Master of Applied Data Science program completes transition to Canvas

The University of Michigan School of Information has successfully completed the transition of its online Master of Applied Data Science program to the Canvas learning platform. 

The shift brings MADS courses into the same digital environment used by UMSI’s residential degree programs and much of the broader University of Michigan community. Canvas is a widely adopted teaching and learning platform used by millions of learners worldwide in online, hybrid and in-person settings. It acts as a central hub for course content, assignments, grades and discussions. 

The transition to Canvas allows instructors and students to take advantage of functionalities that were not available in the previous platform, including Panorama — an accessibility tool integrated across U-M Canvas — and DesignPlus, a third-party tool UMSI has acquired to enhance course design. These additions help ensure that course materials are accessible to all students, while allowing for continuous innovation in the online learning experience.  

“This move in our digital home mirrors the school’s recent move to a new physical building on North Campus, bringing our degree courses together within a U-M infrastructure,” said Chris Brooks, director of the MADS program and associate professor of information. “Thanks to the early planning and feasibility work led by former MADS program director Kevyn Collins-Thompson, the transition was seamless for MADS students, staff and faculty.”

With the transition now complete, the MADS program will continue to build on the Canvas infrastructure to support teaching and learning for its global community of students.