Canvas @ Yale: Experiments & Pilots

Canvas @ Yale is continuously developing and exploring new tools to better meet the teaching and learning needs of the Yale community. Our approach to investigating, experimenting, piloting, and onboarding new external tools for academic courses is done in collaboration with instructors, ITS, Data Governance, and other institutional partners to ensure the safety and security of Yale’s FERPA data. This page outlines our tool adoption process as well as previous, current, and upcoming experiments / pilots.  

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AI Technology & Ed Tech Pilot Interest Form

On This Page

This page will address the following information:

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Tool Adoption Pathway

Step Description / Characteristics Data Classification
Experiment
  • Approved to investigate and use by the Data / AI Governance Committee for a select few instructors providing feedback on its value
  • Not integrated into Canvas @ Yale
  • Must be used in the class in an optional, ungraded, and anonymous format
  • Often free / low cost
 Low Risk
Pilot
  • Integrated into Canvas @ Yale at the course level
  • Moved through Yale’s Accessibility, Security, and Procurement processes
    • Meets Yale’s Minimum Security Standards and/or has documented security exceptions 
    • Approved and signed Accessibility Addendum
    • Approved and signed Data Addendum
  • Approved for identifiable and graded work in courses
  • School, department, or grant funded
 Moderate Risk
Production
  • Integrated into Canvas @ Yale at the sub-account level, making it available to all instructors and/or the appropriate selection of instructors the tool is licensed for
  • Funding moved to the appropriate operation budget
 Moderate Risk

Status Key

Experiment / Pilot Status Status Description
Investigating We are actively investigating the viability of using this external tool for academic courses.
Running

Experiments: A small number of instructors are using the external tool outside of Canvas in an anonymous, ungraded, non-required format.

Pilots: The external tool is available for interested faculty to adopt with an integration in Canvas.
Paused The experimentation or pilot of this external tool is suspended for the time being.
Concluded - Approved

Experiments: The experiment is done and the recommendation is to move forward with a pilot.

Pilots: The pilot is done and the recommendation is to license the external tool for partial or full academic course usage.
Concluded - Rejected

Experiments: The experiment is done and the recommendation is to not continue with this external tool.

Pilots: The pilot is done and the recommendation is to not license this external tool. 

Yale’s Data Classifications

To learn more, check out the Data Classification Guideline (1604 GD.01) on the Yale Information Security site. 

  • Low Risk

    Public or low-sensitivity information with little risk if disclosed. Examples include published research.

  • Moderate Risk

    FERPA-protected student education records. Examples include grades, transcripts, class schedules, financial aid, etc.

  • High Risk

    Serious harm if exposed; often protected by law or contract. Examples include Social Security Numbers and HIPPA info.

Experiments

Tool Tool Description Sponsoring Department Status Duration
Mathmatize MathMatize is an assessment, polling and content creation platform built for STEM. Math / FAS SEAS Running Fall 2026
Speakology Speakology AI is a language-learning platform that uses AI-powered avatars to provide students with immersive, one-on-one conversational practice in their target language. CLS / FAS SEAS Concluded - Approved Spring 2026
Turnitin with Clarity Turnitin Clarity is an add-on tool for Turnitin Feedback Studio that provides a dedicated writing space for students. It features a student composition workspace, a configurable AI assistant, and process playback tools. English / History Investigating Fall 2026

Pilots

Tool Tool Description Sponsoring Department Status Duration
BoodleBox BoodleBox is a collaborative AI platform that provides access to multiple generative AI models through one secure interface, allowing instructors and students to compare responses, collaborate through shared AI conversations, and build customized AI assistants, tutors, or simulations. Provost Office Running Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Ed Discussions with Bots++ Bots++ adds an AI-powered chatbot that instructors can configure using course information and uploaded materials. Students can ask questions about course content and receive real-time responses, while instructors maintain control over the resources, instructions, and response settings used by the bot.  Poorvu Center Concluded - Approved Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
Gemini LTI The Gemini LTI provides access to Gemini Chat, Gems, and NotebookLM directly within Canvas. Instructors can use Gemini Chat for generative AI conversations, create customized Gems for specific course activities or learning objectives, and use NotebookLM to help students engage with instructor-provided course materials. Provost Office Running Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Harmonize Harmonize is an interactive learning platform that helps students engage in meaningful discussions, collaborate with classmates, and interact with course materials using text, audio, and video. Poorvu Center Running Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
SchoolAI SchoolAI is an AI-powered platform that operates directly within Canvas. Faculty can create guided AI environments called Spaces using course content, syllabi, assignments, and learning objectives. Spaces can be designed as virtual teaching assistants, syllabus assistants, lab guides, tutors, or other course-specific resources. Provost Office Concluded - Rejected –
Speakology Speakology is a language-learning platform that uses AI-powered avatars to provide students with immersive, one-on-one conversational practice in their target language. CLS / Provost Office Running Fall 2026 - Spring 2027

Join a Pilot

AI Technology & Ed Tech Pilot Interest Form

Frequently Asked Questions

No, some external tools go straight to Pilot and do not engage in the Experiment process. Each external tool is assessed on its own basis and merits to determine if it should have an Experiment prior to Piloting in Canvas @ Yale.  

While you are welcome to engage in your own low risk experiments for your own exploration, if the goal is to get a tool installed for use in Canvas @ Yale for your classes, or if you wish to ask students to participate in the experiment, we ask that you first discuss it with the Educational & Engagement Technology team in the Poorvu Center.  Part of what we assess is if the vendor would be a good partner, and if AI is involved, we work with the AI / Data Governance Committee to confirm that the use case / workflow does not violate any policies or create issues.  

For an Experiment, we are looking for feedback from the Instructors using the tool that it had educational and/or operational value in their teaching and students’ learning.  

For a Pilot, we look at a number of factors to determine if the external tool should be implemented upon completion of the Pilot including:

  • Instructor feedback
  • Student feedback  
  • Adoption numbers during the Pilot
  • Cost of licenses for some / all the University
  • Functionality overlap with other existing external tools
  • Budgetary considerations  

The Educational & Engagement Technology team in the Poorvu Center receives recommendations from a few different pathways:

  • Poorvu Center’s AI Course Revision Pilot Grant
  • Poorvu Center’s Faculty Steering Committee
  • Poorvu Center’s Student Council
  • Provost Office Recommendations
  • Various Faculty Committees
  • Individual Instructors emailing canvas@yale.edu or askpoorvucenter@yale.edu

All of these pathways make recommendations to either investigate a specific external tool or give feedback about a gap in our service that an external tool could / should fill for the Yale community.  

You can contact the Educational & Engagement Technology team in the Poorvu Center. Please email canvas@yale.edu with your questions.