Our new Learning Management System (LMS) is known as ‘ulwazi’, which means ‘knowledge’ in isiZulu.
Canvas, known as ulwazi at Wits, is the University’s LMS to support online teaching and learning. It is a powerful cloud-based platform that is easy to use
Stage 1 is complete, and ulwazi is now the official Wits LMS. Information for staff and students on how to access and use ulwazi is available on the new "Access ulwazi" page at https://www.wits.ac.za/ulwazi/
Every 2021 course listed on SIMS has a site on ulwazi. If you do not see your 2021 course site when you log in to ulwazi, email a request to ulwazihelp@wits.ac.za to link you to your 2021 course site.
SIMS has been fully integrated with ulwazi. Registered students' details are being drawn from SIMS into ulwazi course sites. Important notice: Students cannot be added manually. SIMS is being synced with ulwazi daily.
If you submitted a request for your project site to be migrated by 1 February 2021, migration is complete.
If you still want your project site to be migrated, contact Shane.Pachagadu@wits.ac.za.
The Centre for Learning,Teaching and Development (CLTD) is providing training on designing and building your course sites.
From this week, new sessions on Big Blue Button are available. See training schedule
When you log in to ulwazi, you will see a self-directed course, "Discovering Canvas - 2021 - Lecturer Orientation".
For live discussions: Both Big Blue Button (BBB) and Microsoft Teams are integrated into ulwazi. BBB is the default app for live sessions, and is called ‘Conferences’ in ulwazi.
ulwazi tip:
Create folders for your documents in Files, rather than uploading directly from your device to Modules. This will allow you to easily find and reuse your material across sites.
You can use the following apps, which are integrated into ulwazi:
• OneDrive
• G Drive
• Turnitin-CPF
• SCORM
• Gradescope
• McGraw-Hill Connect
• Pearson - Mastering Lab Connector
CLM has prepared a checklist to get your course ready for Block 1.
All students are being automatically enrolled in two ulwazi courses:
• 'Learning How to Use ulwazi'' (focused on learning Canvas)
• 'Helping You Learn Online' (focused on general skills for online learning)
Please refer students to the access ulwazi web page.
All 4 major mobile network providers will make ulwazi zero-rated. Wits will pay for data bundles that students can use to access selected urls via the Wits VPN.
An email has been sent out from the Registrar's office to all registered students, informing them how to access, log in to and use ulwazi. This email will be sent to newly registered students every week for the next four weeks.
Access Migration Integration and Data Sakai-Related Mobile App Canvas
Do I (as a lecturer) have access to ulwazi yet?
Yes, ulwazi went live on 27 January 2021! You can log in at https://ulwazi.wits.ac.za/. Your username is [your staff number]@wits.ac.za, and your password is the same password you use for your Wits email.
My course has already started in January so I will remain on Sakai for Block 1. Do I need to alert anyone? Yes, you need to let ICT know so that they can make sure that your course (and student access) remains active in Sakai for Block 1. Please email ulwazihelp@wits.ac.za.
What will be transferred in the migration from Sakai to ulwazi?
All the course content is transferred, e.g. files, media, readings, lessons, announcements, quiz questions, assignment instructions, and discussion topics (only the topics - no discussion posts). Student interactions (such as chats, forum posts, assignment uploads, and grades) will not be migrated.
What about all the time and effort we put in last year, and in the preceding years in creating good course sites?
Your 2020 course content from Sakai will be transferred "as is" to ulwazi so all your hard work will be copied across. You will need to do some formatting and updating because Sakai “Lessons” do not work exactly the same as ulwazi “Pages”.
Will we be using ulwazi in block 1 or only from block 2?
With the exception of courses that started in January 2021 or before 15 February 2021, all courses need to be on ulwazi for block 1.
Most Faculty of Health Sciences undergraduate courses and Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) Postgraduate School courses have already started. Does this mean that we will only migrate those courses to ulwazi, when the second teaching block starts?
Yes, those courses will be migrated separately and the process for that migration will be communicated.
Can you opt to not migrate the old Sakai course and develop a new course in ulwazi?
Yes, lecturers have the choice. You can choose to develop your course from scratch in ulwazi.
Does ulwazi have Gradebook, even if the existing content will not be migrated?
Yes, the Gradebook in ulwazi is very similar to Sakai (it is actually a little better).
What if my Sakai site is not automatically migrated?
