Migrating from Canvas

Canvas is a cloud-based learning management system built with Ruby on Rails.

Key Similarities between Canvas and Paideia LMS

Canvas and Paideia LMS share some similarities that will help you migrate your courses and content:

Both Canvas and Paideia LMS are feature-complete learning management systems with course management, user management, assignments, quizzes, and gradebooks.
Both support course content organization with modules, pages, and assignments.
Both include user roles and permissions (admin, instructor, student, TA, etc.).
Both support various activity types including assignments, quizzes, discussions, pages, and files.
Both have built-in LTI support for third-party integrations.

When you migrate from Canvas to Paideia LMS, you will notice several important differences:

Deployment: Canvas is a cloud-based SaaS platform managed by Instructure, while Paideia LMS deploys as a single binary that you can self-host. This gives you full control over your data and infrastructure.
Technology Stack: Canvas is built with Ruby on Rails and runs on cloud infrastructure, while Paideia LMS uses modern technologies (Bun, React Router v7, Elysia, TypeScript) for better performance and maintainability.
Cost: Canvas requires a paid subscription, while Paideia LMS is free and open-source (AGPL-3.0), allowing you to self-host without licensing fees.
Customization: Canvas has limited customization options and branding restrictions, while Paideia LMS’s modern codebase makes it easy to customize and extend.
Data Ownership: With Canvas, your data is stored on Instructure’s servers. With Paideia LMS, you have full control over your data and can host it on your own infrastructure.
Database: Canvas uses its own proprietary database infrastructure, while Paideia LMS uses PostgreSQL exclusively, which provides better performance and scalability.

To migrate your Canvas installation to Paideia LMS, follow these steps:

Export your Canvas data:
- Use Canvas API or export tools to export course content (courses, modules, pages, assignments)
- Export user accounts and enrollment data via Canvas API
- Export gradebook data and assessment results
- Export discussion forums and submissions
- Download course files and media assets
Install Paideia LMS:
- Download the Paideia LMS binary for your platform
- Set up PostgreSQL database
- Configure S3-compatible storage
- Start the Paideia LMS server
Import your data:
- Use Paideia LMS import tools to migrate courses
- Import user accounts and set up enrollments
- Transfer gradebook data
- Migrate discussion forums and activity submissions
- Upload course files and media assets
Configure your LMS:
- Set up user roles and permissions
- Configure course categories and organization
- Customize the appearance and branding
- Set up LTI integrations if needed

When migrating from Canvas to Paideia LMS, keep in mind:

Canvas Apps: Canvas-specific apps and plugins will not work in Paideia LMS. Check if the functionality you need is available as a built-in feature in Paideia LMS. If custom functionality is needed, Paideia LMS’s modern codebase is easier to extend.
Themes: Canvas themes are not compatible with Paideia LMS. Paideia LMS uses React with Mantine components, which provides a modern, customizable UI out of the box with full branding control.
SpeedGrader: Canvas’s SpeedGrader functionality has equivalents in Paideia LMS’s grading interface. Check the Paideia LMS documentation for grading workflows.
LTI Integrations: Both platforms support LTI, so you may be able to reuse some of your LTI integrations. Check compatibility and adjust as needed.
Canvas Commons: Content shared via Canvas Commons will need to be exported and imported separately. Consider using standard export formats for better compatibility.
API Access: Canvas uses REST APIs for data access. Paideia LMS also provides APIs, but the structure may differ. Review the Paideia LMS API documentation for migration scripts.
Gradebook: Canvas’s gradebook features have equivalents in Paideia LMS. Review the Paideia LMS gradebook documentation to understand feature parity.