What is Canvas?
A Quick Start Guide to the BISD Canvas LMS
"Canvas - a learning management system (LMS) - is a way to simplify teaching and learning by connecting all the digital tools teachers use in one easy place."
What is an LMS?
An effective LMS is a very complex ecosystem designed to make it easy for teachers and students to access resources from multiple sources. Some of the benefits are:
gives teachers a centralized place to post learning resources and make the administration of class work simpler
helps teachers create lessons and resources that engage their students, and deliver personalized learning (include resources for different levels of understanding, which can then be assigned to specific pupils)
automates routine administrative tasks and communication with colleagues, district leaders, parents and other stakeholders
allows online tools housed in the LMS to be accessed on the many devices used by teachers and students
promotes collaboration inside and outside the classroom, engaging students more in their learning and giving a voice to less confident students
provides the ability to share lesson plans, assignments, classroom announcements and other information with others
allows content coordinators and teachers to build content independently or together, and easily share
Canvas Best Practices
- Plan an organized structure for your modules that you will use for all of them. Consistency in your design will make it more user-friendly for your students.
- Try to not overload "content pages" with lots of text. If the students will have to scroll down to find more information, it is likely they won't see the other information. Create another content page.
- Try to anchor student learning with a relevant visual when possible. The graphic will help students connect the online text to the concept.
- Put a link to the Canvas login on your teacher web-page.
- Include objectives for the lesson in the beginning.
- Proofread, proofread, proofread. It is always a good practice to have a few others look over your Canvas modules before you publish. PLCs are great resources for this type of detail work.
- Try out the various page options to encourage online collaboration, interaction, and engagement. Discussions, assignments, and quizzes are all available.
- Plan to discuss digital citizenship before and during use with an LMS. Students must be explicitly taught online learning etiquette and Canvas provides that opportunity.