Sakai sites can be manually migrated. To request this: Log a ticket via ulwazihelp@wits.ac.za or
Contact your faculty online learning designer.
I have a course that was run as one course in 2020, but in 2021, it is now split into two courses. Is there a way to request a new course site, in addition to the one that is being migrated?
Contact your faculty online learning designer who will assist you.
I will be teaching a course in 2021 that a different lecturer taught in 2020. How do I ensure that I have access to the course site?
ICT will do their best to link the courses to the lecturers. If a lecturer is not able to view their course. Email ulwazihelp@wits.ac.za
Will all lecturers who teach in the same course have access to the ulwazi course site?
Yes. The automatic migration will include all lecturers for a course from Sakai to ulwazi. On ulwazi, a lecturer can grant access to other lecturers.
Will Gradescope, Turnitin and BigBlueButton be integrated into ulwazi?
Yes, this has already been done.
Will students still have access to Sakai sites?
Students will still have access to Sakai if your course started before 15 February 2021. But it is vitally important that you let ICT know that this course is active on Sakai so that they don't remove access in block 1.
Will we continue to have access to Sakai for the purpose of referencing our old courses if required?
Lecturers will still have access to everything in Sakai for 2021. Thereafter the courses will be archived and Sakai will be "switched off".
In Sakai lessons, there is an option to export content via the IMS Common Cartridge (CC) format. If I export content from a lesson in Sakai using this CC format, can I then import that content into my course in ulwazi?
Yes.
How do I download the mobile app?
Canvas has a mobile app for android and apple devices. You can download them from the respective app stores. Once installed, use ulwazi University of the Witwatersrand when you are asked “What is your school’s name?”. Use the same login details as on the site by using [staffNo]@wits.ac.za and Wits password.
Which mobile app should I download?
Canvas has three mobile apps. There is one for the teacher, one for a student and one for a parent. Download the teacher app as the lecturer. (There are different features in each app with the appropriate focus.)
Can I link several of my course sites together if I want different cohorts of students in the same course?
Yes, Canvas has a cross-link function that works with sections, similar to the parent-child site function in Sakai. Please email ulwazi Help or your Faculty Online Learning Designer to link your sites together. You will need to specify the course code for each course to be linked and which course is the "parent" course. This needs to be done by an administrator so SIMS integration remains intact.
https://www.instructure.com/canvas/support-faq https://community.canvaslms.com/ https://elmira.instructure.com/courses/49/pages/frequently-asked-questions
This checklist was adapted from an original checklist by the Training Services Department at Instructure. It provides a starting point for ensuring your course is ready to go for student access at the start of a new term.
This checklist was adapted from an original checklist by the Training Services Department at Instructure. It provides a starting point for ensuring your course is ready to go for student access at the start of a new term.
How To Use: A ⭐ rating is an Essential Practice and a ⭐⭐ rating indicates a Good Practice criterion. Relevant Canvas help guides are linked throughout the text.
How To Use: A ★ rating is an Essential Practice and a ★★ rating indicates a Good Practice criterion. Relevant Canvas help guides are linked throughout the text.
This checklist was adapted from an original checklist by the Training Services Department at Instructure. It provides a starting point for ensuring your course is ready to go for student access at the start of a new term.
Practice
Essential Practices in Ulwazi ★
⃣ ⭐ Clean Up Migrated Content From Wits-e (If Applicable)
How To Use: A ★ rating is an Essential Practice and a ★★ rating indicates a Good Practice criterion. Relevant Canvas help guides are linked throughout the text.
Yes ✔ Practice
Essential Practices in Ulwazi ★
★ Clean Up Migrated Content From Wits-e (If Applicable)
If migrating content from Wits-e or another course, you need to review individual items, check course settings, organise content, and remove unneeded content before publishing your course. Review the Files, Modules, Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions pages.
Note: Removing items from a module does not delete the items. If you need to delete an item go to that page.
Yes ✔ Practice
⭐
If migrating content from Wits-e or another course, you need to review individual items, check course settings, organise content, and remove unneeded content before publishing your course. Review the Files, Modules, Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions pages.
Note: Removing items from a module does not delete the items. If you need to delete an item go to that page.
Customise Course Settings
★ Clean Up Migrated Content From Wits-e (If Applicable)
★ Customise Course Settings
Check the many different options residing under Course Details in Course Settings. Selecting More Options will open up a menu of extra features to turn on and off.
Check the many different options residing under Course Details in Course Settings. Selecting More Options will open up a menu of extra features to turn on and off.
