Learning Design Services

If you will be teaching in the Spring 2024 semester, please configure your course(s) in Canvas ASAP. See information below on course access, training, and student resources in the Canvas Learning Management System.

Accessing Canvas and Your Courses

To access Canvas, go to canvas.sandiego.edu and log in using your USDOne credentials. In your Canvas dashboard, you will find:

  • Spring Course(s): If you’re registered for a Spring 2024 course in Banner, they are accessible on Canvas.
  • Blackboard Archive: The course(s) you taught in Blackboard in the last year (Fall 2022 to Summer 2023) have been imported to Canvas for your access. Most Fall 23 courses taught in Blackboard will be imported to Canvas by 1/4/24.
  • Sandbox Course: Experiment with content, fine-tune settings, and test custom navigations in this unstructured course (replicable in future terms as needed).


Preparing Your Course for Spring ’24 Launch

Use the USD Blackboard to Canvas Import Guide to help you build your course in your sandbox course or if you wish to modify the content that was imported from Blackboard. Based on faculty feedback, you can expect to spend an average of an additional 4-8 hours in preparing your course, depending on the complexity of your content. View the Quick Start to Canvas Course Design video (10:14) on how to design your courses and use our templates.

Please note: You no longer need to request ITS to merge your courses. Learn how to cross-list your courses in Canvas using this job aid.

Canvas Faculty Training

The Learning Design Center (LDC) is facilitating Canvas training sessions, which are available in-person, via Zoom, and asynchronously. Register for any of those at sandiego.edu/ldc.

Trainings offered:

  • Canvas Basics: An introductory session on course setup including Zoom and Panopto.
  • Canvas Plus: Learn more about Canvas’s advanced features for customizing course navigation. In addition to workflows for Ally, eTextbooks and Turnitin.
  • Canvas Gradebook: Training on grading and setting up your gradebook and providing robust feedback on assessments.
  • Canvas Boot Camp: on-site drop in hours during November, December, and January.
  • Growing With Canvas: this self-paced online course covers comprehensive course design. Links to tutorials and resources are provided as well as optional practice activities to try out in your Sandbox or course shell. Self-enroll to access the asynchronous course (you will be directed to login first to Canvas).
  • Additional integrated technologies: Ally, Gradescope, Turnitin, and VitalSource.

Additional Canvas Resources

Student Information and Self-Guided Resources

  • Students can watch this Canvas Overview video (3:30; Closed Captioned) to get started on navigating Canvas or access additional Canvas Getting Started Videos to learn more.
  • Students can visit USD’s Canvas Student Resources page for answers to FAQs and links to resources.
  • Students can bookmark the Canvas Student Guide: Canvas’ topics-based website which has numerous questions and answers for students from submitting assignments to setting up notifications.

Important Dates

  • Intersession ’24 courses will still use Blackboard.
  • Spring ’24 semester courses will be available only in Canvas (based on your program’s course start date). Students will have access to courses as early as 5 days before the course start date as long as the instructor publishes the course.
  • Blackboard access will cease on 6/30/24.

For further inquiries please go to sandiego.edu/ldc or contact LDCSupport@sandiego.edu.