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Exploring Teaching and Learning in Luddy Indiana University

Design for Success in Canvas

Posted on by akesha

  • Be clear. Detailed instructions are written for the least tech-savvy students. Make no assumptions. Include info links, definitions of terminology and expectations of writing length. Include links to specific Canvas Guides for Students in your assignment instructions for those who need step-by-step tutorials on how to post to a discussion board or how to submit an assignment.
  • Be sure you understand Canvas and get help from Canvas Instructor Guides to avoid creating navigation dead-ends and frustration for your students. (Example: Make sure that hyperlinks to outside sites are functioning and use built-in modules navigation. Internal Canvas links can open in a neighboring tab. (Use HTML code snippet target=”_blank” to avoid links within text that divert your students to another location in Canvas. Students won’t finish reading a page if they click a link mid-sentence and land elsewhere.)
  • Curate multiple examples of successfully completed assignments on a Canvas Page for students to emulate and surpass. Varied assignment examples will invite deeper learning inferences and creative thinking.
  • Use synchronous courses as a place to connect and discuss, rather than relaying new information. Use assigned discussions that require students to engage the material and develop their webinar questions in advance
  • Generally, think of a number of announcements you’ll post during each class week and stick with that throughout the course so students can start to expect the cadence you’ve established.
    • For example, you might always post an announcement on the first day of each week to provide some kick-off orientation and lecture content. If you already have this information ready, you can post all of the announcements, and delay when they are released.
    • Consider using enriched media as a way to engage students more dynamically, and try to integrate a variety of media options, like hyperlinks, source existing audio/video clips, or create your own in your weekly Announcements.
    • And don’t just tell students to click into your lecture, or to proceed to the discussion board. Make sure you create a narrative for the week or unit and build some context by explaining how a student might benefit..
  • Use Rubrics. Students will know where to spend their energy on assignments and have fewer complaints or questions. Rubrics help instructors give consistent, fast feedback without writing the same comments again and again.
  • UX. User test your navigation and course layout to ensure it is not confusing. The adventure is in the course materials, not in the navigation. (Research QM Quality Matters Rubric for Online Course Design, QOLT, and other quality assurance standards.)
  • Plan your course assignment due dates and pacing with the Academic Calendar and Holiday Calendar. Many students work during the week and appreciate Sunday night due dates.
  • Be available for questions immediately prior to deadlines. Clarify your anticipated response times and weekend availability for questions.
  • Use the Canvas Scheduler to allow students to select a time to meet with you. This feature can help manage student appointments for medium to large size classes. Appointments display in your calendar after a student or group has reserved a time slot.​
  • Include early course feedback—approximately week 2-3 in a semester—to gather student feedback on the course design, not the instructor! Minor course adjustments and clarifications can create major attitude improvements and student success. Use the Quiz tool for a required survey, grading only the student’s participation and not the answers.
  • Aim for quality, not quantity. Use the auto-grading quiz tool for low-stakes chapter quizzes to ensure that students read materials. Save precious grading time for the most meaningful projects and writings that require your human touch.
  • Be flexible. Keep assignment settings unlocked wherever possible so that students can look ahead.
  • Consider. Many students take online courses specifically for flexibility. Allow responsible students to submit early for holidays, vacations, and personal obligations.
  • Reward Persistence. Ease student anxiety by using question banks and low-stakes quiz settings that allow multiple attempts to raise grades. Allow major writing assignments to be resubmitted after feedback and revisions.
  • Reward Contributions. Create opportunities for students to locate and share content from current events with each other in course discussions

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