CANVAS CASE STUDY
HIGHER EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF
ST. FRANCIS
LOCATION JOLIET, IL
|
STARTED USING CANVAS 2012
|
NUMBER OF USERS 1,500 STUDENTS
Online learning pioneer
updates delivery with Canvas
JOLIET
THE CHALLENGE
The University of St. Francis (USF) was one of the nation’s first colleges to
offer online programs, and it used Blackboard CE8 for 12 years as its delivery
system. But as USF's online programs grew and new web 2.0 learning tools
emerged, administrators recognized the need for a new learning
management system. When Blackboard announced the end of support for
CE8, USF decided to look for a solution that embraced a more modern
teaching approach and worked well with social media tools.
THE DECISION
After an extensive evaluation, and after spending several months testing the
major systems on the market, USF evaluators all reached the same conclusion:
Canvas was what they were looking for. Intuitive and easy-to-use interactive
tools work into Canvas seamlessly. Faculty and students can easily add audio,
video, wikis, online workspaces, web conferencing, social media options, and
other interactivity into their online courses. Canvas lets USF review and update
courses to provide a better learning experience for students.
KEY FINDINGS
Creates a better teaching and
learning environment for
all involved
Extensive incorporation of
multimedia lets professors make
online courses more personal
15 YEARS
USF has been one of the largest
online education providers in
Illinois since it piloted its online
business program 15 years ago.
“Because Canvas is more user-friendly ... faculty and students are more willing to
use the tools within Canvas for posting, feedback, and collaboration.”
LING-YI ZHOU
Professor of Psychology
www.canvaslms.com • 800.203.6755
CANVAS CASE STUDY
UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS
WHAT USF FACULTY
LIKE ABOUT CANVAS
EASE OF USE
|
DRAG AND DROP ASSIGNMENT DATES | AUTOMATIC CALENDAR UPDATES | SEAMLESS INTEGRATION
SELECTIVE RELEASE | SIMPLICITY | USER SELECTED NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES
EASE OF ADDING MULTIMEDIA
FLEXIBLE AND FAST GRADEBOOK
“My absolute favorite feature is that one can very
easily add audio to discussion threads,” said Marie
Lindsey, associate professor of nursing. “What a
time saver to simply click on the ‘audio’ button and
just talk into a microphone rather than having to
type and type and type every time I want to
comment on each student’s posting! Of course,
not only is it a time saver, but it adds that personal
touch that can be lacking in online courses.”
“Finally someone has figured out how to make a
gradebook that is usable for teachers and
students,” said Ruth Weldon, assistant professor of
computer science. “The Canvas gradebook gives
me the flexibility to use different grading schemes
and accommodates my style of teaching. Grading
then becomes a snap with SpeedGrader™, which
has cut my actual grading time by at least half.”
MODERN INTERFACE
AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM
“I prefer Canvas because it is more user-friendly,”
said Deborah Glenn, adjunct instructor for the
College of Education. “Without a doubt, faculty
and students are more willing to use the tools
within Canvas for posting, feedback,
and collaboration.”
“Canvas is an efficient LMS. What used to take
several clicks is now just a click away,” said Lisa
White-McNulty, associate professor of education.
“I can quickly do the tasks that used to drain my
time—I can drag and drop an assignment on the
calendar, and it will automatically update
throughout Canvas to reflect the change.
How nice is that?”
MOVING FORWARD WITH CANVAS
Twelve years after launching its online program, USF started a new chapter with Canvas. Using web 2.0 technologies
created a better teaching and learning atmosphere for all involved. Most importantly, instructors are spending less time
managing content, leaving them more time to instill strong values in their students and strengthen their education.
www.canvaslms.com • 800.203.6755
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