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eLearn is Getting a Glow Up!

Sinclair is on the move.

Our Learning Management System (LMS) is transitioning from D2L Brightspace to Canvas by Instructure. This upgrade is all about giving students, faculty, and staff a modern, easy-to-use platform that supports excellence in teaching and learning.

This page is your go-to spot for updates, resources, and ways to stay connected throughout the project.

Register for Important LMS Migration Events

Shine with us on the LMS Migration journey!
Visit CTL Events to register for:

  • Checkpoint Chats — monthly updates led by the LMS Migration team, keeping you in the loop on progress and next steps.
  • Open Labs — hands-on sessions for faculty and staff to get their courses migration-ready.
  • Canvas Training — Two days of distinct training sessions from a Canvas Learning Consultant, offered virtually or in person, open to all faculty and staff.
Go to CTL Events
 

Time Left to Prep Courses for Migration

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Time Left until Canvas Go Live

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Canvas Progress + Early Wins

The Glow Up is in full swing! Following Dr. Amato’s update from a recent Town Hall, the Canvas Migration Team is excited to share progress and what’s ahead. Watch our short update video to see how the transformation is unfolding and how you can stay on track.

Watch the video and submit migration questions using the one-question survey.

Watch Video

The Glow Up Timeline

Check out the timeline for a look at what’s happening now, what’s coming next, and when your courses will make the move to Canvas.

Planning

Summer 2025 to Fall 2025

Canvas environment creation and setup

Migration planning

Training

Late Fall Term 2025

Course clean-up in D2L Brightspace

Training for pilot course coordinators and teaching faculty

Pilot

Spring Term 2026

Pilot: HIM, NEEN, PTA, BAS-HS + COM 2206 & MAT 1120

Migration of 26/SU courses

Canvas access and training for all

Fully Migrated

Summer Term 2026

All 26/SU courses offered in Canvas

Migration of 26/FA courses

Evaluation & Finalization

June 2026

Teaching shell archiving in K16

Deprecation of D2L Brightspace

Go Live 2026 Summer Term!

What the Glow Up Process Looks Like

What's Migrating?

  • One master (or dev) shell for each active Sinclair course, and all 26/SP teaching shells are migrating to Canvas.
    • 26/SP teaching shells will be migrated with no additional information needed from academic departments. 
    • Master shells, dev shells, or non-26/SP face-to-face teaching shells will be migrated using the information recorded by Academic Department Chairs on the Migration Tracker.
  • Requests to migrate community shells, training shells or additional shells not included on the Migration Tracker should be made via the Canvas Migration Special Request form. 
    • FlexPace and Tech Prep masters will also be migrated, and do not need to be requested.
  • Teaching shells from the last three years will be archived in K16, with no additional information needed from academic departments unless... 
  • Faculty or staff with archival needs for teaching shells or other materials beyond three years should submit the Canvas Migration Special Request form.
  • Special LMS processes that need to be created or replicated in Canvas should be sumitted via the Canvas Custom Workflow Request form.

 

What Steps are Required for Migration?

  1. Chairs and Course Coordinators work together to identify all master, dev, or teaching shells that are moving to Canvas, and enter their URLs on the Migration Tracker by March 6, 2026.  Additional shells should be requested via the Canvas Migration Special Request form.
  2. Course Coordinators prepare all D2L course shells moving to Canvas by completing the D2L Course Prep Guide and attending an Open Lab.
  3. Course Coordinators work with Chairs to record when the D2L Course Prep Guide has been completed for a respective course on the Migration Tracker, signifying the course is "ready to migrate."
  4. Any faculty or staff in charge of training or community shells request their migration via the Canvas Migration Special Request form.
  5. The eLearning Admin Team migrates all course shells with a completed D2L Course Prep Guide on the Migration Tracker, once monthly, beginning in February. Training/community shells submitted via the Canvas Migration Special Request form will also be migrated once monthly.
  6. eLearning staff partner with Course Coordinators to prepare eLearn courses to go live in Canvas. For F2F Course Coordinators, instructions for preparing courses to go live will be provided on or before the February 4th and 5th Canvas Trainings.
     
