By: Kelley Sussman
Canvas is an app the Manhattan Beach Unified School District uses to help students communicate with their teachers. Although many teachers take advantage of this resource, some teachers such as Mr. Morrow, Ms. Resnikoff, and Mr. Calderon, do not use canvas, leaving students without a place to check their classwork and homework online. Since not all teachers use Canvas, the district should change platforms so every teacher would be on the same page and platform. On Canvas, students able to check old and new assignments, and are reminded of upcoming due dates. Teachers are able to send out announcements, assign homework, send emails to their students, and upload files. However, many teachers are not taking advantage of this app, so these features are pointless. A change is necessary for teachers and student success’ on campus. The district should find new app that addresses Canvas’ shortcomings and accommodates all teacher’s needs.
Since Canvas is not being renewed next school year, the district needs to find an app to replace it. Without the use of a helpful app, students are left with nothing to check their homework, classwork or grades. Although Canvas serves this purpose, many teachers do not use Canvas, and students are left deprived of these navigational features. Canvas also has many glitches, notifications are sometimes delayed and class discussions are very hard to navigate. A new app should take the place of Canvas so students are able to have these features.
Teachers and administrators want students to succeed in class but if the teacher is not using Canvas or an app like Canvas, students do not know what their classwork or homework is, stifling their academics. Not to mention, the district is paying for Canvas. Since the district is paying for Canvas, and teachers are still not using Canvas, it is time for a change. Many teachers obviously do not use Canvas because they have a problem with it, like not being able to link Canvas with the grading app, Aeries, teachers are having to manually put grades into both applications. The district should spend their money on something all teachers use that is helpful for all.
There are few teachers including, Ms. DiBernardo and Ms. Allen, on campus use Google Classroom, which is very similar to Canvas. According to Ms. DiBernardo, she uses Google classroom because she has used it in the past and does not have time to learn Canvas’ difficult app.
The teachers who do use Canvas, sometimes do not even post assignments daily, which makes the app useless. A new app would allow for change and the school would have a helpful app for everyone on campus. This just adds onto the list of reasons of why making a change in platforms would only benefit the staff and students on campus. A new and different app from Canvas would rule out this flaw, making the change even more necessary.
A new app at Costa would allow teachers to make a change and try out a new app. If the district switches to a new platform that all teachers would use, students would have one place for all of their classes . A new platform would benefit everyone working on campus because it would resolve Canvas’ many flaws. The school district should invest some time into thinking about changing platforms to solve the many problems Canvas has.
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