Effective Collaboration in the Instructure Learning Ecosystem

jperry4 · ‎11-07-2024

It was a pleasure to connect with our customers recently in one of our webinars from the "Maximising Your EdTech Ecosystem! " series.

I always enjoy the opportunity to share insights and strategies for leveraging technology to enhance collaboration between teachers and improve student learning outcomes.

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In the session, we dove into the power of collaboration and how it can be a real game-changer for educators. By working together effectively, we can save valuable time, streamline our efforts, and ultimately create richer learning experiences for our students.

One of the concepts I'm deeply passionate about is 'collective intelligence' – the idea that groups of individuals can achieve incredible things when working together with the assistance of technology. This concept empowers us all, making us feel part of a greater whole. Think of it this way: educational institutions, with their diverse teams and interconnected departments, are like 'superminds' capable of remarkable progress. I'd suggest reading Thomas W Malone's book, "Superminds." Of course, technology plays a role in unlocking collaborative potential. Embracing technology as an educational partner can open new possibilities and drive positive change. The exciting part is that we're just scratching the surface of what's possible.

Building solid networks among educators is essential. These connections facilitate the sharing of valuable resources and best practices and provide crucial support, helping to combat feelings of isolation and burnout that can sometimes creep in. Sometimes, we focus on teaching teachers technology when facilitating networking and collaboration, which could yield better adoption.

To help implement these ideas, here are some tools within the Instructure Learning Ecosystem designed to boost collaboration. Below are links to guides on how to use them.

Direct Share: This feature makes sharing course content with colleagues incredibly easy, promoting a collaborative content creation culture.
- How do I copy an assignment to another course?
- How do I send an assignment to another instructor?

Canvas Commons: Canvas Commons allows educators to share content in a repository configured to match the structure of those who collaborate within the organisation or even externally. Here are some helpful guides:
- How do I manage shared resources for my account in Commons?
- How do I create and manage Groups in Commons?

Canvas Studio: Educators can create content and media and share it with other teachers. They can also develop media collections and share them directly. One option is to create collection spaces and allow multiple teachers to populate and share content.
- How do I share a collection in Canvas Studio?

Account Level Rubrics, Outcomes, & Item Banks: By creating and sharing resources at the account level, institutions can ensure consistency and alignment in assessment practices.

As a wrap-up, I ask how data sources can be used to identify and connect educators with shared pedagogical values, further strengthening those all-important collaborative networks. For example, by looking at the course data in Canvas's Admin Analytics or using data obtained through Impact, we can identify teachers using specific tools and potentially sharing the same teaching approaches. This information allows us to facilitate events that connect them to share their ideas and best practices.

In Admin Analytics

Admin analytics gives access to adoption of specific tools.