New Energy New York (NENY), led by Binghamton University, is pioneering workforce development for the growing battery manufacturing industry. Collaborating with local industry partners and institutions like Syracuse University, Corning Community College, and Broome Community College, the coalition aims to create training programs that equip individuals with the skills needed for careers in upstate New York’s battery sector.
The Challenge
NENY’s Battery Academy needed to deliver high-quality, accessible training to a broad audience, from university students to job seekers and industry professionals. Their initial learning platform had potential but was limiting their progress. Users struggled with a confusing interface, the system needed more flexibility for diverse learning paths, credential stacking was challenging to implement, and analytics needed to be more robust for continuous improvement.
“We received a lot of feedback about the previous LMS. People found it confusing to navigate and slow,” said Connor Pierce, Instructional Design Lead, New Energy New York. “After trying the platform myself and reviewing everyone’s feedback, I came to the same conclusion: we needed a different LMS.”
With a small team and limited resources, they needed a powerful yet user-friendly solution—fast.
Key Insights
With a small team and limited resources, the previous LMS’s limitations further strained the team’s ability to manage and scale training programs efficiently.
The integration of Canvas LMS, Studio, Catalog, and Credentials provides a unified platform for course delivery, management, and public-facing access, improving overall efficiency and accessibility.
Users gave minimal feedback on Canvas, indicating a positive shift from the previous LMS, with seamless integration and effective credentialing.
Canvas’s support for both synchronous and asynchronous formats has been crucial for adapting to various needs and scaling training programs.
The Solution
To find their new LMS, NENY evaluated their LMS options against requirements for their complex training needs. They required a system that could support both synchronous and asynchronous learning, manage a wide range of courses, and integrate with credentialing systems. Overall, Canvas was chosen for its effective assessment tools, centralized course management, and seamless integration, aligning well with NENY's needs.
“While we explored other options, my familiarity with Canvas and its features ultimately made it the preferred choice,” explained Pierce.
I don't think we'd have the successes now if we had gone with a different service. [Canvas] allows our team to analyze metrics and feedback and react to our learners' needs better.
Connor Pierce,
Instructional Design Lead, New Energy New York.
A Unified Learning Ecosystem
NENY’s Battery Academy leverages Canvas LMS as the core of its learning ecosystem, creating a centralized hub for course delivery and management. Canvas Studio integrates within the LMS to provide interactive video learning. Canvas Catalog provides a public-facing repository where learners can access a broad spectrum of courses designed to meet the evolving demands of the battery industry. This feature streamlines course discovery and enrollment, enhancing accessibility for a diverse audience
Additionally, the integration of Canvas Credentials has been a game-changer for NENY. It allows for the issuance of micro-credentials and badges, which not only recognize learners’ achievements but also track their progress through customizable learning paths. This feature supports gamification strategies, motivating learners by visually representing their skill development and completion milestones.
“Canvas was just a nice choice for us,” Pierce explained. “Everything being under the Instructure umbrella helps keep everything integrated, making sure there aren't too many disparate systems or tools at play.”
Canvas provides a solid foundation for NENY for building and scaling a large-scale portfolio of content without starting from scratch or custom-developing tools. As Pierce put it, “It’s a right-out-of-the-box solution that aligns with our visions and needs.”
Small Team Support
With only a few members handling a growing portfolio of courses, Canvas's streamlined course creation tools and consistent styling features have been invaluable. The platform’s analytics support data-driven decisions, helping the team make targeted improvements. As Pierce highlighted, “The analytics and the data that Canvas provides hasn't just been helpful, but critical to our mission. We can see where users are struggling in the coursework, and we can make iterative changes over time.” This efficient management and insightful data support the team in delivering high-quality, scalable education.
Prior Canvas experience, combined with community resources and training, enabled NENY to cut their implementation timeline in half, ensuring a smooth and successful launch.
The Results
Switching to Canvas has been a transformative move for NENY’s Battery Academy. By addressing previous LMS shortcomings and embracing Canvas’s comprehensive features, the team has not only enhanced its ability to deliver high-quality, accessible training for the growing battery manufacturing sector but has also seen significant improvement in participant engagement and completion rates. The transition has set a new standard for efficiency and user satisfaction, positioning NENY for continued success in workforce development.
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