Learning Management System (LMS)

 

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Texas Tech University will transition to a new learning management system (LMS) in phases, starting with the work to integrate our registration systems and other critical technology and then shifting to governance and content. Efforts are underway to address training, course migration, a course archive plan, and the overall LMS strategy going forward.

This is where regular status updates and instructions for those impacted at the various stages of this effort will be continuously provided.

Three-Phases of Migration

• Integration: Initial efforts will focus on integrating Canvas with our registration systems and other critical technologies.
• Governance and Content Migration: We will then shift our focus to governance structures, content migration, and ensuring alignment with our academic policies.
• Training and Support: We are also working on developing a robust training program for faculty, staff, and students, alongside a comprehensive course archive plan and a forward-looking LMS strategy.

Timeline

• Student Information System/Banner Integration: July – September 2024
• Early Adoption Cohort (EAC) for Spring 2025: October – December 2024. (The EAC will assist with subsequent training across the university.)
• Canvas University-Wide Adoption for Summer 2025: Spring 2025
• Blackboard Access Discontinued / Courses Only Available in Canvas: Fall 2025. All courses will only be available in Canvas.

Questions

Please submit questions here.

Background

In Fall 2023, anticipating the conclusion of the contract for the existing learning management system (LMS), Blackboard (Anthology), a team of Texas Tech faculty, staff, and students began the required Request For Proposals process to select a new LMS. The finalists included proposals from Blackboard Ultra (Anthology), Brightspace (D2L), and Canvas (Instructure). Feedback was gathered from faculty and staff regarding the LMS search, along with a pilot program that involved undergraduate classes in English and Applied Personal Finance which utilized all three LMS platforms.

Ultimately, the committee recommended the selection of Canvas as the next LMS, and since that time a contract has been finalized. A migration plan for the campus will be implemented over the next 13 months, aligning with Anthology’s contract ending in September 2025. This change brings the opportunity to reset our pedagogy, design, and delivery for online courses and enhance face-to-face and hybrid courses.