⭐
Note: Don't forget to select Update Course Details at the bottomonce you update the settings.
If migrating content from Wits-e or another course, you need to review individual items, check course settings, organise content, and remove unneeded content before publishing your course. Review the Files, Modules, Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions pages.
Note: Removing items from a module does not delete the items. If you need to delete an item go to that page.
Tip: Don’t forget to select Update Course Details at the bottom once you update the settings.
Simplify Course Navigation
★ Customise Course Settings
★ Simplify Course Navigation
For an optimum course experience, hide unnecessary (or unused) course navigation links.
For an optimum course experience, hide unnecessary (or unused) course navigation links.
⃣ ⭐
Check the many different options residing under Course Details in Course Settings. Selecting More Options will open up a menu of extra features to turn on and off.
Tip: Don’t forget to select Update Course Details at the bottom once you update the settings.
★ Choose the Home Page
Choose the Home Page
★ Simplify Course Navigation
The Home Page is the first impression of a course. Select the Home Page option that best fits the needs of your course. You can also make use of a template.
The Home Page is the first impression of a course. Select the Home Page option that best fits the needs of your course. You can also make use of a template.
For an optimum course experience, hide unnecessary (or unused) course navigation links.
Tip: Include visuals to engage your students and incorporate important information about your course.
Note: Include visuals to engage your students and incorporate important information about your course.
★ Choose the Home Page
⃣ ⭐ Verify Participants in the People Link
★ Verify Participants in the People Link
Select People to verify your course enrolments (teacher, student, TA, etc.) for accuracy. Also check your course sections (if applicable).
Select People to verify your course enrolments (teacher, student, TA, etc.) for accuracy. Also check your course sections (if applicable).
The Home Page is the first impression of a course. Select the Home Page option that best fits the needs of your course. You can also make use of a template.
Tip: Include visuals to engage your students and incorporate important information about your course.
⃣ ⭐
★ Validate Course Hyperlinks
★ Verify Participants in the People Link
Validate Course Hyperlinks
Select Validate Links in your Course Settings to ensure there are no broken links.
Select Validate Links in your Course Settings to ensure there are no broken links
Select People to verify your course enrolments (teacher, student, TA, etc.) for accuracy. Also check your course sections (if applicable).
★ Publish Course and Content
⃣ ⭐
Check visibility of individual items and modules as a whole. Don’t forget t o publish your course
Publish Course and Content
★ Validate Course Hyperlinks
Tip: You can unpublish any items you don’t want students to see.
Select Validate Links in your Course Settings to ensure there are no broken links.
Check visibility of individual items and modules as a whole. Don’t forget to publish your course
★ Review Course in Student View
★ Publish Course and Content
Tip: You can unpublish any items you don’t want students to see.
Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective. Note: Some third party tools may not have student view functionality.
Check visibility of individual items and modules as a whole. Don’t forget t o publish your course . Tip: You can unpublish any items you don’t want students to see.
Tip: Student View adds a test student to Grades. After participating in Student View, enter your Gradebook as a teacher to view any Test Student entries.
⭐
Review Course in Student View
★ Review Course in Student View
Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective. Note: Some third party tools may not have student view functionality.
Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective. Note: Some third party tools may not have student view functionality.
Tip: Student View adds a test student to Grades. After participating in Student View, enter your Gradebook as a teacher to view any Test Student entries.
Tip: Student View adds a test student to Grades. After participating in Student View, enter your Gradebook as a teacher to view any Test Student entries.
⃣
⭐⭐
Manage Your Account Notifications
To ensure you receive communication from ulwazi, set up your Notification Preferences and contact method in ulwazi.
Tip: Remember to also show your students how to set their notification preferences
⃣ ⭐⭐ Select Favourite Courses
This checklist was adapted from an original checklist by the Training Services Department at Instructure. It provides a starting point for ensuring your course is ready to go for student access at the start of a new term.
Customise which course cards are displayed on your Dashboard by “Favouriting” courses based on preference, current semester, etc.
How To Use: A ★ rating is an Essential Practice and a ★★ rating indicates a Good Practice criterion. Relevant Canvas help guides are linked throughout the text.
Tip: Once courses are displayed, you can also give a course a “Nickname” visible only to you.
