Canvas is the University of Newcastle's Learning Management System (LMS). Canvas provides a consistent learning environment, supporting a clear learning experience as students access content and engage in learning across their course enrolments. The intuitive interface make time for instructors to increase focus on the priorities of the teaching and learning experience.
Once your course offering has been finalised in NUSTAR, LDTI will be able to commence the course creation process for the creation of your Canvas course and will reach out to the Course Coordinator. Once you have access to your course in Canvas you can review the content, make changes and get in touch with the Learning Technology Support team for assistance.
Features of Canvas
- Modern and intuitive interface (see Navigating Canvas)
- Consistent grading tools (see Canvas Speedgrader)
- Streamlined Turnitin Assignment creation (see Turnitin resources)
- Active community of users (see Canvas Community)
- Calendaring and appointment booking system (see How do I use the Calendar as an Instructor?)
- New Analytics to track student engagement
- Integrated course readings to align course readings in context in Canvas
Integrations in Canvas
While Canvas is the LMS platform of the University which displays course content to students and maintains student assessments, there are a range of tools that make up the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and many of these are integrated into Canvas to support the student learning experience. To find out more about the technologies integrated with Canvas we have the Additional Learning Technologies information available.
Need help in Canvas?
The Learning Technology Support team are available to assist you in using Canvas. You can book in with one of the team to have your questions answered, send an email to uonline@newcastle.edu.au or call 40558999. You are added to a Growing with Canvas course site to introduce you to Canvas and you will find this on your dashboard when you log into Canvas. We also have a range of guides and helpful information on our resources page. If you would like to 'play' in a Canvas course to test out Canvas functionality, you can request a Canvas Sandbox.
When did we start using Canvas?
In 2022 the transition to Canvas from Blackboard (the previous LMS) was completed. Two years of previous Blackboard teaching course content was migrated to Canvas, and students working on the project transitioned courses for 2022 using a consistent design approach. Two years of student submissions were archived. After the implementation of Canvas as the new LMS we promoted a survey for students to complete evaluating their Canvas learning experience. The survey received 564 responses with a majority of students funding courses easy to navigate and consistent. To see more survey detail we have included the Canvas Student Survey results.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.