Why you need to download from Blackboard
In just 3 months, we’ll be saying goodbye to Blackboard as we complete our transition to Canvas – a new, modern learning platform that will become the University’s central learning environment from September 2025.
Why we have change to Canvas
Canvas is designed to improve the experience of both students and colleagues with a more intuitive, flexible and user-friendly interface. This change follows extensive consultation with colleagues and students who shared their feedback on our current platforms and helped shape the decision to adopt Canvas.
Here are just some of the benefits students and colleagues will see when we make the move to the new Central Learning Environment (CLE).
Here are a few benefits:
- We need to change our CLE – Our contract with Blackboard Learn is due to expire, meaning we had to undertake a full and open tender process to identify a CLE to meet the needs of our people.
- Opportunity to improve student learning experience based on feedback received through surveys, DLE Review and CLE tender process.
- Navigability – Student and colleague feedback suggests Blackboard is not easy to navigate. Canvas is more intuitive with a user-friendly interface.
- Accessibility – Instructure, the supplier of Canvas, provides specific accessibility training for content creators as standard, to ensure the standards we set for system users focus on promoting the creation of accessible content.
- Quality – We have the opportunity to review and declutter our content to make sure we deliver content of a high standard.
- Flexibility - Increase our flexibility to deliver and repurpose teaching in a variety of formats. Improved functionality will allow us to continue to improve how we use our central learning environment (CLE).
- Support - Instructure’s dedicated 24/7 service, community forums and suite of troubleshooting guidance will mean students and colleagues can access support any time of day.
- Futureproof - Instructure, the supplier of Canvas, regularly identifies and shares developments to prepare for improvements.
What do I need to do?
Now’s the time to get anything you may wish to look back on: feedback from Assignments, Journals, Discussions and so on. Considering this we have a group of guides you may need.
How to find your feedback for Turnitin and Blackboard assignments
How to download discussions, journals, wikis, and other student content from Blackboard
How to download from Gradescope
How to get your feedback from Cadmus
When do I need to do this by?
17th October 2025
Still need help?
Contact your Hub or put in a ticket for support.
