Survey Overview
The Academic Technology Survey helps OIT's Academic Technology team understand if tools such as Canvas, Zoom and Classroom Capture are meeting campus teaching and learning needs, and is one way OIT identifies limits and gaps in current support and training offerings.
This survey was launched in February 2026.
Participation
- Educators: 450 qualified respondents from 3,511 invitations (15% response rate).
- Students: 651 respondents from 5,908 invitations (11% response rate).
- Broad representation across colleges, departments, roles, and class years.
Key Findings
Technology Satisfaction is Generally High
Across major academic technologies, satisfaction levels were consistently positive. Most tools received satisfaction ratings between 70%-85% among users.
Highest Satisfaction Areas
- Canvas was rated favorably by both Faculty at 70% and Students at 87%. Students reported being 68% satisfied with Instructor Use of Canvas.
- Classroom Capture was rated favorably at 85% for faculty, and 81% for students.
- Zoom was rated favorably by both groups with a dissatisfaction rate of only 5%.
- Other highly-rated tools: PlayPosit (WeVideo), Qualtrics, support services, and classroom A/V.
Canvas Themes
The strongest theme throughout the survey was not dissatisfaction with Canvas itself, but inconsistency in how courses are designed and managed.
Student feedback repeatedly emphasized:
- Lack of consistency across courses.
- Different navigation structures and layouts.
- Missing or inaccurate due dates.
- Delayed grade posting.
- Desire for minimum standards and better course organization.
Representative student quotes:
"Canvas as a platform is great but it is so ridiculously inconsistent across all professors, I feel like I have to work really hard to make sure that I am correct on syllabus information and due dates.”
“Maybe some standard templating would be nice. Or even some more general training on organization for professors.”
Educator feedback focused largely on:
- Grading workflows.
- Assessment tools.
- Complexity caused by numerous add-ons and integrations.
Representative educator quotes:
“All of these technologies should be designed to play together better.”
“Simplify add ons in Canvas, fewer extras.”
Inconsistency in instructor use of Canvas has been a theme in student feedback since at least 2019 and has continued in the 2024 and current Academic Technology surveys. This year, we asked students specifically to rate the consistency of their Canvas experience, as well as the importance of consistency, with mixed results.
Classroom Tools
The survey asked educators to rate the following classroom tools:
- Teaching podiums (65% satisfied).
- In-room cameras & microphones (82% and 73% satisfied).
- TV screens, projectors, and document cameras (73%, 79% and 80% satisfied).
Podium issues related to cable and connector management are being addressed based on this feedback.
AI Perceptions
Survey responses revealed cautious and often negative sentiment toward generative AI. 36% of students and 67% of educators reported using no generative AI tools at all.
Tool Usage
Among respondents who use AI:
- ChatGPT is the most commonly used AI tool, with 51% of students and 23% of educators reporting use.
- Usage of institutionally provided AI tools such as Copilot Chat (7% student use and 3% educator use) and Google NotebookLM (14% student use and 10% educator use) remains limited.
Major Barriers
When asked about barriers to AI use, many respondents reported not wanting to use AI in their coursework. Others cited concerns about lack of campus guidance and policy, as well as difficulty evaluating the tools for use.
Major Concerns
Both groups reported concerns and perceived risks to general campus generative AI usage.
What We're Doing
- Canvas Course Templates: OIT partnered with the Center for Teaching & Learning to create student and faculty informed, optional course templates, now available. Visit the Center for Teaching & Learning website for more information including a video demo.
- Canvas Microcredentials: New for the fall 2026 semester, OIT is offering a series of Canvas training micro-credentials that faculty can earn, including a Canvas Fundamentals course that is designed for new campus educators.
- Classroom Capture Expansion: Based on continued positive survey results and ongoing demand, Classroom Capture has expanded to 22 additional classrooms in fall 2026, bringing the total number of Classroom Capture-enabled spaces on campus to more than 70. Learn more about the service on OIT’s Classroom Capture webpage.
- AI Features: OIT’s Academic Technology & Support team continues to monitor and assess how the AI landscape is changing teaching and learning. The team continues to evaluate AI features offered by supported tools. Find out more about the Canvas IgniteAI Feature Preview and the Turnitin Clarity Limited Pilot.
- Classroom Tools: This summer, the classroom support team reviewed survey results and improved cable management in several rooms based on educator feedback.
Questions & Contact
Do these findings align with your experience? Do you have questions on these findings? Did you miss the survey, and would you like to provide feedback? Please contact Rebecca Kallemeyn for more information.
