Course Syllabus

Integrating Canvas into Teacher Instruction

Course Description: Integrate technology into teacher instruction through the use of Canvas, a learning management system. Explore and utilize the functions of Canvas such as setting up courses and outcomes; creating assignments, rubrics, question banks, quizzes, discussion prompts, and modules; and providing descriptive student feedback.  Examine how  Canvas functions are supported  by Georgia teacher performance standards.

Intended Audience: K12 Georgia Educators

Learning Obejectives: 

• Teachers will learn how Canvas can help them to meet the Georgia Teaching Performance Standards from the Georgia Department of Education (2016) and make their teaching practices more effective by creating a Canvas content page, a Canvas differentiated classroom assignment, a Canvas assignment rubric, a Canvas discussion prompt, and individual specific feedback for assignments posted in Canvas.
  
  
• Teachers will learn how to utilize Canvas to integrate technology into student learning by developing a Canvas assignment where students are using technology to complete their assignment and by creating a discussion prompt to encourage online discussions among students.
  
  
• Teachers will learn how to utilize Canvas to better communicate with students and parents, and how to encourage communication between students by providing specific feedback to students in Canvas by utilizing the grading tool in Canvas and by creating a discussion prompt for students in Canvas.
  
  
• Teachers will learn to utilize Canvas to share content electronically to students by creating a Canvas content page, a Canvas assignment, a Canvas discussion prompt, and by providing specific student feedback electronically through Canvas.

The learning objectives for this course are aligned to the Georgia Teacher Performance Standards from the Georgia Department of Education (2016) as listed below.

Performance Standard 1: Professional Knowledge
The teacher demonstrates an understanding of the curriculum, subject content, pedagogical knowledge, and the needs of students by providing relevant learning experiences.

Performance Standard 2: Instructional Planning 
The teacher plans using state and local school district curricula and standards, effective strategies, resources, and data to address the differentiated needs of all students.

Performance Standard 3: Instructional Strategies
The teacher promotes student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning and to facilitate the students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills.

Performance Standard 4: Differentiated Instruction
The teacher challenges and supports each student’s learning by providing appropriate content and developing skills which address individual learning differences.

Performance Standard 5: Assessment Strategies
The teacher systematically chooses a variety of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment strategies and instruments that are valid and appropriate for the content and student population.

Performance Standard 6: Assessment Uses
The teacher systematically gathers, analyzes, and uses relevant data to measure student progress, to inform instructional content and delivery methods, and to provide timely and constructive feedback to both students and parents.

Performance Standard 7: Positive Learning Environment
The teacher provides a well-managed, safe, and orderly environment that is conducive to learning and encourages respect for all.

Performance Standard 8: Academically Challenging Environment
The teacher creates a student-centered, academic environment in which teaching and learning occur at high levels and students are self-directed learners.

Performance Standard 9: Professionalism
The teacher exhibits a commitment to professional ethics and the school’s mission,participates in professional growth opportunities to support student learning, and contributes to the profession.

Performance Standard 10: Communication 
The teacher communicates effectively with students, parents or guardians, district and school personnel, and other stakeholders in ways that enhance student learning.

Course Schedule:

In Day 1 of Integrating Canvas into Daily Planning and Instruction, you will learn to access and set up your courses, set up outcomes or standards, create content pages, and create assignments and rubrics in Canvas.  See the outline below.

You can click a link to view the activity or click the link to the module for Day 1 here.  If you are taking this course independently, work through the activities sequentially. 

Day 1 Agenda

In day two of this course, you will learn to create question banks, assessments, discussion prompts, and modules.  Click this link to direct you to the day two module or click a link below. 

Day 2 Agenda

In day three of this course, you will learn to use the Canvas grade book and the famous SpeedGrader tool that makes grading fun!  Click this link to go to the day three module.

Day 3 Agenda

Orientation:

View the slideshow presentation, Integrating Canvas into Daily Instruction Orientation, below to become familiar with how to access this course and how the course is organized.

Digital Badge: Participants will earn a digital badge which will be posted  on the participants Canvas profile page after completing all assignments and course evaluations.

Please Note:  The Course Summary below includes five exemplar assignments intended to be used as examples of how assignments can be organized.  Participants will not complete the exemplar assignments including Historical Figure Biography, How Fossils are Formed, Letter Name Alphabetic Sort 35, Mosaic Pictograph, and Zoo Atlanta/Field Day Time Project.  The remaining assignments will be completed by participants.