⃣ ⭐⭐ Manage Files
Essential Practices in Ulwazi ★
Upload and review your course folders and files. Manage the visibility of resources by Publishing, Unpublishing or Restricting Access to folders and files
Yes ✔ Practice
⃣
⭐⭐ Set Up Grades (If Applicable)
★ Clean Up Migrated Content From Wits-e (If Applicable)
Verify the Gradebook is arranged according to your grading policy and your syllabus.
Tip: You can move the “Total” column from the far right position to the far left position next to the student list. You can change your Total column to display as Points, if needed.
If migrating content from Wits-e or another course, you need to review individual items, check course settings, organise content, and remove unneeded content before publishing your course. Review the Files, Modules, Pages, Quizzes, Assignments, and Discussions pages.
Tip: You can set course Late Submission or Missing Submission policies.
Note: Removing items from a module does not delete the items. If you need to delete an item go to that page.
⃣
★ Customise Course Settings
⭐⭐ Set Up Assignment Groups (If Applicable)
If you use weighted grading categories for your final grade calculations, you will want to add Assignment Groups to the Assignments Index Page and assign weights to each Group.
Check the many different options residing under Course Details in Course Settings. Selecting More Options will open up a menu of extra features to turn on and off.
Tip: Don’t forget to select Update Course Details at the bottom once you update the settings.
⃣ ⭐ Adjust Course Settings
★ Simplify Course Navigation
For an optimum course experience, hide unnecessary (or unused) course navigation links.
Visit the course Settings to check your Course Details, Sections, Apps and Feature Options. Feature options allow you to choose when you want to enable new feature releases.
★ Choose the Home Page
Tip: Log a call with IT to cross-list your courses under the “Sections” tab (if needed).
Tip: Integrating 3rd party LTI Tools (apps) allows students to work with these applications without leaving ulwazi
The Home Page is the first impression of a course. Select the Home Page option that best fits the needs of your course. You can also make use of a template.
Tip: Include visuals to engage your students and incorporate important information about your course.
⃣
⭐⭐
Authenticate Third Party Tools
★ Verify Participants in the People Link
Third party tools, such as Google Apps or Office 365, must associate with a Wits address (staffnumber@wits.ac.za). Login, authenticate, and test these tools before assigning activities with these integrations.
Select People to verify your course enrolments (teacher, student, TA, etc.) for accuracy. Also check your course sections (if applicable).
★ Validate Course Hyperlinks
Select Validate Links in your Course Settings to ensure there are no broken links.
⃣ ⭐⭐ Verify Calendar
★ Publish Course and Content
Check the Calendar tool to verify Assignment due dates and Events scheduled for your course.
Note: The Calendar displays graded/published Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions and Events with due dates.
Check visibility of individual items and modules as a whole. Don’t forget t o publish your course Tip: You can unpublish any items you don’t want students to see.
⃣ ⭐⭐ Set a Profile Pic
★ Review Course in Student View
Review your course content from Student View to experience your course from a student perspective. Note: Some third party tools may not have student view functionality.
Set a profile picture that represents yourself in ulwazi. Students will be able to see the image displayed in the Inbox, Announcements, Discussions, and the People tab.
Tip: Student View adds a test student to Grades. After participating in Student View, enter your Gradebook as a teacher to view any Test Student entries.
ulwazi Help Desk
Please contact for all technical queries
ulwazihelp@wits.ac.za
Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development (CLTD)
Instructional Designers
ID support: IDSupport.cltd@wits.ac.za
Faculty Online Learning Designers
For assistance in designing your online/blended course
Humanities
Renee Koch: renee.koch@wits.ac.za
CLM
Greig Krull: greig.krull@wits.ac.za
Fiona Macalister: fiona.macalister@wits.ac.za
Myrtle Adams-Gardner: myrtle.adams-gardner@wits.ac.za
Health Sciences
Paula Barnard-Ashton: paula.barnard-ashton@wits.ac.za
Mark Allen: mark.allen@wits.ac.za
Science
Phiwe Dlamini: phiwokuhle.dlamini@wits.ac.za
Engineering
Nozuko Makhuvha: nozuko.makhuvha@wits.ac.za
ulwazi Faculty Administrators
Please contact if you need to create a new ulwazi site.
Humanities
Renee Koch: renee.koch@wits.ac.za
CLM
Fiona Macalister: fiona.macalister@wits.ac.za
Health Sciences
Ann George: ann.george@wits.ac.za
Science
Phiwe Dlamini: phiwokuhle.dlamini@wits.ac.za
Engineering
Nozuko Makhuvha: nozuko.makhuvha@wits.ac.za