Learning Systems Announcements

Canvas Organization Rebranding

We are currently finalizing the process of transitioning “organizations” in Canvas to “training courses”. The term “organizations” is a holdover term from Blackboard which does not have a direct equivalence in Canvas. Canvas training courses are empty course shells, which differ from “traditional” Canvas courses only in their availability dates and in the way that individuals are added to Canvas courses. Please see additional information below about the functionality available to you in Canvas training courses. 

The storage limit for Canvas training courses will be reduced from 2000 megabytes (2 GB) to 250 megabytes to reflect their intended use. The best use case for these courses are for training purposes. Existing organizations in Canvas that are using more than 250MB will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Learning Systems team. Data will not be removed from any organizations that are currently in excess of 250MB.

There are a number of centrally-supported options available at VCU to support group collaboration. Prior to submitting a request for a Canvas training course, please review the following options and consider if they would better meet your goals. If you have any questions, please contact LSrequest@vcu.edu.

• Canvas “Organizations” > “Training Courses”
  • Supported by Learning Systems
  • Functionality enabled by Canvas training courses:
    1. All Canvas course functionality (please see “Basic Canvas Features”)
    2. User management using Canvas roles (please see “Course Level Roles”)
    3. Recommended use: Training, whether informal or formal
       1. Creation of asynchronous training courses
       2. Data related to assignment and course completion
  • Limitations of Canvas training courses:
    1. Enrollment management in a Canvas training course is manual and is the responsibility of the requester.
    2. File storage in a Canvas training course is limited to 250MB. It is not recommended that training courses are created for the purpose of file storage.
    3. External users (those without an eID) are unable to utilize Canvas.
  • To request a Canvas training course: https://ts.vcu.edu/askit/teaching-and-learning/canvas/faculty/organizations-create-an-organization-faculty/

• Google Drive: Shared Drives
  • Supported by Collaboration Services
  • Functionality enabled by Shared Drives:
    1. File storage and sharing as related to: projects, committees, departments and team-related purposes
    2. Managing file ownership more efficiently
    3. Sharing with users on a file or folder level
    4. Sharing with users external to VCU
  • Additional considerations: https://blogs.vcu.edu/drgee/2021/06/16/what-is-a-shared-drive-and-do-i-need-one/
  • To request a shared drive: https://collaborate.vcu.edu/apps/shared-drive/

• Google Groups
  • Supported by Collaboration Services
  • Functionality enabled by Google Groups: 
    1. Mailing or distribution list
    2. Open forum
    3. Drive access permission list
  • To request a Google Group: https://collaborate.vcu.edu/apps/groups/

• Google Spaces
  • Supported by Collaboration Services
  • Available in Google Workspace, Spaces are unique in that they are tightly integrated with Google Workspace tools like Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Tasks, providing a better way for people to engage in topic-based discussions, share knowledge and ideas, move projects forward and build communities and team culture.

• Wikis
  • Supported by Web Services
  • Functionality enabled by wikis:
    1. Information-sharing and documentation
    2. Create a publicly available resource
  • Examples of existing wikis at VCU:
    1. School of Medicine (SOMTech): https://wiki.vcu.edu/display/SOM/SOM+Wiki
    2. Engineering: https://wiki.vcu.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=97423717
    3. VCU IT Career Community: https://wiki.vcu.edu/display/CCIT/VCU+ITCC
    4. To create a wiki: https://ts.vcu.edu/askit/teaching-and-learning/wiki/

Visit the Create a Canvas Training Course page for more information.

Categories Canvas, Faculty, Staff, Students