Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Canvas and D2L iLearn Feature Chart

D2L Tool/Feature	Canvas Tool/Feature	Notes/Details
Content	Modules	Canvas Modules organize content in a linear format. They are the starting place for all content, assignments, and grades in Canvas.
Dropbox Assignments	Assignments	Canvas assignments can be submitted online, on paper, or as no submission. Assignments are created through the Modules area in Canvas.
Quizzes	New Quizzes	Canvas quizzes are called "New Quizzes". To learn more about new quizzes, watch this video.
Discussions	Discussions	Very similar function, but Canvas discussions are more visually integrated and user-friendly.
Grades	Gradebook	Canvas Gradebook supports SpeedGrader and integration with rubrics.
Rubrics	Rubrics	Canvas Rubrics are built into the LMS and integrate with assignments, discussions, and quizzes.
Checklists	To-Do Lists/Module Requirements	Canvas does not have checklists, but To-Do lists and Module requirements provide similar functionality.
Calendar	Calendar	Both tools offer similar features; Canvas calendar integrates with due dates automatically.
Class Progress	Anaylytics/New Anayltics	Canvas offers course analytics and progress tracking for students.
News	Announcements	Canvas Announcements provide course-wide messaging and can be pre-scheduled.
Email	Inbox (Conversations)	Canvas Inbox serves as an internal messaging system for all users.
Groups	Groups	Both support group workspaces, discussions, and assignments.
Surveys	Ungraded Quizzes or 3rd Party Tools	Canvas does not have a built-in survey tool; use ungraded quizzes or Google Forms.
Intelligent Agents	New Analytics + Manual Communication	Canvas does not have automated agents; use New Analytics and message students manually.
Release Conditions	Module Requirements + Prerequisites	Canvas has limited release conditions compared to D2L but offers basics via module settings.
HTML Editor	Rich Content Editor (RCE)	Canvas’s RCE supports HTML and integrates with accessibility checkers and multimedia tools.
Creator+	Ungraded Quizzes or 3rd Party Tools + Rich Content Editor (RCE)	Creator+ elements can be re-created using Ungraded QUizzes for Practice or 3rd Party Tools such as Poll Everywhere and creating Pages within Modules using the Rich Content Editor (RCE). Within the Commons, we have created a Helpful HTML Codes for Elements that provides templates for elements previously found in Creator+ such as accordians.