How Can Students Help?

[christopher_gav]

As a student, I always am looking for ways to help my middle school teachers with Canvas and how it function.

How might I use Canvas to my best abilities for the school and for teachers?

I have shared other discovered features with my teachers previously.

Thanks!

[mcowen]

Christopher,

You are AMAZING!!! Thank you for trying to help your teachers.  You are on the path to greatness!

Here a couple of links that could help:

1) Video Guides for Instructors: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-3891#jive_content_id_Instructors

2) Instructor Guides: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-4131

3) Canvas Best Kept Secrets thread: https://community.canvaslms.com/message/29892

Keep up the great work!!

[jared]

Hey Christopher, this is a great question. Teachers are really motivated by their students, so students helping teachers use Canvas is going to be very effective, I think!

In general, I think teachers are going to be very interested in hearing about ways Canvas can...

• save them time;
• help students be better organized.

^ Which, coincidentally, can save teachers time

One way teachers can save time is by sharing files online so they don't have to pass papers out in class or email files to students who lost things. A lot of files are online or at least on their computer, so they can just drag and drop them into the Files area. But some files are going to still be on paper. So I'd help teachers know how to easily scan paper documents using an app on their phone (I like TurboScan on my iPhone), and then save them to Dropbox or Google Drive or email it to themselves to add to the Canvas course later.

SpeedGrader is another great way to save time, and a great way to help teachers get started is by turning paper-based assignments into online assignments that students upload their files to. This also ends up saving time on paper collection and tracking!

For organization, I'd help teachers understand Modules​, which are a great way to put files, assignments, quizzes, or discussions together so students know exactly what they need to do each week.

[Stef_retired]

 @christopher_gav ​, thank you for starting this wonderful discussion! I put a lot of work into my course design, and as a teacher, I find it helpful when students tell me which of the specific features (bells and whistles, like video and audio clips, as well as fundamental resources, like links to articles) I've included in my course they're actually using. I also like to know about which features are giving them problems, so I can think of a different way to approach them. That feedback means the world to me. It helps me focus my attention and energy so I can make the course better each semester.

[kmeeusen]

Christopher:

Thank you! I agree with the others who have responded to you, that this is exemplary behavior.

Besides being a Canvas Admin, I also teach using Canvas. Being a teacher, I have always believed that I can learn as much from my students as they learn from me, and this includes the  best use of the LMS.

KLM

[kmeeusen]

After reading some of the other great suggestions, one suggestion Christopher, is to turn your teachers on to Canvas Community. This Community is a great place to learn how to use Canvas more effectively and efficiently, and the people in here are awesome!

You seem very engaged with both teaching and instructional technology. Are you planning on a career in teaching? I know you are in Middle School, but it is never too early to start planning your future. The old maxim about success, "find what you like to do, then do it" is very true, and you seem to like this stuff.

KLM

[christopher_gav]

I never really considered this...

It's actually cool, and I do like teaching things and exploring new ideas.

I think that that is actually really awesome!

Right now I'm really just looking for ways to help...

Thanks!

(Sometimes there are no words to say...)

[christopher_gav]

I think it's incredible to be able to see that far away in the future...

And this really got me thinking...

[KristinL]

Christopher -

I wish that more students were as confident as you! It is quite clear that you see school as an opportunity to grow as an individual. It's amazing to sense enthusiasm about learning and getting the most out of your experience by exploring technology tools available to student and teachers! I'm impressed.

Is there a place at your school for you to share your ideas? Is there a student technology group you could connect with...or create with the help of a tech-savvy teacher?

I second what stefaniesanders shared. When I develop my courses, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to best build the experiences for my students. I routinely ask my students for feedback so I know what they like and dislike, how they prefer to access information, etc. It's so valuable because while "my way" make sense to me, it doesn't always match students' needs as well as I hoped! Reflection is really important to me as a teacher, and if students play an active role in my process, everyone benefits!

I also second what  @kmeeusen  suggested. The Canvas Community is a wonderful place filled with helpful resources and people who are open to collaboration. Encourage your teachers to join the many conversations taking place here.