As summer flew by, students and faculty slowly re- turned to the rhythm of school. The familiar bustling of papers, hum of laptops and the hurried movement from class to class once again become a daily occurence. The challenging curriculum and heavy workload that Trinity is notorious for began to kick in.
Yet, there has been a noticeable change in our technol- ogy. No longer is Edline an integral part of our lives, for a new website rules Trinity: Canvas. Some people love it for its many useful features, some think it is a nuisance because it is too complicated and complex, while oth- ers are somewhere in between. However, Canvas has already had a tremendous impact on the campus.
Launched in 2011, Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS) developed by an educational technology company called Instructure. The LMS is used by more than 1,400 universities, school districts and institutions around the world. Canvas’ slogan states that it is “The Enterprise Software that Helps Take the Classroom Experience into the 21st Century.”
Rita Kienle, the Academic Technology Integrationist, served a pivotal role in selecting Canvas as the school’s Learning Management System. She, along with the committee of administrators, teachers and technology specialists, researched a pool of four different LMSs. They narrowed it down to two based on usage in col- lege, the feedback received from other schools and the school’s own research. The finalists then led a presenta- tion to introduce and demonstrate their LMS.
“Quite frankly, Canvas was by far the best [candi- date],” Kienle said. “Most colleges are using it now. It’s also integrated with Google Apps and Turnitin. We really liked their customer support. Most [Learning Management Systems] were not streamlined for K-12 schools. Canvas was one that dedicated a lot of time to make it work for K-12 schools.”
Canvas has both long-term and short-term benefits for the school.
“The immediate benefit is consistency and that every- thing is in one place. Instead of having to go to all the different places (Google Sites, Google Calendar and Edline),” Kienle said. “The administration hopes that Canvas will help increase consistency across the board and better prepare students for college.”
Most universities are using some kind of LMS, and the school really wants to prepare students for the new type of learning system. Also, the school’s goal for Canvas is to provide a collaborative learning space for parents, teachers and students. As part of the Canvas Pilot Program last year, three teachers and about 200 students tested out Canvas in an actual classroom setting.
Rylan Smith, Middle School Guidance Counselor,was a part of the Canvas Pilot Program. She taught her eighth grade Civics class through Canvas last year.
“I think Canvas is good supplementing my teaching because it allows me to provide my students with ev- erything in one place,” Smith said.“[Teaching through Canvas] is better in that it’s streamlined, but there’s a definite learning curve for teachers.”
Junior Johnny Vullier used Canvas last year in Ma- dame Spallone’s Honors French III class.
“[Canvas] made it easier to access school information and to access grades,” Vullier said. “It is an upgrade of Edline.”
Vullier said he encountered some difficulty during the transition at first. However, he said that the teachers helped in the process.
“The fact that both the teacher and the students were learning and teaching each other, it was a learning ex- perience for both students and teachers,” Vullier said.
Also part of the Canvas Pilot in Madame Spallone’s French IA class, seventh grader Ellie Watson found many features in Canvas helpful.
“There was an actual calendar and agenda [on Canvas] instead of Edline that didn’t have a calendar or an agenda,” Watson said. “Canvas has modules and is more advanced. You can send emails through Canvas while not clogging up your [Trinity] email. Edline is not as participating as Canvas. I spend more [time] on Can- vas than I ever did on Edline.”
Finally, Kienle has some advice for teachers, parents and students who are struggling to adjust to the system. “My biggest advice is to take a deep breath and just relax,”she said. “We’re going to offer the kids and teachers all the support they need. Go slow. Take baby steps. Do the basics first that are required for you. Give [Canvas] time.”
For the struggling faculty, Kienle recommends learn- ing the basics and then trying to take advantage of Canvas’ new features to enhance their teaching. Kienle thinks it’s important for them to know that she, the technology department and administrators are here to support them in their technological needs.
For struggling students, Kienle urges them not to be afraid to ask for help. Between the Help Desk and herself, there is plenty of support. They are there to support students and make them feel comfortable with Canvas.
Kienle advises parents to check out the parent online tutorial which offers the best tips and answers to the most frequently asked questions. She also suggests par- ents take some time to talk to their kids about Canvas and not to be afraid to ask them for help.
“At the end of the day, I think what Trinity does so very well is to find the happy balance between inno- vation and tradition,” Director of Curriculum Patrick Mulloy said.
By using technology heavily in the learning experi- ence, the school prepares students for the technology driven and digital 21st century. At the same time, the school instills in students social and personal interac- tions that are required to become a successful adult. This preparation shines brightly in Trinity’s mission “to develop individuals who will excel in college and in life, contribute to their communities, lead in a changing so- ciety, and grow spiritually.”