Norsk versjon: Ofte stilte spørsmål om Canvas

Here are a collection of frequently asked questions about Canvas.

Transferring Content from Blackboard to Canvas

Question: Will teaching materials such as PowerPoint presentations, tests, images, and videos be transferred?
Answer: Teaching materials from the most recent course completion will be transferred. Most content types are supported, but some test question formats may not be fully compatible.

Question: Will content from Blackboard in Fall 2025 be available in Canvas for courses taught in Fall 2026? What about older content?
Answer: Content from Spring 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 will be available in Canvas. Materials from earlier courses must be manually transferred by instructors.

Question: Can I transfer content from other institutions that use Canvas?
Answer: Yes. Many institutions have long experience with Canvas and can offer guidance. Canvas also provides several easy ways to share content—see the Canvas Community Guide for details.

See more detailed information about migrating content from Blackboard to Canvas on this page.

Access and Administration of Users and Course Rooms

Question: When will teachers get access to Canvas?
Answer: Everyone now has access to Canvas, including sandboxes and training materials.

Question: Can teachers add or remove students and teachers themselves? What about guest access for users without an NTNU account?
Answer: Students must be registered for the course in FS. Teachers can be (1) added via FS or (2) added by a teacher or local administrator directly in Canvas - see the instructions. Guests must still access via Greg (NTNU's guest service). See more information on the page Roles and permissions in Canvas.

Question: Is it possible to create separate rooms for classes or study programs? Will this happen automatically?
Answer: Canvas, in collaboration with FS, supports programme and cohort rooms. Read more about programme and cohort rooms on this page.

Question: Will Blackboard still be used for courses in Introduction Phase 1 during Spring 2026?
Answer: No. We do not expect Blackboard to be needed for these courses. Canvas has been thoroughly tested within the Norwegian higher education sector.

Integrations with Other Systems

Question: Which integrations are available in Canvas?
Answer: Information about integrations is avaliable on the page Integrations and Extensions in Canvas.

Functionality and User Experience

Question: Will we lose any functionality when moving from Blackboard to Canvas?
Answer: Very little functionality is lost.

Question: What will the structure of course rooms look like?
Answer: Templates and modules will provide a consistent structure, but instructors can customize as needed.

Question: How do groups work in Canvas?
Answer: Groups can collaborate, share files, and co-author documents. Group submissions require predefined group sets. A video tutorial is available.

Question: Can attendance and mandatory activities be registered?
Answer: Canvas does not have built-in attendance tracking, but mandatory activities can be registered and transferred to FS.

Question: Can teaching assistants approve activities?
Answer: Roles and permissions are customizable, more information on the page Roles and permissions in Canvas.

Question: Does Canvas support anonymous forums?
Answer: Yes, anonymous discussion forums are supported.

Training, Support, and Community

Question: When will training be provided?
Answer: Training will be available at the same time as access to course rooms.

Question: Will there be training modules focused on building effective learning paths in Canvas?
Answer: Yes. The first module in Canvas for Learning focuses on using the module structure to enhance learning. If you have experience with learning path design, we’d love to hear from you!

Question: Is there a forum for sharing best practices in Canvas?
Answer: Yes. The global Canvas Community is available, and we encourage active use of the discussion forums in the implementation course.

Student Experience and Communication

Question: Who is responsible for informing students in Phase 1?
Answer: The project group, in collaboration with faculties, will ensure students are informed. Information about this is posted in Canvas.

Question: How will students know which LMS to use?
Answer: Students in Introduction Phase 1 will be notified via studentweb and email and will log in using Feide. They will retain access to other Blackboard course rooms. Students who are not participating in Phase 1 will not have access to Phase 1 Canvas rooms.

Question: How much training do instructors need to provide to students?
Answer: Minimal training is expected. Students are actively involved in the transition process.

Other Questions

Question: How is copyright handled when sharing content?
Answer: Content can be shared openly or with restrictions via Canvas Commons using Creative Commons licenses.

Question: Can we influence Canvas features or provide feedback?
Answer: Yes. NTNU collaborates with Sikt and other Norwegian universities to influence Canvas development. While not all requests can be implemented, frequently requested features may be prioritized.

How has NTNU been involved in the procurement process?
NTNU has been represented in all three procurements. First, in the insight work both locally and in the sector, through expert participators who took part in the procurement working groups, and through user testing as part of the procurement. A selection of lecturers, study consultants and students have contributed to the testing.

Please see more information about this phase of the work at New digital learning platform at NTNU and Sikt's insight work (project report and webinar recording).