Title: Lost in transition: a mixed-methods study on students' experiences and challenges migrating between learning management systems in higher education

Authors: Lan Nguyen; Jared Walters

Addresses: School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia ' School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia

Abstract: With the increasing reliance on learning management systems (LMSs) to support online and blended-learning in higher education, the adoption/switch to a new system can disrupt student learning. This mixed-methods study explored 128 students' reflections of an institution-wide transition from blackboard to canvas, and whether individual characteristics (self-efficacy, technology anxiety, personality) predicted positive experiences. Positive LMS transition experiences were predicted by higher online-learning self-efficacy and lower technology anxiety, but not personality. Overall ratings of the transition were moderately negative due to lack of awareness and understanding of why the transition occurred, lack of staff confidence and knowledge about the new system, and lack of consistency across courses and systems. Interestingly, these concerns were consistent among students regardless of their level of online-learning self-efficacy and technology anxiety. This study contributes to the academic discourse on technological transitions for online and blended-learning in higher education and provides guidance for institutions planning system changes.

Keywords: learning management system; LMSs; transition; migration; students; higher education; mixed-methods.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2026.154935

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2026 Vol.21 No.2, pp.210 - 241

Received: 16 Feb 2024
Accepted: 02 Jul 2024
Published online: 20 Jul 2026 *

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