An Instructional Designer Explains the LMS Migration Process for Faculty
This is an editorial based on a survey filled out by a LTS instructional designer
quote
Canvas’s slick design and “one-stop shop” design philosophy ensures that students can find what they need exactly where it should be and reduces the amount of ‘clicks’ necessary to interact with the course or complete tasks.
The interview
Introduction
This fall, a newly hired Learning Technology Solutions team of 7 instructional designers and their TAs are working in collaboration with faculty to get migrate, organize, and remediate in the following schools:
- Jane Addams College of Social Work
- College of Nursing (continuing throughout Spring 2026)
- College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
- School of Literatures, Cultural Studies, and Linguistics
- Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice
- Department of Latin American and Latino Studies
- Honors College
- Graduate College
Q & A with Instructional Designer Derrick Stevens
We caught up with one of the instructional designers on the project, Derrick Stevens, to get an idea of how it is going.
Q: What school and approximate number of faculty are you working with?
A: I am currently working with 20+ faculty in the Criminology, Law, and Justice (CLJ) Department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, migrating, organizing, and remediating their courses.
Q: On average, how have faculty responded to the migration so far?
A: Faculty have been nervous about switching systems and what it means for their courses. However, after meeting with them and explaining both how Canvas works and our process for migrating courses, I have been told a number of times that it was not as scary as they thought it would be.
Q: How does Canvas improve the student learning experience compared to Blackboard?
A: One major benefit of Canvas is that the navigation remains similar from course to course. This means that when students go to find modules in one course, they will know that this is the same place they will find their modules in their other courses. This helps prevent confusion about locating materials and helps create a common language that all users of Canvas at UIC will begin to use.
Q: Are there particular Canvas features that directly enhance accessibility or inclusivity for students?
A: Canvas’s slick design and “one-stop shop” design philosophy ensures that students can find what they need exactly where it should be and reduces the amount of ‘clicks’ necessary to interact with the course or complete tasks.
Q: What kinds of training or resources proved most effective for faculty during the migration?
A: So far during the migration, I have met with faculty in one-on-ones ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour, and during this time, I not only explain our migration process, but I take the time to walk through major Canvas functions for the faculty. This has resulted in a better understanding of the system and provides them with a foundation to better utilize resources like the workshops offered by Instructure and LTS. These workshops have been essential for the faculty I have worked with to get hands-on experience learning Canvas.
Q: What strategies did you use to guide faculty through the migration process?
A: I believe communication is our best tool to navigate this process. I reach out to faculty via email, provide them with resources in advance, and explain what the migration process looks like. Then I meet with them for a duration that works for them, and we discuss the particularities of their courses and their teaching situations. During this meeting I provide them with links to the LMS Transition site and highlight the resources there that will be of most help to them, based on what they tell me are their needs. Then, we schedule a follow-up meeting, so that they know they will have another touch point with me, in case they have any lingering questions while they learn Canvas in the meantime.
Next to Come
Once the Fall cohort of colleges and departments is completed, we will move on to the next scheduled group:
- College of Engineering
- College of Applied Health Sciences
- College of Architecture, Design and the Arts
- College of Education
- Office of Global Engagement
- Additional units in Liberal Arts and Sciences
If you are engaging in the LMS Migration process, visit the UIC LMS Transition page for additional resources including upcoming workshops, recorded webinars, and more.