NET+ Canvas Newsletter

July 2023

In this version of the NET+ Canvas Newsletter, learn about the latest updates from Instructure about Canvas, comments and feedback from the Canvas Advisory Board, as well as best practices in Canvas use around the Internet2 Community.

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Table of Contents


Instructure Updates

The latest from Instructure regarding Canvas product offerings. 

Accessibility in Higher Education: Building a Better Student Experience

Influencing a student's access to and experience with education is an effort that needs support and commitment from all levels of an institution, from the policies that drive decisions to the faculty that engage with students each day. To meet students of all kinds where they are, educational delivery has to include the necessary accommodations for students with diverse needs. Learn how institutions can prioritize accessibility within academic programming and in edtech to meet student needs now and into the future. Read more here.

Florida Gulf Coast University: Implementing a University-wide Digital Badging Initiative

Florida Gulf Coast University developed a university-wide digital badging initiative to increase the career readiness of its students and the Southwest Florida workforce. The initiative brings employers/industry partners together with FGCU faculty and staff to create innovative credentials designed to prepare students, alumni, employees, and community members for the future of work. Learn more here 

Integrating Microsoft Teams with Canvas LMS

It’s no secret that educators have more tasks than time when it comes to the world of teaching. Curriculum today must reach learners at any and every stage, from K-20 to professionals to life-long learners – and in multiple modalities. That’s why tools like Microsoft Teams that promise educators a way to do more with less are among hundreds of edtech tools that integrate seamlessly with Canvas LMS. Read on to see why educators don't have to choose between the two but can experience the best of both worlds. Read more here

Hyflex Teaching: Using Tech to Enhance Learning Opportunities

Higher education institutions continue to transition to a consumer-based approach, putting learners’ needs at the forefront of instructional strategy. Students procure autonomy and choice regarding their learning, taking ownership of their academic success. Providing options empowers learners as they set goals, build skills, and attain notable achievements in their academic journeys. Adding flexibility to the learning environment benefits and encourages learners from all different backgrounds. As technology enhances all forms of instruction, students can choose the learning modality that best fits them. Read more here.

Click here for all things Higher Education by Instructure.



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Canvas Advisory Board Updates

Upcoming Meeting: August 9th, 2023


The next Canvas Advisory Board meeting will be on August 9th, 2023. Agenda items will be finalized and posted during the 2 weeks leading up to the meeting.

A complete listing of all Canvas Advisory Board meeting agendas can be found here.


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Meeting Recap


The agendas for our upcoming 2023 meetings have been published for your viewing. Please note, these are working documents and subject to change so please check back for any updates on a regular basis.

Thank you to all who participated in this month’s meeting for your insightful feedback, ideas, and discussion! Should you have any questions or want further information around the work being done by the NET+ Canvas Service Advisory Board or a copy of the Partner Program Report, please don’t hesitate to visit us at https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/7BOJCQ or contact us at netplus@internet2.edu and we will be happy to respond.

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NET+ Canvas Program Update



Service Advisory Board Goals for 2023


Goal #1

Continue to have timely discussions about Customer Experience as it relates to Instructure products and services, the NET+ Canvas program, our community, as well as future Instructure M&A conversations.

Deliverable: Continue to update/refine Canvas Institutional Profiles for effective collaboration within the program.

Deliverable: Bring to light community needs that are not being addressed otherwise in these areas.

Goal #2

Instructure to conduct semi-annual product roadmap discussion and a review of the R1 Peers/I2 product feature request list. 

Deliverable: Continue to develop and refine, with Shaun Moon and Kevin Turco, a strategy and process for I2 and R1 Peer universities to provide Instructure with actionable information on pain points and unmet needs.  The strategy and process should be synced with Instructure's product development cycle and allow Instructure to clearly communicate status and progress back to the universities.

Goal #3

Initiate advisory board input on Instructure’s platform strategy as it relates to third party vendors and data integration/mash-ups.

Deliverable: Focused discussion with Kevin Turco and Karl Lloyd.

Deliverable: Focused discussion on what universities are doing with Canvas data and live events.  What action do the data feed? 

Deliverable: Implement this goal's outcomes effectively within the Canvas Institutional Profiles for further collaboration.

Goal #4

Continue Instructure product strategy discussions with Jared Stein.











Around the Community

Commentary from I2 Canvas users: advice, best practices, feedback.

R1 Peers


The Canvas Peers Research Universities Group (or R1 Peers Group) brings together representatives from large public and private research universities to share best practices around using Canvas and the surrounding ed tech ecosystem to support teaching and learning. They also collaborate closely with Instructure (Canvas vendor) and sit on the Internet2 NET+ Canvas Service Advisory Board to improve the Canvas platform and user experience for research universities. This group represents more than 250 members from 45 institutions of higher education and research across the United States, and around the world.

For context, recently the R1 Peers Group has collaborated in the following areas:

  • Tier 1 support
  • Archiving
  • 3rd party integrations
  • Pain points
  • Data privacy

LRS Standards SIG


The Learning Records Store (LRS) Special Interest Group (SIG) assembles use cases for an LRS, creates an LRS reference architecture, and develops implementation/engineering best practices. The SIG promotes open standards that enable data from a variety of teaching and learning tools to be included in the LRS.

This group is chaired by the University of Washington and meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month, however the LRS SIG is currently on hold until May 2022.  For more information or to join this group, please reach out to Matthew Buss (mbuss@internet2.edu).  Thank you.



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