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This resource compares some of the main features of Canvas and Microsoft Teams for non-teaching sites (e.g. forums and communities) at UTS.
You can request a site to be created in Canvas or Teams as your non-subject site. The purpose of the site should determine whether this site is created in Canvas or Teams. For example, if you want to maintain a centralised source of static information for students in a course of study, this would be best suited to Canvas. On the other hand, a community-building site that features lots of chats and discussion would be better suited to Teams.
Take a look through the comparison table below to help you decide which platform meets your needs. It may also be a combination of the two.
| FEATURES | CANVAS | Microsoft Teams | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Announcements | Yes | Yes | Canvas: Announcements can be made to a whole cohort or section and can be accessed in one place. Teams: A whole team or channel can be mentioned, which will notify everyone. Channels can be used to organise announcements. |
| Email notifications | Yes | Yes | Be aware that users set their own notification preferences on both platforms, and can easily switch email notifications off. Canvas: Email notifications prompt users to log in to Canvas to see announcements and discussions. Teams: By default, email notifications alert users if they’re mentioned by name, or if a new chat with them is started. Email notifications for channel mentions are not enabled by default. |
| Discussions | Yes | Yes | Canvas: Create thread-based forums with Discussions. Teams: Create chat-based forums by adding topic channels to your team. |
| File sharing | Yes | Yes | Canvas: Canvas wasn’t built to be a file sharing platform, so sharing permissions are not as flexible or collaborative as those in Teams. However, files can be uploaded by teachers and shared with all site users. Students have limited upload permissions and can only upload files to Canvas as part of Assignments or a Group. Users can view and download published files. Teams: Teams integrates with other Office 365 products such as Sharepoint, so you can easily share and collaborate on files with Microsoft and external users. You can also adjust access and sharing permissions to your preference. All members of a team can upload, share and collaborate on files in Team channels. |
| File storage limit by site | 2GB | 1TB | Canvas: Folder management of files is available through the Files page in Canvas. Teams: Each channel has a Files tab which syncs with a Sharepoint site created for your team. |
| HTML/Rich content webpages | Yes | No | Canvas: Create custom webpages using the Rich Content Editor or HTML editor. Teams: Does not have this feature. |
| Video lectures and meetings | No | Yes | Canvas: No in-built features for video lectures or meetings, but a Zoom integration is available. Teams: Schedule or start video meetings from within a channel or chat. |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Canvas: Student and teacher apps are available from Google Play and the App Store. Teams: Teams app available for desktop, Apple and Android devices. |
| Maximum capacity | 1000 | 10,000 | Teams: Detailed user limit specifications for Teams and Channels can be found here. |
| Interactive activities | Yes | Limited | Canvas: Offers a range of interactive features, including quizzes, H5P integration, comment boxes and social polls. Teams: Choose from a number of integrated apps, like Polly for social polling, and Microsoft apps like Planner, for planning boards. Note that not all available apps are supported at UTS. Learn more about using apps in MS Teams. |
| Integration with Office 365 | no | Yes | Canvas: Feature not available. Teams: Designed to sync easily across Office 365 apps. This includes: Sharepoint, OneNote, Powerpoint, Word, and Excel. |
| Reports and analytics | Limited | Limited | Canvas: Basic site usage and participation stats are available to view. You cannot view stats for individual modules or pages. Export of analytics is not currently supported by Canvas. Learn how to view Analytics in Canvas. Teams: Team owners can view basic usage analytics for Teams and channels. You can also compare usage stats across different Teams. Export of analytics is not currently supported by Microsoft. Learn how to view analytics in Teams. |
| Alumni access | Limited | Limited | Currently unsupported. Contact ITD to arrange access for alumni or external users. |
Each credit-bearing subject must have a Canvas or Blackboard site for the purpose of grade submission and student enrolment. However, you can request a supplementary Microsoft Teams site to support remote teaching activities. Determine if Microsoft Teams is a good fit for your subject and request a Microsoft Teams site for teaching purposes here.
- Want to include multiple interactive online activities within your site? → Try Canvas for access to H5P and other interactive activity tools.
- Want a socially active site with multiple discussions or chats? → Try Teams to keep everyone together in a structured online chat space.
- Want an online space where you can share static information in an accessible and clear way? → Try Canvas to create webpages using a rich content or HTML editor.
- Are you already using either of the tools for a non-subject site? → Continue using the same tool to reduce confusion and double up.