Migration vs Archiving

Migrate: Migrating a course means exporting your D2L course and importing it into Canvas for use. Migration moves course content, assignments, files, and structure into the new LMS, where adjustments and quality checks are needed to prepare for students.

Archive: Archiving a course means creating a copy of your D2L course for long-term storage. The archived file preserves the course exactly as it existed in D2L, but it is not intended for teaching in Canvas. Archiving is primarily for record-keeping or reference. Sinclair will automatically archive three years of teaching shells. If you need to keep courses beyond that period, you can submit a request form.

Faculty do not need to request migration just to have a backup. That’s covered by archiving. Migration is for teaching in Canvas, while archiving is for storage and reference.

Checkpoint Chats: Stay in the Glow

Open to all faculty and staff!

Quick answers, helpful tips, and the latest updates on Sinclair’s LMS Glow Up. Bring your questions, stay for the updates, and see what’s next in the migration journey.

Students, please note: Training and opportunities to ask questions are on the way! Keep an eye on your Sinclair email for updates.

Checkpoint Chat Schedule

Schedule Checkpoint Chats: Sign up via CTL Events.
  • Tuesday, January 6 | 9:00 - 9:30 AM
  • Wednesday, February 11 | Noon - 12:30 PM
  • Thursday, March 5 | 10:00 - 10:30 AM
  • Friday, April 10 | 12:30 - 1:00 PM
  • Monday, May 4 | 3:30 - 4:00 PM

Hybrid events: In-Person in Innovation Lab (4-341) or Remote via Zoom

Preparing for Canvas: Support & Training

SAVE THE DATE: Canvas Training for All Faculty and Staff - February 4–6, 2026

With support from trainers from Instructure, the eLearning division will host comprehensive Canvas training for all faculty and staff. Details on format, session schedules, and registration information will be shared soon.

Open Labs

Members of the LMS Migration Training and Support Committee, along with the eLearning Division team, will be on hand in the Innovation Lab (4-341) to guide you through the D2L Course Prep Guide and answer your questions.

To make the most of your one-hour lab, please review the prep guide and complete as many items as you can in these areas:

  • Course Content
  • Assignments & Assessments
  • Gradebook
  • Announcements (under General Preparation)

Bring your prepared course and prep guide to the lab! You’ll finish up any remaining items, get answers to your questions, and receive guidance on the trickier parts of migrating to Canvas. You’ll leave feeling confident and ready!

Spring Term Open Labs

All course coordinators are welcome at Open Labs. Faculty participating are highly encouraged to attend. 

January Open Lab Schedule [in-person]: Sign up via CTL Events.

  • Thursday, January 8 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Friday, January 9 | 1:30- 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, January 15 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Friday, January 16 | 1:30 - 2:30 PM
  • Wednesday, January 21 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Friday, January 23 | 1:30 - 2:30 PM
  • Monday, January 26 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM
  • Thursday, January 29 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Can’t finish in one hour? No problem, additional Open Labs will be offered.

Canvas Training for All

Two days of distinct training sessions from a Canvas Learning Consultant, offered virtually or in person, open to all faculty and staff.

Hybrid Events. Sign up via CTL Events.

Opening Canvas: Wednesday, February 4 | 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Content Creation & Modules: Wednesday, Feruary 4 | 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Assignments & Discussions: Wednesday, Feruary 4 | 1:15 - 2:45 PM

New Quizzes & Item Banks: Wednesday, Februray 4 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Grading & Feedback: Thursday, February 5 | 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Accessibility in Canvas: Thursday, February 5 | 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Canvas Studio: Thursday, February 5 | 1:15 - 2:45 PM

Course Communication Tools: Thursday, February 5 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM

 

 

Explore Resources by Group

Have a question we haven’t answered yet?

Share it through our quick one-question survey, and we’ll make sure it’s addressed in a future Checkpoint Chat.

Submit a Faculty or Staff Question Submit a Student Question

Always Adding More Sparkle

Stay tuned: This page is glowing brighter all the time! New information and resources will be added as the project moves forward.

Questions? Reach out to the eLearning Division.