Canvas Basics: The Life-Changing Magic of Organizing Content in Canvas 5th-12th Teachers

 Course Author: Kelli Kelsoe

E-mail: kelsoek@castleberryisd.net

 Twitter: @kelsoek

This training will guide educators through the basics of delivering course content through Canvas, a learning management system (LMS). The course is a three-hour course. During the course, teachers will learn how to create a landing page, add assignments, add discussions, add quizzes, and organize content into modules.

Environment and Materials

Teachers must have a login to Canvas.

Participant Resources

• Laptop or iPad with Internet Access
• Login to Canvas

Purpose

Based on the BrightBytes survey, teachers struggle to incorporate the 4C’s (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, & creativity) into daily lesson activities. One teaching strategy that nurtures the incorporation of the 4c’s and naturally offers a platform to enhance student engagement and learning is to deliver course content through a learning management system. As teachers begin to transform lessons, they need a portal to share content and resources with students as well as other teachers. Additionally, with the new T-Tess appraisal system, teachers need to be able to make the shift from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered instruction. Through the use of Canvas, teachers are able to provide students with a platform that allows for student-centered learning. 

Format

This course is a face-to-face course, where teachers will experiment with different applications within the Canvas LMS. The course will be delivered over a three hour period. The electronic resources will be made available through Canvas. The content will guide the participant through the learning process of creating a landing page, assignments, discussions, and quizzes. The information in the modules will be available for reference after completion of the course.

Learning Expectations 

​This course will allow teachers to learn the basics of maintaining a course within Canvas. As a result, teachers will be encouraged to utilize Canvas for delivery of their lessons and lesson activities. Upon completion of the course, teachers will have an understanding of how to deliver instruction through online assignments, discussions, and quizzes to enhance student engagement and student achievement.

Goals and Objectives

1. Learner will be able to create content within Canvas.
1. Learner will create a unique landing page for their course.
2. Learner will create assignments within Canvas and link to home page.
3. Learner will create class discussions within Canvas and link to home page.
4. Learner will create online quizzes within Canvas and link to home page.
5. Learner will organize content into modules.

Assessment

By the end of the course, teachers will have created assignments, discussions, and quizzes and have them linked to the course landing page.

Modules

Course Evaluation

A quick instructor feedback form will be completed at the conclusion of the lesson. If the teachers respond with mostly positive feedback, then the course author and instructor will know the instructional design was effective.  

Timeframe 

This course will be completed within a three-hour time-frame.