Dear SNC Colleagues, what have you always wanted an LMS to do for you?
I always wanted an LMS that had a grading system which allowed me to weight assignments
differently. For example, exams count 35% towards the final grade, lab counts 25%,
reflections count 20%, etc. I wanted an LMS that was streamlined and user friendly, from
the student perspective, but eye-catching with an inherent elegant yet straightforward
design. I wanted something that students would adapt to immediately; while at the same
time, I wanted a system that was intuitive for the instructor as well. I wanted something
powerful (able to do a variety of tasks) and something that can be integrated with the
College’s systems and data sources.
Canvas meets all of these objectives and more. Some of my favorite features, in addition to
those mentioned above, include: Speedgrader and the calendar. Speedgrader is so easy to
use! And it really does simplify grading, making it easy to score the assignment and provide
feedback that the student can access. The Calendar feature is wonderful as well. Students
can sync their Canvas calendar with other programs. Students can customize their
notification settings so as not to miss due dates.
I am just starting to tap the potential of Canvas for managing my courses and engaging my
students.
Love,
Deb Anderson
