On January 5, 2018, Iowa State University will be turning off all access to Blackboard. All Spring 2018 courses that use ISU's centrally supported LMS will be taught in Canvas.
CELT Teaching Tip • October 12, 2017
ISU is turning off access to Blackboard on January 5, 2018
On January 5, 2018, Iowa State University will be turning off all access to Blackboard. All Spring 2018 courses that use ISU's centrally supported LMS will be taught in Canvas. Below are five important steps for the move:

  1. Download all grades from Blackboard. When fall semester ends you will want to download the gradecenter, grade history, and course files from your courses before Blackboard closes. These files are considered part of university record retention according to the ISU Record Retention website. Learn more via the Overview for the Learn the Process to Download Grades and Files before Blackboard Disappears web guide.
  2. Log into Canvas! Canvas is different from Blackboard Learn. In the broadest terms, Canvas is designed to deliver a simple, transparent, and consistent online learning experience for students. Start exploring the intuitive interface design and easy navigation that Canvas offers by logging into Canvas by opening a web browser, navigate to the Iowa State University website, locate the "Sign Ons" link found on the upper right corner (above the search box), and then select “Canvas” from the menu. You may begin your tour using the My Canvas Teacher at ISU website. Invite your students to learn Canvas via the MyCanvas Students at ISU site.
  3. Review your Blackboard migrated course materials in Canvas. On June 7, 2017 course materials were exported from Blackboard and imported to Canvas. Learn how to access the materials using the Quick Start Guide: Blackboard to Canvas web guide. Since Canvas is a different learning management system, you will want to spend time learning which course materials you keep and where you put them! See point 4 for more information!
  4. Start learning Canvas. There are multiple ways and teaching approaches for you to learn Canvas, visit the Canvas Training and Resources webpage and departments may request a 15-minute or 1-hour Canvas Overview presentation using the Canvas Presentation and Training Request Form (for departments).
  5. Need help? If anything is unclear or confusing, please contact Canvas Support - Canvas offers 24/7 support options listed in the ? Help icon on the Global Navigation to the far left or call the Canvas Support Line (which includes how-to assistance) call 515-294-4000 then press 2, press 1.

Kind regards,

Sara Marcketti, Interim Director
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
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Effective and low stress ways of incorporating student writing in your classroom (Oct. 20)
Iowa State University
Sarah Huffman, Assistant Director of the Center for Communication Excellence (CCE), and CCE's Graduate writing consultants will present best practices for developing students' writing skills from lab/field journals, job materials; as well as, how-to advance student work in dissertations and research writing. Huffman will discuss CCE's ongoing research collaboration with CELT's Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program using ThinkSpace and propose possibilities for faculty to partner with CCE on future research. 

To learn how CCE and ThinkSpace can help you and your students, attend the Workshop: Enhanced Academic Communication skills among graduate students , Oct. 20 (2:00 – 3:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill Hall). Registration is not required. This event is part of CELT's ThinkSpace Learning Community series.
CELT-led Canvas Workshops (Oct. 16-27)
CELT staff will lead five 90-minute Canvas workshops multiple times this fall that highlight the pedagogy and mechanics behind Canvas functions. Read the workshop descriptions , determine which day/time you would like to attend, and register via the Learn@ISU website:
  • Course Design in Canvas, Oct. 20 and 23
  • The Pedagogy of Canvas Quizzes, Oct. 16 and 24
  • Assignments and GradeBook in Canvas, Oct. 19 and 25
  • Groups and Collaborative Work in Canvas, Oct. 18 and 26
  • Accessibility in Canvas, Oct. 17 and 27
Additional information about Canvas, including open labs and self-paced training, is online through the My Canvas Teacher at ISU website.

Accessibility in Canvas: Being Proactive vs. Reactive Workshop (Oct. 30)
Join staff Student Disability Resources, Digital Access, the Office of Equal Opportunity and CELT on Oct. 30 (2:30 – 4:00 p.m., 031 Parks Library) to learn about these topics:
  • How to use Arc, Canvas' new video captioning tool
  • The Quality Matters Framework and how it is already working for your students
  • Accommodating Students in Canvas (including options in quizzes, assignments, modules, and more)
  • Resources to help you assist your students with their accessibility needs
Register through the Learn@ISU website.

Upcoming Programs
You may register for the following CELT programs through the Learn@ISU website:


View the most up-to-date event schedule visit CELT’s Events and Registration website .