New AI-powered solutions aim to make LMS modernization more accessible and strengthen pathways from learning to work
Modern education depends increasingly on technology, but not every institution has the resources to keep pace.
Instructure, the learning ecosystem behind Canvas LMS, is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to address this gap through a new effort supported by the AWS Education Equity Initiative.
The collaboration will focus on two connected challenges: helping institutions overcome the cost and complexity of upgrading outdated learning systems, and expanding access to workforce-focused learning for populations that may not fit within traditional higher education models.
Through the initiative, Instructure aims to reach approximately 900,000 learners during its first year, including roughly 280,000 underserved learners. The program has a path to reach approximately 5.4 million learners over four years, with roughly 1.8 million of those learners coming from underserved communities.
“Education equity means building systems that work for learners in every environment, including those who face the greatest barriers to opportunity,” said Melissa Loble, chief learning officer at Instructure. “Through this collaboration with AWS, we are accelerating tools that help more institutions modernize their learning environments and connect learners to workforce pathways. Instructure is committed to helping institutions expand opportunity through scalable learning infrastructure and workforce-connected learning experiences.”
Giving Institutions a Way Forward
For under-resourced institutions, modernizing an LMS can become a difficult cycle. Outdated systems can remain in place because replacing them requires the very resources these institutions may not have.
Instructure will develop AI-powered migration tools with AWS support to help address that challenge.
The tools are designed to make it easier for institutions to transition to Canvas from legacy LMS platforms, self-managed open-source systems, homegrown platforms and other non-standard learning environments.
The objective is straightforward: reduce the time, cost and complexity involved in modernization so more institutions can access cloud-based learning infrastructure and focus their resources on learners.
Connecting Learning With Career Opportunities
The initiative also places a strong emphasis on what happens after learning.
Canvas Career, Instructure’s skills-first and workforce-aligned platform, will be accelerated to support programs serving learners across continuing education, K-12 workforce initiatives, community colleges, vocational training centers, public-sector workforce programs and adult education.
“AWS is proud to power Instructure’s reach across more than 100 countries and millions of learners,” said Aanya Niaz, Education Lead, Amazon Web Services. “They’ve built Canvas Career to serve workforce and continuing education programs that often fall outside traditional higher education models. We want to make these tools and infrastructure that drive positive learning outcomes accessible to educators and learners who need them most.”
Planned development will address barriers that can prevent learners from fully participating in education. Secure, low-connectivity infrastructure will support correctional facilities and remote environments, while accessibility frameworks will help serve learners with disabilities.
The initiative will also strengthen workforce connections through AI-powered skill mapping that aligns training with job requirements, credential and certification management for stackable credentials and workforce badges, and employer tools that connect learning pathways with employment pipelines.
Measuring Whether Access Leads to Opportunity
The initiative will track more than the number of institutions adopting the technology.
Instructure will monitor institutional adoption and learner reach, while workforce outcomes such as credential attainment, program completion and job placement will be incorporated as programs develop.
Public reporting will begin in the second half of 2026 and continue quarterly.
Initial work will focus on the United States, Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom before expanding to additional regions.
The first-year focus will include:
- K-12 districts with workforce programs serving rural and first-generation students
- Correctional facilities creating credential pathways for incarcerated learners
- Community colleges serving adult and budget-constrained students
- Workforce development organizations, including vocational training centers and public-sector programs
The collaboration recognizes that technology alone cannot eliminate every barrier to education. However, by making modern infrastructure and workforce-connected learning more accessible, Instructure and AWS aim to create more opportunities for institutions and learners that have historically had fewer options.
Future phases will expand the tools and reach developed through the initiative, bringing the effort to additional communities around the world.