SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- San Jose State University has adopted Canvas by Instructure as a new university-wide learning management system. At an event on campus at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 13, the Provost will detail how the decision fits into the university's broad vision for the future of academic technology and 21^st century learning. To register for the public event at San Jose State campus, visit http://bit.ly/SKwOc6.

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"Canvas is located in the cloud and thereby provides maximum flexibility and adaptability for users, and it features an unparalleled open architecture that permits faculty and students to easily integrate external applications directly into the LMS," said Ellen Junn, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "I believe that faculty and students will find this new Canvas LMS a welcome change because it's significantly easier and more intuitive to use."

Provost Junn formed a 36-member faculty and technical staff LMS Advisory Committee at the start of the year to evaluate and make recommendations regarding existing and new LMSs for the campus. The committee agreed to find an LMS that would meet the needs of students and faculty, be sustainable in terms of cost and provide continuity for the future. They wanted maximum pedagogical flexibility and a user-friendly platform.

Following the evaluation process, the committee recommended Canvas, citing innovative grading and feedback options, new learning analytics, mobile applications and ePortfolio options as key factors in their decision. A final decision to adopt Canvas was the result of a formal campus RFP process.

"The biggest affordance of Canvas is the automated peer review function. It cuts down on basic technical errors, so much so I was shocked. It is easy and minimal work for me," said Ted Coopman, lecturer of Communications Studies. "Canvas' SpeedGrader really saves me time as does the instant video feature."

San Jose State University joins nearly 300 universities, colleges and school districts that have chosen Canvas as their platform for teaching and learning. To compare learning management systems and learn more about Canvas, visit www.instructure.com.

About Instructure:
Instructure is a technology company committed to improving education. We provide instructors and students modern tools and resources to empower the learning experience. Founded by graduate students in collaboration with educational institutions, Instructure provides Canvas – the open, easy-to-use, cloud-native learning platform.

Contact:
Devin Knighton, Director of Public Relations
(801) 722-8187  |  devin@instructure.com
Twitter: @devinknighton  |  www.instructure.com

SOURCE Instructure