Thursday, September 24, 2015

Canvas in the Classroom

The Instructional Technology Team has been working with teachers throughout the district this school year to pilot Canvas, a learning management system. Teachers from each campus (grades 3-12) are participating in the pilot and exploring best practices for creating a blended learning environment.

What is Blended Learning?
According to Tucker (2013), "blended learning combines classroom learning with online learning, in which students can, in part, control the time, pace, and place of their learning."

What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?
A Learning Management System supports blended learning and is “a way to simplify teaching and learning by connecting all the digital tools teachers use in one easy place.” (Instructure)

Why would I want to use Canvas with my students?
  • Anytime, anywhere access: 24/7 access to class resources, assignments, etc. 
  • Workflow: Work can be submitted to Canvas from any device. 
  • Differentiation: Vary due dates, assignment content and more for all learners. Learners can move at their own pace through material and even revisit content if needed. 
  • Collaboration: Students can share their learning through discussions and work collaboratively on projects.
  • Digital Citizenship: Canvas is a safe and secure platform for students to practice positive digital citizenship.


(click here to view video)

When can I start using Canvas?
Canvas is being phased in (grades 3-12) over two years. During Year 1 (2015-2016), approximately 100 teachers are participating in the pilot phase. These teachers attended summer training and will be challenged throughout the year to explore the robust features of Canvas with the support of the Instructional Technology Team. Based on the feedback from the pilot group, we will develop an implementation plan for remaining teachers (grades 3-12) to move to Canvas during Year 2 (2016-2017).


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