Canvas
UT Canvas Adoption Policy
Research indicates students most often access learning management systems (LMS), such as Canvas, for course information to manage academic tasks (Lopez, Pham, Hsu, Halpin, 2024). Effective in the Fall 2024, UT policy requires a minimum Canvas presence for course.
Canvas features are designed to support course organization and promote student interaction.
CATE recommends 4 essential elements of a effective Canvas course build: a strategically designed home page, backward planned syllabus, fully built modules, and learning outcome aligned assessment. A Moody College Canvas course template is available with essential elements of an effective course build pre-populated with coaching to complete each element.
Please email Shelly Furness to get a copy of the template in your course.
#1 Home Page
The home page of your Canvas course is one of the first interactions you will have with students. Be sure to design for a positive, organized, and clear orientation to your course to help students begin their learning pathway. Suggested components of an effective home page include:
- A meaningful image to introduce students to the content
- A brief welcome message
- Teaching team information
- 3-6 Learning Outcomes
- Expectations for collegial conduct
A "Start Here" button that links to the first module
#2 Backward Planning the Course Calendar
Backward planning (Wiggens, & McTighe, 2024, Understanding by Design) is a systematic way to design your course with the end goals in mind.
- Learning Outcomes stated as measurable learning beginning with the appropriate level Bloom's taxonomy verb. Ask yourself what you want the students to be able to DO by the end of the semester related to the content.
- Beginning with the last major assessment of semester learning in the week of finals or toward the end of the semester, chunk the milestone assessments in the weeks with enough instructional time to ensure students are successful on the assessments.
- Finalize the course calendar as a component of the course syllabus.
You can provide your course syllabus to students by using the UT Simple Syllabus (look for the UT Simple Syllabus left navigation link) platform that guides the completion of required and suggested components or uploading a document using the "Syllabus" left navigation.
#3 Modules for a Structured Learning Pathway
The heart of a learning management system (LMS) such as Canvas is to structure the learning pathway using modules.
Orientation Module
An orientation module is highly recommended to establish foundational course protocols and procedures. Orientation modules can include:
- Readiness surveys
- Syllabus activities or quizzes
- Student resources beyond the class
Weekly Modules
Chunking the learning by weekly modules assists students with time management in completing the learning pathway. Weekly modules should include:
- Module orientation page with an overview of the learning outcomes, required resources, activities, and assignment due dates
- Digitally accessible resources to support the learning
- Assignments with descriptive rubrics to guide students in completing the academic tasks
- Wrap up and looking ahead page that summarizes key topics and ties the learning to the next module
#4 Grades
Speedgrader in Canvas works well with rubrics to at once provide students with meaningful feedback and designate the assessed level of performance. All grades must be recorded in Canvas and kept current.
- The gradebook is populated as Assignments are created.
- You can set up Assignment groups with weights to align the stated percentages from your syllabus grading policy.