What I Learned from Teaching Online in Canvas Molly Mead

Overall Students really liked the way it looked For me, there were several things I thought were better than Bb and several things that were not as robust as Bb Some students had trouble with where to find things, but I blame that more on my organization of the site than anything else

The GOOD Communications tools Dynamic assignment listings Student view Pages can be editable by students (wiki projects)

Canvas Communications tools: email

Canvas Communications tools: Chat

Dynamic Display of Assignments/Due Dates Assignments are created within each module (ideally in the module they are due) Dynamically, in the Calendar Dynamically, on the Syllabus page When you move an assignment in the calendar, the date will change everywhere else it is listed

Calendar View

Assignments & Course Syllabus View

The Student View feature

Student View

Pages can become Wikis (with the right settings)

The NOT SO GOOD

Pay Careful Attention to your Organizational Structure I was unsure how much of the actual content of the course students were consuming I thought that they were accessing the discussions and quizzes without seeing the instructional materials first

Communicate Clearly Your Expectations for Discussions In Bb, I did not use due dates because of how difficult it was to adjust for students with legitimate reasons to submit late work In Canvas, I did because of the calendar/assignment dynamic pulls Two due dates for each discussion – causes confusion for students

Designing for Success

Modules: Make them Front and Center Decide what the Home page for your course should be Make sure that all content students need to access is readily available from your home page Make the module of the week become the home page for your course

Hide and Don’t Publish Items that Students Don’t Need to See Hide Pages and Files Don’t publish any items or documents that will confuse students

Create a Walkthrough Video Make a short video that shows students where things are in your course and how to find them Use Panopto to record your computer screen while you are talking students through your course site, where to find things and how to figure out what to do when they are lost