Feature
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In Blackboard
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In Canvas
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How Canvas is Different
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Global functionality
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Notifications
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Notifications
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Notifications
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Canvas can send notifications via text and mobile app push (in addition to Emory email) with varied frequencies. Canvas does not yet allow notification frequency to vary by course.
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Messages
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Send Email
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Inbox (Conversations)
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All messages in Canvas are centralized and stored in the conversations inbox and sent via notifications. Canvas users can reply directly to notification emails.
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Course Messages
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Calendar
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Calendar
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Calendar
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Drag and drop functionality makes it easy to add or change due dates and event times. Assignment shells can be created from the calendar.
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Appointments
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N/A
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Scheduler
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Instructors can provision appointment blocks for individuals and groups directly through the calendar.
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Media Recording
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N/A
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Record Media
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Canvas allows users to record audio and video to embed in pages, posts, messages, and even grade feedback.
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Live Support
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N/A
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Help
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Instructure provides round-the-clock help to users via phone, email, and chat.
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Course functionality
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Release Course
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Make Available
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Publish Course
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The option to publish a course in Canvas is on its home page (not deep in customization settings).
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Navigation Menu
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Course Menu
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Course Navigation
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Canvas course navigation links have the same name in every course. Instructors may hide links.
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Course Chronology
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N/A
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Syllabus
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Syllabus automatically displays all course events and graded assignments in a chronological list view. It makes a great home page.
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Content Organization
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Content Areas
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Modules
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Instructors lay out all course content in one place grouped by units or weeks with optional scheduled release or prerequisites to view later materials.
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Rich Content
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Content Item
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Pages
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Pages are always versioned in Canvas and may be used as the course home page. Attachments are easily linked inline using Content Selector.
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Blank Page
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Document Preview
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N/A
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Document Preview
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Canvas allows in-browser viewing of document types browsers typically do not display. Instructors can set previews to open automatically.
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File Storage
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Store & Share
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Files
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Files uploaded in a course are open to students by default. Instructors may restrict access to some or all files.
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Enrollments
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Users
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People
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Instructors can views student activity reports, total time in course.
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Groups
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Groups
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Groups
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Groups can be accessed from the universal navigation menu.
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Communication Tools
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Announcements
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Announcements
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Announcements
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Canvas models announcements on discussions, allowing students to reply.
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Discussions
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Discussion Board
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Discussions
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Instructors can grade, pin, and close threads. Canvas posts replies to notification emails back to subscribed threads.
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Chat Room
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Chat
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Chat
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Each course has a text-only chat room that keeps a history and does not require a Java plug-in.
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Lecture & Screen Share
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Virtual Classroom
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Conferences
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Instructors can share audio, webcam video, live-annotated documents, and their computer screens. Only screen share requires Java.
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Assignments and Grading
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Assignments
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Assignments
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Assignments
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Assignment shells are easily created from modules, calendar, or the assignment tool. The assignments tool shows graded discussions and quizzes, as well.
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Peer Assessment
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Self and Peer Assessments
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Canvas assignments allow Peer Review of submissions, including anonymous, automatic-matching, and manual-matching options.
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Weighted Categories
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Grade Center
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Instructors can make assignment groups used to weight the final grade through the Assignments tool.
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Score Offline Work
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Instructors make assignments in Canvas for work submitted on paper, then enter scores and comments in Grades.
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Score Online Work
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Grade Assignment
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SpeedGrader
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Instructors easily review and annotate submissions from the assignment or grades tools.
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Student Grade Book
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My Grades
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Grades
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Students can see how future assignments would affect their final grade with What-If grades.
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Plagiarism Check
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SafeAssign
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N/A
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Canvas does not have built-in plagiarism checking.
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Scoring rubric
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Rubrics
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Rubrics
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Canvas allows criteria ratings scales to vary in number of increments.
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Objective Assessments
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Tests
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Quizzes
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Moderating quizzes is easy and works even for ongoing attempts.
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Surveys
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Surveys
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Anonymous surveys deployed quickly, graded or ungraded.
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Collaboration Tools
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Blogging
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Blogs
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N/A
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Canvas does not have built-in blogging. Assignments are a great way to collect student journal entries. Emory’s ScholarBlogs is a great platform for course blogs.
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Journals
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Collaborative Editing
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Wikis
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Pages
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Pages become wikis when editing is allowed for teachers and students.
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Collaborations
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Collaborations creates a Google Doc for selected students to edit.
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