Canvas

Key Features – Assignments

• Multiple Types of Assignment Submission: none, physical paper turn-in, external tool submission, or online submission
  • Multiple types of online assignment types allowed: text box, file upload, website url, media recordings, student annotation
• Only one type of assignment type can be submitted at a time. For example, submitting a paper and a video presentation would not be possible within one attempt. The student would have to submit two attempts: one for the paper (file upload) and one for the video (media recording).
• Peer review integrated within assignment structure

ID Takeaway – Assignments

The layout of Canvas feels familiar to Bb Learn Original in that the editing view of assignments begins with the title and description (text box) and all of the assignment setup and feature options are below that. Building assignments in Canvas is fairly straightforward and once it is built it can be shared with colleagues directly or via the “commons.” Every grade column must have an associated assignment. So even graded items turned in during class time will need to have an assignment created in the LMS. The peer review and group assignment tools are integrated and easily turned on/off, along with the options to auto-assign or allow the instructor to manually assign them.

Key Features – Quizzes

• Two quiz engines: Classic Quizzes with 12 question types and New Quizzes with 11 question types and additional features like Hot Spot and Ordering questions. Automatic grading for most question types. Rubrics can be attached to quiz questions for grading.
• The grading interface using SpeedGrader is often said to provide a “smoother” interface.
• Two quiz engines with some differing question types. One quiz cannot use questions from both engines.
• Requires learning new terminology and some of that is split between Classic Quizzes which use Question Banks and New Quizzes which use Item Banks.

ID Takeaway – Quizzes

Canvas provides standard question types and options for randomization and time limits, though some have expressed frustration with the multi-step process required for certain advanced settings. Canvas Quizzes’ SpeedGrader integration is valuable for efficiency, allowing instructors to provide feedback and grade all assessment types in one place. Additionally, the option of grading questions with a rubric is a plus. The analytics aren’t as detailed as some other LMS options.

Key Features

• Mini-sites created for group work include sharing, internal discussion, project management, and peer review
• In-LMS email system for individuals, groups, or entire course
• Notifications can become overwhelming if not carefully managed
• Mobile app has different functionality than desktop version

ID Takeaway

Canvas’ collaboration tools are robust and similar in functionality to all three of the LMS being considered. The variety of ways to send and receive communication offers plenty of room for instructors to customize their course interactions. However, without a thorough understanding of how all the methods work, users can find themselves overwhelmed with notifications, leading to ignoring or missing important information.

Key Features

• Intuitive Design: Highly-intuitive, content editor requires minimal training.
• Canvas Commons: This is a learning repository filled with Canvas modules, activities and templates that can be shared and imported.

ID Takeaway

Canvas pages are functional and straight-forward, but it can feel a bit limited when it comes to design flexibility. There aren’t many built-in customization options, so making pages visually engaging will require some HTML skill. Canvas definitely stands out regarding building content efficiently, but it will take more time (and clicks) to incorporate the more visual appeal and interactive components such as H5P.

Key Features

• Highly customizable setup for both instructors and students
• Creative feedback options include a comment library and emojis
• “SpeedGrader” feature easily moves from student to student or by question
• Gradebook columns cannot be created or modified independent of assignments

ID Takeaway

Canvas gradebook has an abundance of customization options available for both instructors and students. That flexibility also comes with a steep learning curve, as users need to be familiar with the intricacies of the options in order to use them correctly; in some cases, there is no mistake indicator when a user inputs an error. Each action requires several ‘clicks’ on the instructor side, but the end result is a very clean interface on the student side, with emphasis on guiding students to feedback.

Key Features

• Canvas Discussions: Feature a more social media-like interface that feels familiar to students. Unlike Brightspace or Blackboard Ultra, students can @mention classmates to create a more interactive experience.
• Canvas Studio: Faculty can embed quizzes directly into videos, add time-stamped discussion prompts, and track how students interact with content. Despite these robust features, the video editing capabilities is lacking.
• Student Engagement Tracking: Using the Canvas Analytics tool helps faculty see the interaction students are having with the course materials in your class, and directly message students.
• Customization Limitations: Faculty sometimes find the interaction tools lack flexibility for specialized teaching approaches, requiring workarounds or third-party integrations to achieve desired engagement strategies.

ID Takeaway:

Canvas really shines when it comes to interaction and engagement because it strikes that perfect balance – it’s packed with powerful features such as video engagement and trendy discussions, but doesn’t overwhelm you with complicated menus and processes. Both instructors and students can jump right into having meaningful discussions without experiencing the cognitive overload of navigating the system. Simplicity makes for a smooth experience, but faculty wanting more flexibility may be disappointed.