (UTAC) has explored options for transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas. The process included a survey among faculty to determine the needs of the LMS as well as familiarity with Canvas. UTAC has unanimously approved a recommendation to transition to Canvas. The Provost has accepted their recommendation and will present a transition plan at the next Faculty Senate Meeting. Dr. Jana Willis, the chair of UTAC, will be one of the presenters at Faculty Assembly, and faculty are invited to ask questions about UTAC’s recommendation during the Assembly. There is much work to be done, but please join us in thanking UTAC for their hard work that led to this recommendation, as well as their work to assist in the planning of a smooth transition.

What is Canvas?

Canvas by Instructure (Canvas) is a learning management system (LMS) used to deliver 100% online courses and to support teaching and learning in face-to-face, web-support, hybrid/blended, and HyFlex courses. On Instructure's Community page, What is Canvas? they describe their product as follows:
Canvas is a web-based learning management system or LMS. It is used by learning institutions, educators, and students to access and manage online course learning materials and communicate about skill development and learning achievement.

Major Improvements Over Blackboard

Blackboard and Canvas share many similarities. Both are categorized as learning management systems and are suitable for use by medium and large entities, including colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and businesses. They share a number of tools and features, although how each LMS refers to those tools and how they function differently from one another. The University of Houston’s Instruction@UH office webpage, Blackboard-to-Canvas Tool Comparison, provides a nice overview of both platforms’ major features, a brief description of differences, and links to Canvas resources about their version of each feature.

Those who have never seen a Canvas course are invited to view the IDT team’s “crash course” video, Canvas "First Look" [6:07], in which we provide a brief visual comparison of the same course in both Blackboard Learn and Instructure Canvas.

Link to Canvas Post-Announcement News (Part 2)

Technology Learning Services Newsletter Archives (2022)

Our team prepares a weekly newsletter that is emailed to faculty and staff every Monday night. This page contains links to the Sways of all previously distributed newsletters for 20212. Please use the hyperlinks below to open any of these archives. The previous years' newsletter archives are available on the blog posts, IDT Newsletter Archives (2020) and IDT Newsletter Archives (2021).

• Volume 3, Issue 1 - Week of January 10, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 2 - Week of January 18, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 3 - Week of January 24, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 4 - Week of January 31, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 5 - Week of February 7, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 6 - Week of February 14, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 7 - Week of February 21, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 8 - Week of February 28, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 9 - Week of March 7, 2022
  
• Volume 3, Issue 10 - Week of March 14, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 11 - Week of March 21, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 12 - Week of March 28, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 13 - Week of April 4, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 14 - Week of April 11, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 15 - Week of April 18, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 16 - Week of April 25, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 17 - Week of May 9, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 18 - Week of May 16, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 19 - Week of August 3, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 20 - Week of August 10, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 21 - Week of August 17, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 22 - Week of August 31, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 23 - Week of September 7, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 24 - Week of September 14, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 25 - Week of September 21, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 26 - Week of September 28, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 27 - Week of October 5, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 28 - Week of October 12, 2022
• Special Edition - Canvas LMS Transition - October 24, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 29 - Week of November 2, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 30 - Week of November 16, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 31 - Week of November 23, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 32 - Week of November 30, 2022
• Volume 3, Issue 33 - Week of December 7, 2023

IDT Newsletter Archives (2021)

Our team prepares a weekly newsletter that is emailed to faculty and staff every Monday night. This page contains PDF versions of all previously distributed newsletters for 2021. Please use the hyperlinks below to open any of these PDF archives. The previous year's newsletter archives are available on the blog post, IDT Newsletter Archives (2020).

• Volume 2, Issue 1 - Week of January 4, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 2 - Week of January 11, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 3 - Week of January 18, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 4 - Week of January 25, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 4 - Week of February 1, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 5 - Week of February 8, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 6 - Week of February 22, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 7 - Week of March 1, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 8 - Week of March 8, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 9 - Week of March 15, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 10 - Week of March 22, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 11 - Week of March 29, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 12 - Week of April 5, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 13 - Week of April 12, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 14 - Week of April 19, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 15 - Week of April 26, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 16 - Week of May 3, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 17 - Week of May 10, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 18 - Week of May 17, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 19 - Week of May 24, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 20 - Week of June 7, 2021 
• Volume 2, Issue 21 - Week of June 14, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 22 - Week of June 21, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 23 - Week of  July 12, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 24 - Week of July 19, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 25 - Week of July 26, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 26 - Week of August 2, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 27 - Week of August 9, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 28 - Week of August 23, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 29 - Week of August 30, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 30 - Week of September 6, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 31 - Week of September 13, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 32 - Week of September 20, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 33 - Week of September 27, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 34 - Week of October 4, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 35 - Week of October 11, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 36 - Week of October 18, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 37 - Week of October 25, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 38 - Week of November 1, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 39 - Week of November 8, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 40 - Week of November 15, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 41 - Week of November 22, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 42 - Week of November 29, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 43 - Week of December 6, 2021
• Volume 2, Issue 44 - Week of December 13, 2021

IDT Newsletter Archives (2020)

Beginning June 22, 2020, our team prepares a weekly newsletter that is emailed to faculty and staff every Monday night. This page contains PDF versions of all previously distributed newsletters. Please use the hyperlinks below to open any of these PDF archives. The next year's newsletter archives are available on the blog post, IDT Newsletter Archives (2021).

• Issue 1 - Week of June 22, 2020
• Issue 2 - Week of June 29, 2020
• Issue 3 - Week of July 6, 2020
• Issue 4 - Week of July 13, 2020
• Issue 5 - Week of July 20, 2020
• Issue 6 - Week of July 27, 2020
• Issue 7 - Week of August 3, 2020
• Issue 8 - Week of August 10, 2020
• Issue 9 - Week of August 17, 2020
• Issue 10 - Week of August 24, 2020
• Issue 11 - Week of August 31, 2020
• Issue 12 - Week of September 14, 2020
• Issue 13 - Week of September 21, 2020
• Issue 14 - Week of September 28, 2020
• Issue 15 - Week of October 5, 2020
• Issue 16 - Week of October 12, 2020
• Issue 17 - Week of October 19, 2020
• Issue 18 - Week of October 26, 2020
• Issue 19 - Week of November 2, 2020
• Issue 20 - Week of November 9, 2020
• Issue 21 - Week of November 16, 2020 (incorrect date of November 9, 2020 in document)
• Issue 22 - Week of November 23, 2020
• Issue 23 - Week of November 30, 2020
• Issue 24 - Week of December 7, 2020