[ARCHIVED] New UI: Transition process and user-selectable feature flag?

[MLentini]

I've been thinking about the new interface, and the transition process, and the more I think (bad idea? dunno) the more I find myself hoping that it should be an end user-selectable feature during the transition year. In general, what I’m aiming for is that we can transition users slowly, as they are ready, for at least some of our campus population, before we drop the hammer on them. Here’s how this could work:

1. Canvas releases the new interface. Admins can choose 1) leave it off 2) allow users to select which interface to use 3) turn it on.
2. Admin chooses #2 from above when they’re ready.
3. Users choose which version they want. They have to go deep into their profile to make the change, so the faint of heart won’t flip to the new interface accidentally (and then flip out).
4. We do whatever announcing we want. (I’m thinking a few select users, evangelists, etc). Then we do more announcing.
5. We sit back and let innovation diffuse naturally for a few months.
6. Start the “Canvas is making this change (so don’t tar and feather me) and it’s going to be permanent for everyone on __insert date here__” messaging.
7. Flip the switch to on (option 3 above). Or just wait for Instructure to do it.

We (and Canvas) are still going to have to maintain two versions of documentation during the switch, so there’s no added cost/effort there. We’re also going to have to support people as they get used to the change. The choice I’d like us to have is whether to take all that pain at once, or spread it out a bit.

What do y'all in the autonomous collective have in mind for transition strategies?

Marc

[mmitchell]

Marc,

I think you've outlined the strategy I would use in a perfect transition.

Allowing users to opt in when they're ready in Production rather than Beta would make it so much easier. Like the way they rolled out Draft State. We could start the ball rolling in Spring 2016 and then launch in Summer.

I'm going to bring this up with my CSM and see if this is a possibility. Awesome idea Marc.

Mike

[BKINNEY]

Thanks for raising this issue. Does anyone know what the expected timeline is for this change? We need to figure out not only how to best ease users in, but how soon we need to start. You mentioned Spring 2016 as a time to start the process. Does that mean we have until Fall 2016 (or later) before we'll all be migrated against our will? The admins on our campus are not really seeing the up side of the new UI, but the downside is clear. Confused, disoriented users.

[canvas_admin]

We are going to release the new UI to our students on January 4, 2016.    Before then, we are going to be "marketing" it by releasing a teaser announcement (ie "coming soon") in a couple of weeks via Twitter, Canvas Announcement, Group Announcement, etc. We will then provide more details about it via the same methods in November (after Thanksgiving). 

Part of this rationale is that this change is going to happen in conjunction with changes in our course layouts/structure which our Instructional Design team will be working on for all of 2016. We felt it made since to make the new UI change at the beginning rather than waiting for Canvas to mandate it in the Summer of 2016. Our current course layout/structure will work just fine in the new UI while we work on the design changes.

Additionally, we felt it was too close to the new semester to make the change now, plus our Winter terms are short and only have a handful of courses being taught.

[buellj]

I like the idea of users being able to opt-in during the transitional/optional period; it would allow us to encourage folks to try the new interface but switch back if needed.

[marcia_schick]

I would like the option of selecting the new interface.  Our college runs an Introduction to Canvas course for all new students. The course starts when students start registering for Winter semester.  If we had the option, all new students could start working in the new interface.  I would also like to create an open course for our current students so they could log in and check it out.  Then by January, we could have moved all of Canvas users into the new interface and be done with the option.

[MLentini]

Well, Instructure has pretty clearly said no feature flag, so it's all-or-nothing for the institution. I like the idea of an open course to check it out. Maybe create it on your main site, wait for it to replicate to Test or Beta, and then advertise it on the test site?

[kona]

MLentini​, students don't have access to test or beta! Imagine if they could go in and take a quiz in the test environment and then go take it in the production site? That definitely wouldn't be cool! I wonder if instead you could make a course in the Free for Teacher area (which is using the new UI) and make it public for students to access?