Differences Between Sakai & Canvas

Tools Crosswalk

The following are tool and setting equivalents between Sakai & Canvas. During a migration, a best effort has been made to map each item from Sakai into the corresponding field in Canvas.

Sakai Tool Name	Canvas Tool Name
Assignments	Assignments
Discussions	Discussions
Gradebook	Grades
Lessons	Combination of Modules & Pages
Resources	Files
Rubrics	Rubrics
Syllabus	Syllabus
Tests & Quizzes	Quizzes

Lessons Crosswalk

The Sakai Lesson tool has a variety of item types that may be added. Canvas does not have an equivalent feature for all of the available Sakai item types. As such some items will not be brought over in a migration and the instructor will have to review and decide how best to utilize available Canvas tools to recreate the desired experience. Additional details are available in the migration working guide.

Sakai Item Type	Canvas Equivalent
Text	This item type will function similarly in Canvas.
Content links	This item type will function similarly in Canvas.
Subpage	Each subpage will be created as a separate Page in Canvas.
Embed file	Depending on the file type embedded, the file will show as an embedded item (ex: image file) or as a link to file.
Embed Resources folder	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature. We recommend linking to individual files as needed in a Canvas Module.
Embed Calendar	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature. Canvas has a Calendar tool specific to each student and thus you may find this item is no longer necessary. In addition, the Canvas Syllabus tool will aggregate all important dates from Assignments & Quizzes for students to review.
Embed Announcements	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature. Canvas has a separate Announcements tool students may review as needed.
Embed Discussions	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature. Canvas has a separate Discussions tool students may review as needed.
Checklist	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature.
Question	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature.
Comment	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature.
Student Content	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature.
Link to a Quiz	This item type will function similarly in Canvas.
Link to an Assignment	This item type will function similarly in Canvas.
Link to a Discussion (forum)	Canvas does not have an equivalent feature.
Link to a Discussion (topic)	This item type will function similarly in Canvas.

Quizzes Crosswalk

Sakai and Canvas have many common question types but some function in different ways. Additional details are available in the migration working guide.

Sakai Question Type	Canvas Equivalent
Multiple choice (single correct answer)	This question type will function similarly in Canvas.
Multiple choice (Multiple correct, single selection)	Canvas does not have an equivalent question type. The most similar alternative would be the Multiple Answers question type.
Multiple choice (Multiple correct, Multiple selection)	These will be listed as the Multiple Answers question type in Canvas.
True/False	This question type will function similarly in Canvas.
Short Answer/Essay	This question type will function similarly in Canvas.
Fill in the blank	This question type will function similarly in Canvas. These will be listed as Fill in multiple blanks question type in Canvas to accommodate when questions have more than one answer field.
File upload	This question type will function similarly in Canvas.
Student Audio Response	Canvas does not have an equivalent question type. An alternative would be to use the Essay question type and have students use the Rich Content Editor to record an audio file.
Survey	Canvas does not have an equivalent question type. The most similar alternative would be the Multiple Choice question type.
Survey: matrix of choices	Canvas does not have an equivalent question type.
Matching	This question type will function similarly in Canvas.
Calculated	Canvas’ closest equivalent is the Formula question type.
Numeric	In Canvas the Numerical Answer question type works differently than in Sakai. Additional details are available in the migration working guide.
Hotspot	Canvas Classic Quizzes does not have an equivalent question type. Canvas New Quizzes has a rudimentary Hotspot question type you may want to experiment with.