Western introduces a new learning platform called Canvas
Sydney Carpenter | News Editor
In an effort to update Moodle — Western’s Learning Management System — a new committee called The University Technology Advisory Committee was formed in February of 2019.
During spring 2020, the pilot version of Canvas, approved by President Rex Fuller back in December 2019, was introduced. President Fuller reported that Canvas is currently being funded by the CARES Act until the end of the year.
“Starting in January we have a contract that is funded through our normal budget,” Fuller explained. Western plans to phase Moodle out by July 2020.
Due to COVID-19, Dean of Library and Academic Affairs Chelle Bachelor reported that approximately 15 courses were used in Canvas because professors could not effectively convert to Canvas. In spite of the debut’s setback, Western offered two programs over the summer to help professors acclimate to online learning and Canvas; Catalyst and the entire month of August dedicated to Canvas training sessions.
According to Michael Reis, Director of Academic Innovation, “In Catalyst, our summer training that covered online pedagogy and tools, 45 instructors participated.”
During Catalyst, Canvas was used throughout the two weeks of the course. Additionally, Western designated the entire month of August to professors interested in learning how to use Canvas. Reis reported that 112 professors have participated in Canvas training sessions.
“I attended one Canvas training in summer in August,” said Dr. Feier Hou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry.
“The deciding factor for me to use Canvas is if it has all the functions I want for my class.”
Hou explained, “My class in the fall will be online asynchronous, so I will post lecture videos, and I would like to have the option to have pop-up questions in the middle of videos.”
Another reason Hou hadn’t made a decision about Canvas was she hadn’t consulted with her students. However, after polling students in her CH 440 course about Canvas, most were reported as indifferent.
“Among the few that responded, more than half voted for Canvas, so I will switch to Canvas for that class,” she stated.
Hou also reported that most professors are still figuring out Canvas. “The main concern I have heard so far is how smooth the transition from Moodle to Canvas will be: how much time will it take us to learn to use Canvas? Will all our content on Moodle be transferred to Canvas exactly the way we want them to be?”
Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu
