Moodle vs. Canvas: Is It Time to Switch Your LMS?

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many changes, and education was one of the sectors profoundly impacted. While some communities faced setbacks due to limited access to new technologies, the shift to online and distance learning occurred at a pace far beyond what institutions had anticipated.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a meeting with my supervisor about our processes, and the topic of Learning Management Systems (LMS) came up. As a Moodle Technical Support Officer at a university, it's no surprise that we use Moodle as our LMS. My supervisor is our Moodle Administrator, and during the discussion, the suggestion was made to reevaluate our LMS. Specifically, there was talk of possibly switching to Canvas.

Moodle vs. Canvas: A Common Dilemma

If you're deciding on an LMS to manage your school's courses, Moodle likely comes to mind first. It's one of the oldest platforms in the space, and my experience with it dates back to my university days when our computer science department first adopted it. Back then, Moodle was still evolving, but it was already user-friendly, and we had no significant issues navigating it. Today, my alma mater still uses Moodle across all departments, including satellite campuses, solidifying its presence as a reliable platform.

However, my current workplace faces a different scenario. We're at a crossroads where some decision-makers are exploring alternatives, and Canvas has been brought up as a potential replacement.

Why Canvas?

Canvas, launched by Instructure, Inc. in 2011, has rapidly gained popularity, especially in the U.S., where it has overtaken Moodle in terms of market share. It's a newer LMS, but it's well-regarded for its clean interface and ease of use.

My personal experience with Canvas has been as a student at another university. Specifically, at the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City. From a user perspective, I found Canvas to be intuitive, with features and layouts that are quite similar to Moodle. Things are where they should be, and navigating the platform feels natural. If the institution configures it well, everything is easy to find.

Like Moodle, I have encountered no major issues with Canvas as a student.

The Real Question: Content and Delivery

During my meeting with my supervisor, we concluded that it ultimately doesn’t matter which LMS we use—whether it’s Moodle or Canvas. What truly matters is the quality of the content and how it’s delivered. A virtual learning environment, regardless of the platform, serves its purpose when the courses and lessons are designed to engage, inform, and support students effectively.

Whether we stick with Moodle or transition to Canvas, as long as our content remains excellent and our delivery outstanding, our virtual campus will continue to thrive.

The LMS is simply the tool; it’s what we put inside it that makes all the difference.

Originally posted on October 19, 2022 on Substack.