University of Hull

With a combined academic, administrative and student population of more than 19,000, the University of Hull is committed to a pedagogy-led approach to technology procurement. “Tech is bought to deliver a flexible, modern learning environment,” explained Hull’s Head of Technology Enhanced Learning, Chris Turnock. “But it must also help us stay true to a vision of a studentcentred approach to studies.”

According to Turnock, Hull was “ahead of the curve” when they implemented a virtual learning environment in 2010. “Since that time, we’ve seen the industry develop significantly, incorporating features like cloud sharing, integrated media and remote learning—which we felt could add value for our students and teachers alike.” Hull re-evaluated their VLE in 2014, starting a procurement process for a system that would deliver a more flexible learning experience, while also helping the university as it worked towards a high rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

“Even in 2014, the need for universities to prepare for TEF was pressing. All institutions realised that a low rating would likely have an impact on application levels. We knew we would need to have systems in place to ensure student retention and engagement. Our VLE would be a significant factor in helping us achieve a good rating.”

As the university began to envision the possibilities of a new VLE, Turnock explained that adoption was key. He said the new system would need to be “intuitive, flexible and useful for both staff and students, ultimately improving student satisfaction and maximising learning potential.”

When Hull started their procurement process in March 2014, they threw the net out wide, but were specific about what they wanted from their chosen VLE. “We prioritised systems that had the functionality and usability we needed, and made a conscious decision to value those aspects above price,” said Turnock.

The final decision came down to Canvas, the institution’s legacy system and three other VLEs. “We knew that there was no point moving from the legacy system unless there was something better out there, and Canvas showed that change wasn’t just beneficial - it was crucial. We knew that Canvas would bring clear and measurable benefits to teaching and learning, in particular with respect to certain TEF metrics, such as student satisfaction and retention.”

To have Canvas in place by the start of the new academic year, the university knew they would have only a matter of months from procurement to implementation, so a rapid and smooth transition was vital - especially because they decided to move all content from their legacy VLE to Canvas rather than having two systems run concurrently. Turnock was impressed with the support he received from Canvas, and with their openness in incorporating his feedback into system updates: “The weekly calls with our Customer Success Team were extremely helpful in keeping our implementation on track, and communication with Canvas was open, collaborative and supportive.”

Canvas was fully implemented for the start of term in September 2016, and the team immediately saw their objectives being met.

“We knew that Canvas would ultimately deliver student satisfaction and help to maximise learning potential. However, we were expecting there to be a period of adjustment while teaching staff got to grips with the system. What we found instead was that our academic staff were able to start performing tasks, such as uploading handbooks and providing digital feedback on assessments, almost immediately. And that staff and students alike were quick to embrace the technology.”

In the six months since their full Canvas rollout, Hull has developed 3,500 live course modules and program sites. “Going into this project,” Turnock said, “we were looking for a system that would work with us in all areas of the university, be easy to implement and provide us with a foundation on which to build student-centred learning. Canvas ticked all the boxes, and we look forward to seeing how much more we will be able to achieve.”