Difference between revisions of "Canvas"
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
Canvas LMS, designed by Instructure, Inc., is defined as “an open and reliable web-based software that allows institutions to manage digital learning, educators to create and present online learning materials and assess student learning, and students to engage in courses and receive feedback about skill development and learning achievement”<ref>three</ref>. Canvas provides an array of features for both students and instructors. Such features include files, calendar, syllabus, assignments, grades, discussion boards, private chat, Zoom links, and even a list of classmates. Besides a textbook, everything a student is expected to need for an online course is compiled into one place, providing an organized interface for all parties involved in the course. In addition, Canvas has three iOS apps: Canvas Student, Canvas Teacher, and Canvas Parent. These allow the user to stay aware of course content while on the go. While Canvas competes with other LMS such as Blackboard and Google Classroom, the demand for learning management systems is expected to increase<ref>four</ref>. In August of 2020, thirteen states adopted Canvas for their statewide educational system<ref>five</ref>, making it the number one Learning Management System in North America<ref>six</ref>. | Canvas LMS, designed by Instructure, Inc., is defined as “an open and reliable web-based software that allows institutions to manage digital learning, educators to create and present online learning materials and assess student learning, and students to engage in courses and receive feedback about skill development and learning achievement”<ref>three</ref>. Canvas provides an array of features for both students and instructors. Such features include files, calendar, syllabus, assignments, grades, discussion boards, private chat, Zoom links, and even a list of classmates. Besides a textbook, everything a student is expected to need for an online course is compiled into one place, providing an organized interface for all parties involved in the course. In addition, Canvas has three iOS apps: Canvas Student, Canvas Teacher, and Canvas Parent. These allow the user to stay aware of course content while on the go. While Canvas competes with other LMS such as Blackboard and Google Classroom, the demand for learning management systems is expected to increase<ref>four</ref>. In August of 2020, thirteen states adopted Canvas for their statewide educational system<ref>five</ref>, making it the number one Learning Management System in North America<ref>six</ref>. | ||
=== Course Analytics === | === Course Analytics === | ||
| + | While externally this platform is beneficial to all parties involved, internally, educators reap even more benefits. In the pre-covid era when in-person instruction was the only option, teachers were able to get a general view of students who pay attention and actively participate, versus those who do not show effort in class. Now, with the development of Canvas Analytics, teachers can enhance their assessment by monitoring student activity via the course page. This tool provides an opportunity for teachers to correlate a student’s behavior on the canvas page with their performance in the class. With this unprecedented amount of data, teachers are able to infer potential causation for why one student is falling behind compared to another, by assessing their time spent engaging with the course material and utilizing the resources provided by the teacher<ref>seven</ref>. | ||
| − | + | When an instructor first logs into Canvas, they are able to click on Course Analytics to view a graph or table representation of each student’s data. These analytics are divided into four categories: activity, submissions, grades, and student analytics. Activity measures participation and engagement, highlighting the number of page views and levels of interactions with course content from each student. The submissions tab refers to the quizzes and assignments that are distributed. This category measures the timely, or untimely, manner in which a student submits their assignments. Meanwhile, the grades section offers a box and whisker plot of the class grade distribution.This plot describes the median, lowest, and highest scores produced by the class, allowing the teacher a more comprehensive glimpse of a student’s success relative to their peers. The final measurement gives a breakdown of these categories by student, providing an overall view of this students’ progress, or lack thereof, in a course<ref>eight</ref>. | |
=Notes= | =Notes= | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 13:01, 12 March 2021
As a student at the University of Michigan, one is exposed and expected to utilize a variety of advanced technological platforms, which offer convenience and uniformity to a university grappling with large rates of enrollment[1]. Such platforms include Wolverine Access, Zoom, Bluejeans, Piazza, and Canvas. Due to the global pandemic, universities have been forced to implement a virtual learning system to maintain a substantive academic experience; however, this transition has exacerbated already prominent concerns about surveillance and privacy. Although students are familiar with the structure of Canvas, the significance of this platform as an asset to the universities it serves, has increased due to the vast array of functions and features available [2].
Canvas Overview
Canvas LMS, designed by Instructure, Inc., is defined as “an open and reliable web-based software that allows institutions to manage digital learning, educators to create and present online learning materials and assess student learning, and students to engage in courses and receive feedback about skill development and learning achievement”[3]. Canvas provides an array of features for both students and instructors. Such features include files, calendar, syllabus, assignments, grades, discussion boards, private chat, Zoom links, and even a list of classmates. Besides a textbook, everything a student is expected to need for an online course is compiled into one place, providing an organized interface for all parties involved in the course. In addition, Canvas has three iOS apps: Canvas Student, Canvas Teacher, and Canvas Parent. These allow the user to stay aware of course content while on the go. While Canvas competes with other LMS such as Blackboard and Google Classroom, the demand for learning management systems is expected to increase[4]. In August of 2020, thirteen states adopted Canvas for their statewide educational system[5], making it the number one Learning Management System in North America[6].
Course Analytics
While externally this platform is beneficial to all parties involved, internally, educators reap even more benefits. In the pre-covid era when in-person instruction was the only option, teachers were able to get a general view of students who pay attention and actively participate, versus those who do not show effort in class. Now, with the development of Canvas Analytics, teachers can enhance their assessment by monitoring student activity via the course page. This tool provides an opportunity for teachers to correlate a student’s behavior on the canvas page with their performance in the class. With this unprecedented amount of data, teachers are able to infer potential causation for why one student is falling behind compared to another, by assessing their time spent engaging with the course material and utilizing the resources provided by the teacher[7].
When an instructor first logs into Canvas, they are able to click on Course Analytics to view a graph or table representation of each student’s data. These analytics are divided into four categories: activity, submissions, grades, and student analytics. Activity measures participation and engagement, highlighting the number of page views and levels of interactions with course content from each student. The submissions tab refers to the quizzes and assignments that are distributed. This category measures the timely, or untimely, manner in which a student submits their assignments. Meanwhile, the grades section offers a box and whisker plot of the class grade distribution.This plot describes the median, lowest, and highest scores produced by the class, allowing the teacher a more comprehensive glimpse of a student’s success relative to their peers. The final measurement gives a breakdown of these categories by student, providing an overall view of this students’ progress, or lack thereof, in a course[8].
