Canvas Introduced for New School Year

By Noah Bell

Theme Editor

With technology’s role in the average classroom increasing steadily, it is almost impossible to function as a school in today’s world without some kind of technology going beyond just the simple classroom.

In an effort to remain more organized while also implementing a new technology system to better connect teachers and students, Mira Costa introduced Canvas. Canvas began in the 2016/2017 school year and functions as a localized site where all assignments and events for every class can be accessed.

Background information about Canvas’s parent company, Instructure

“Canvas is a Learning Management System designed to be a platform for teachers to post assignments, for students to turn in assignments, for online conversations, and for much more associated with the online version of a class,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said.

The main goals of implementing Canvas were efficiency and convenience. With a different system of communication being used by every single teacher, it was possible that a kid had to know multiple logins just to get homework, according to Principal Dr. Ben Dale.

“We had too many different learning management systems and different ways that teachers were communicating with the kids so we wanted to streamline it and have it be one system,” Dale said.

Overall, the administration has received good feedback about Canvas so far. The high usage rate and positive feedback about Canvas is a direct result of the time, professional development, encouragement and reminders that were given to teachers, according to Dale.

“So far the feedback has been very positive from both students and teachers,” Dale said. “We have a pretty good usage rate for the first year, as out of 116 teachers we probably have 10 that aren’t using it as much as we would like them to.”

Guide to Canvas and what makes it beneficial

The administration and staff have been using the feedback they get from parents, students and teachers in order to help educate or remind those who aren’t quite using Canvas to its full potential. Staff are available to help with Canvas issues rather than punish those that don’t use it.

“All feedback is good but our way of handling feedback is very collegial,” Dale said. “We never go in and say you gotta start doing that or we’re gonna hit you over the head with a hammer, we help them.”

In order to improve the functionality of Canvas for the future, the administration provides helpful assistance. This has been met with good results as almost all Mira Costa staff are using Canvas to its full extent.

The teachers’ attitude is great and we don’t have anyone that refuses or doesn’t want to do it. It’s on us to go out and give teachers training, support, time, assistance and encouragement because those things are important.”