UMass Boston

Migration resources

We highly recommend that faculty use the move to Canvas as an opportunity to start fresh and let go of content accumulated over the years, whenever possible. Useful content can be migrated selectively by following the process outlined in this guide. 

Arrow shows migration from Blackboard LMS to Canvas LMS
Faculty will have their courses migrated from Blackboard to Canvas by the Learning Design team, upon request. While most content migrates seamlessly, there is some necessary remediation needed after the migration to ensure that the content is ready for students in Canvas. 

1. Request Content Migrated to Canvas

Request migrated content

Faculty can request migrated content copied to Canvas by filling out the content request form for each course. Be sure to add a comment requesting content added to Canvas in addition to Blackboard. Until July 2025, your content will be available in both systems for you to compare and use to facilitate the updates in the new system. 

Backup Content

You may choose to save backups of your Blackboard courses while you still have access to the system (by July 2025).

2. Locate the Migrated Content in Canvas

Once you’ve been informed that your content has been migrated, log on to Canvas at https://umassboston.instructure.com and find the corresponding migrated courses. 

You will have access to the following courses in your Canvas account: 

  1. Migration shell for each Blackboard course you have requested through the form. This is where the content from Blackboard will be imported for each corresponding course.
  2. Official course shells for each course as listed in WISER (identified by official course IDs). These courses will not have any content. You will copy the content selectively from the migration shells to these official shells after the necessary clean up and updates, as needed.

In addition to the above, you will also have access to the following:

  1. Sailing with Canvas course – you may self-enroll in this course to learn Canvas.
  2. Sandbox course for Canvas – use this course to practice with Canvas. 

3. Update the Migrated Content

Your content was migrated to a corresponding shell in Canvas in which you can update and remediate the migrated content according to the instructions on this page, then copy it over to the official shell. It is highly recommended to copy content gradually, module by module. 

Follow the Migration Checklist to update your content.

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Write to us: learningdesign@umb.edu

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