Blueprint: Friend or Foe?

[Boekenoogen]

Ever since Instructure announced that they were going to have something like Blueprint added to Canvas, I have been trying to get it to work the way I needed it to work and not the way Instructure has it running. We would like to use it for version control and also keep faculty from blowing up all of the HTML and CSS that we build. Our problem is allowing faculty the full access they want and balance it with the limitations we wish to place on our faculty.

So my question to everyone is, for those who are using the Blueprint option in Canvas, how do you like it?

Are you getting all of the features to work for you? Do you have any complaints?

[laurakgibbs]

My guess is that  @lindalee ‌ can offer a lot of insight here...

[lindalee]

Hi John,

Can you say more about what you are trying to do with Blueprint? I'm not sure what you mean by version control and what kind of access you want (or don't want) to give faculty.

We've been using it in a variety of courses this academic year, for several different use cases. You can read more about what we've been doing here:

Lessons Learned about Blueprint Courses: Introduction 

Lessons Learned about Blueprint: When Blueprint Wasn't the Solution 

Lessons Learned about Blueprint Courses: Getting Buy-In 

Lessons Learned about Blueprint Courses: Replacing Course Copy Workflows

(I have a few more topics to write about -- groups and group assignments, LTI tools, and modules are high on the list -- as soon as I have some time.)

While we definitely have some complaints, overall it has been a great solution for us. We'd really like to see some improvements made, particularly regarding what can and cannot currently be locked:

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9548-blueprint-make-modules-lockable 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9550-blueprint-additional-lockable-attributes-for-assignments 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9927-blueprint-sync-all-unedited-unlocked-course-objects-and-a... 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/10981-option-to-regrade-quiz-for-blueprint-quiz 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9419-override-blueprint-exception-force-sync 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9674-lock-course-details-blueprint 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9708-feature-options-settings-for-blueprint 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/9887-blueprint-template-lock-home-page 

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/8980-blueprint-courses-improve-the-synch-history

We'd also like to see some improvements to the way that groups and group assignments are handled during course copy/Blueprint sync workflows.

-Linda

[joseph_allen]

Hi  @jrboek , I'm in K12 but we have learned to use BluePrints quite extensively to accomplish a bunch of things.  We set some course templates, distribute LTI tools, distribute eBooks, set course default settings, build master course templates, and easily associate and unassociate courses via CSV.   So far I think it is a fantastic tool.  Yes, there are some improvements that can be made as  @lindalee  pointed out, but we are pleased to this point.   Your question about "We would like to use it for version control and also keep faculty from blowing up all of the HTML and CSS that we build" - I'm not sure that BluePrint can do that.  You can certainly distribute template pages via Blue Print from which teachers can begin working, but unless they are following your style guide / recommendations, it is very easy to blow up the HTML / CSS in Canvas.   As you pointed out, giving teacher freedom to build, yet keeping things restricted is not something Canvas can really do.   A content management system is really more suited to that task.  I'm hoping that Canvas develops true templates at some point in the future where by a teacher simply has to fill in certain blocks to complete the page and retain the design the school / district wants.   You see that more with website builder tools like Wix and Squarespace.