In 2021, the University of Massachusetts Amherst launched a strategic initiative to transition from a dual learning management system (LMS) environment—Moodle and Blackboard—to a unified platform: Canvas. This move was designed to streamline instructional delivery, reduce user confusion, and align with the university’s broader goal of integrating on-campus and online offerings for a seamless learning experience.
By consolidating systems, the university aimed to improve usability for students, provide faculty with a consistent and modern toolset, and reallocate resources toward more advanced instructional design initiatives.
Role and Responsibilities
As a key leader in this multi-year transition, I served as Associate Director of the Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS) team. My role required balancing high-level strategic planning with hands-on leadership of training, migration logistics, and cross-departmental coordination to oversee the physical migration of courses across platforms as well as ensure that instructional design excellency was maintained. My core responsibilities included:
- Overseeing the migration process from Moodle and Blackboard to Canvas, including implementation of concierge migration support via vendor K16 Solutions.
- Coordinating cross-functional teams across IDEAS, IT, UWW, and other university units to ensure seamless alignment.
- Developing and implementing faculty and staff training programs, including live workshops, asynchronous courses, and self-paced videos.
- Managing campus-wide communication strategies to engage stakeholders, reduce anxiety, and maintain transparency throughout the transition.
Strategic Planning and Implementation
The project followed a structured, phased approach, enabling technical readiness and user confidence to build gradually:
Assessment (Fall 2021–Spring 2022):
- Conducted a comprehensive inventory of existing LMS systems.
- Held campus-wide listening tours and faculty/staff surveys to gather feedback.
- Evaluated technical and pedagogical limitations of legacy platforms.
Planning (Spring–Summer 2022):
- Collaborated with IT and administrative leaders to define project scope, assign roles, and set a realistic timeline.
- Selected Canvas based on usability studies and integration potential.
- Partnered with K16 for scalable migration support and began defining concierge workflows.
Execution (Fall 2022–Summer 2023):
- Launched pilot phases, gradually scaling from sandbox environments to real teaching contexts.
- Oversaw K16 migration batches, ensured quality control, and implemented fallback procedures for complex courses.
- Transitioned the majority of summer and fall courses to Canvas by 2023.
Training and Support:
- Designed modular, scaffolded training: Canvas overview, home page design, modules, and navigation.
- Created asynchronous support materials and led dozens of live workshops.
- Developed “What To Do After Your Course Is Migrated” guides and video walkthroughs.
Communication and Change Management
LMS transitions are as much about people as they are about platforms. With that in mind, we implemented a comprehensive change management strategy focused on transparency, empathy, and empowerment.
- Strategic Communication: Collaborated with IT Comms to produce a series of aligned messages, FAQs, and milestone updates across web, email, and campus events.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Met regularly with department chairs, deans, and faculty leads to listen, advise, and align needs.
- Feedback Loops: After each workshop and migration phase, we collected and incorporated participant feedback to fine-tune resources and approaches.
- Internal Knowledge Sharing: Led internal IDEAS team trainings to ensure our instructional designers and support staff had the latest insights on Canvas features and known issues.
Outcomes and Impact
The transition achieved a number of measurable successes:
- 🎯 Increased instructor satisfaction with LMS tools and support, based on post-training and post-migration surveys.
- 📈 Higher Canvas adoption rates, especially among new faculty.
- ⏱️ Operational efficiency gains through system consolidation, improved support processes, and reduced need for duplicate documentation or training.
Reflections and Lessons Learned
No major system migration is without its complexities—but with clarity of purpose, open communication, and cross-functional collaboration, this project became a model for successful digital transformation.
Key takeaways:
- Alignment is everything. Technical solutions must be paired with consistent expectations and campus-wide messaging.
- Support must be human. Faculty success hinged on not just what we provided, but how accessible and encouraging we were.
- Momentum matters. Starting small with pilot groups helped us build confidence, create champions, and iron out issues before scaling.
This experience deepened my expertise in leading campus-wide innovation and reinforced the importance of inclusive, design-forward implementation strategies. It has prepared me to take on future leadership roles where thoughtful planning meets impactful execution.
