Over recent years, professors across Bucks have been using Canvas, an online education site, to interact with their students through assignments and updated grades, which has benefitted students immensely.
Canvas was founded in 2008, and was then officially launched as a network in 2012. It is a learning management system that is used by over 200,000 institutions and by over 18 million students across the world.
Canvas provides students with a gradebook, where they can view their grades for each assignment as well as a calendar and course outline to help organize the student and prepare them for each class.
This program also opens a door to communication between classmates, giving students an opportunity to discuss their work through message boards and allowing them to speak to their professor about a certain issue if necessary.
Shawn Queeney, an Arts and Communication professor, believes this online system improves student’s behavior, “The bottom line in this is if we want to change – ideally, improve – performance then students need all of the feedback and data they can get. My job is to provide that feedback and data in a timely manner and Canvas helps me do just that.”, Queeney said.
This system also gives students a greater chance at success, “I have seen many students give up in a course in the 12th or 13th week because they, incorrectly, assumed that there was nothing they could do to pass the course. One of the best things about the Canvas Gradebook is that it allows you and any student to plug in ‘what if’ grades for remaining assignments and see exactly what you need to do to reach your goal.” Bill Ford, a Psychology Professor explained.
Not only do professors feel strongly about this, but students are also in favor of Canvas, “Knowing my grade helps me stay motivated to come to class if I feel that it’s definitely going to be beneficial to me, therefore giving me control over my grades.” Said Taylor Sole, 19, a Journalism major from Doylestown.
Some even feel frustrated that not all of their professors have taken advantage of the system, Anthony Menard-Gill, 19, an Engineering major from Levittown explains “Some professors do not effectively use Canvas to its full potential. Some use it to solely put up assignments, while others simply do not use it at all. The problem I’ve encountered is having to ask my professors for my grades, or having to keep track of the grades myself.”.
Though some professors may feel that an analog approach is the correct way to teach, students feel that instant gratification to viewing and understanding their status in the class is imperative.
Canvas clearly is a program that can improve student’s work ethic and their overall attitudes to learning and succeeding in class. It also benefits Professors, giving them the opportunity to help their students rise to their full potential.