Kingston University will introduce a new user-friendly StudySpace system from September 2017 onwards. About 60 per cent of US universities already use the program designed by company Canvas VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
Linda Price, head of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) and professor of educational technology at KU explained the benefits of the new system.
“The new program has a great reliability, lots of guides and lots of support, basically 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” said Price. “It is user-centred and has a very different concept as it is more of a 21st-century way of approaching the community, and I am sure a lot of students are going to enjoy it.”
Canvas proved to have a better accessibility on mobile, which would ensure that students, also while travelling, have quick and easy access to the blackboard.
“It is modern and exciting. Canvas has a very user-friendly surface and gives the students the option to customise everything according to their needs. It is also compatible with so many other programs and it is all integrated very nicely,” said Price.
“As a student I always hated the way Blackboard was laid out,” Teaching Graduate Assistant at the university, Andrew McDowell, said. He added that Canvas would provide teachers and students with a much moremore user-friendly and experience in a “much smoother way”.
“I personally think students will enjoy the Calendar feature within Canvas, which they can sync to their personal calendars, keeping them updated on all assignment due dates and timetabling.”
Grace Henley 
Josh Smith 
Ella Rebbitt