Solution
As VLACS explored how to migrate to a new LMS given the many complexities involved, the school heard about K16 and its “magic technology” [Scaffold Migration] The project included transferring more than 2,000 courses to Canvas, live, while students were learning. Comparing it to a physical move, Kossakoski said: “We had to move all the chairs and tables with the kids still sitting in them.
If VLACS had conducted the migration in-house, it would have taken much longer. But the bigger issue is it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for the school to transfer the content while the courses were live. Kossakoski said VLACS likely would have had to close for the summer to make the migration to Canvas.
“We have a lot of students who really need us, so that was not an option we wanted to consider,” said Kossakoski. “K16 had a solution that allowed us to do what we wanted to do.”
K16 would also troubleshoot if something wasn’t perfect, like audio files embedded in migrated courses, and then quickly fix the issue. ”I can’t remember a time when they said to us ‘that can’t be done,’” said Kossakoski. “They always had an answer, or they always felt they could find an answer. They rose to the occasion every time.”
VLACS doesn’t expect to do another migration for many years, but the school knows what it will do next time.