Canvas LMS, provided by Instructure, is an integral learning management system adopted by the Beaverton School District (BSD) to enhance educational experiences for both teachers and students. It provides a centralized platform where instructors can post assignments, share information, and give feedback, thereby streamlining the educational process. It accommodates a range of activities from scorekeeping to delivering comprehensive feedback, all contained within a singular and accessible online environment.
For parents and guardians, this system offers a transparent view into their child’s educational progress and curriculum engagement. A feature of Canvas in BSD is the ability for parent accounts to be linked through ParentVUE, enabling close monitoring and participation in a student’s academic life. The system is designed with a focus on user ease, aiming to facilitate a seamless blend of in-class instruction with digital learning tools for middle and high school students.
The robustness of Canvas as a learning management system is evident in its widespread adoption across educational institutions. By consolidating resources, communications, and assessments, it supports a dynamic learning environment that adjusts to the various needs of students and educators. This is essential for a district like BSD, which prioritizes the incorporation of technology in its approach to education.
Content Compass
Getting Started with Canvas LMS
Beginning to use Canvas LMS involves setting up an account, understanding the types of accounts available, and activating the account properly. It’s important for users to follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition into using the system.
Creating an Account
To create an account in Canvas LMS, one must navigate to the Beaverton School District Canvas webpage and select the option to sign up. Users are required to provide a username, which is typically their email address, and create a secure password. It is essential to choose a strong password to protect one’s account integrity.
User Account Types
There are usually several types of user accounts in Canvas LMS:
- Student Accounts: For learners to access course materials, assignments, and communication tools
- Teacher Accounts: Allows instructors to create courses, post assignments, provide feedback, and communicate with students
- Parent Accounts: Parents can track their child’s progress and receive updates from teachers
Each account type has different levels of access and functionalities tailored for the user’s role.
Account Activation
After creating an account, the user receives an activation key code or a confirmation email, which includes a link to activate the account. This step verifies the user’s identity and enables full access to Canvas features. To activate the account, one must follow the provided link and enter their login ID and password when prompted. It is important not to share the activation code or password with others to maintain account security.
Navigation and Usage
Canvas by Beaverton School District (BSD) provides educators with a comprehensive Learning Management System to manage course content, communicate with students, and track academic progress. It is designed for efficiency and ease of use.
Managing Assignments and Feedback
Instructors can post assignments directly within Canvas, where they are organized for easy student access. Assignments can include various file types, and teachers have the ability to give feedback directly on submissions. Feedback can take the form of written comments, annotations, or grades. The scores are then recorded in the Canvas gradebook, making it straightforward for both students and educators to track performance over time.
Communication Tools
Canvas supports robust communication tools that allow educators to communicate with students effectively. These tools include announcements, messages, and discussion boards, which facilitate clear and direct interaction. This ensures that students are aware of their responsibilities and have a channel to seek clarification on assignments or course material.
Mobile App Accessibility
For enhanced accessibility, Canvas offers a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, making it convenient for students and parents to stay updated on academic progress. The Canvas Parent app allows BSD parents to check on assignments and scores, and receive alerts for their child’s updates. Smartphones thus become a powerful tool for educational engagement, contributing to the blended learning environment that Canvas fosters.
With Canvas, Beaverton School District provides a streamlined experience for managing educational content and fostering communication, accessible to users on various devices including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Canvas for Academic Enablement
The Beaverton School District utilizes the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to augment traditional in-class interactions and streamline various aspects of student assessment and reporting.
In-Class Instruction Tools
Teachers in Beaverton employ Canvas to extend their instructional toolkit beyond the physical classroom. It provides diverse resources that facilitate a blended learning environment, where materials are shared electronically and communication between educators and their students is enhanced. Mastery Connect and Equella, an open educational resource (OER) repository, are integral parts of this platform, supporting content sharing and mastery learning practices.
- Attendance Tracking: Swiftly record and review attendance for accuracy
- Grade Book: Efficiently manage grades, aligned with assignments and assessments
- Instructional Content: Host and distribute educational content in varied multimedia formats
- Communication: Enable direct and group messaging options for continuous connectivity
Assessment and Reporting
The system’s ease of use for generating and delivering report cards is a cornerstone of its academic enablement. Canvas’s Grade Book feature allows teachers to collect, score, and provide feedback on assignments, thereby streamlining the reporting process.
- Assessment Integration: Leverage tools like Mastery Connect for informed assessments
- Elevate Analytics: Utilize analytics for understanding and improving student performance
- Impact Analysis: Gauge the efficacy of teaching methods and digital content
- Reporting: Simplify the creation of report cards and the dissemination of performance data
With Canvas as an educational hub, teachers can better manage class activities while offering a transparent, comprehensive, and interactive approach to student learning and performance analytics.
Canvas Parental Engagement
With the implementation of Canvas in educational institutions, parents and guardians play a pivotal role in tracking and supporting their children’s academic endeavors. Through the use of the Canvas Parent App and consistent monitoring of academic progress, they are equipped with tools to stay informed and involved in their child’s education.
Canvas Parent App
The Canvas Parent App serves as a digital gateway for parents and guardians to become involved in their student’s education. Upon securing a Canvas account, they gain the ability to:
- View course assignments
- Check assignment scores
- Monitor their student’s performance
To begin, parents/guardians need to download the Parent App, available on both iOS and Android devices. They must then create an account linked to their student’s information. It’s important to note that the same credentials provided for ParentVUE access can typically be used to establish their Canvas account.
Monitoring Academic Progress
Through Canvas, parents/guardians have access to real-time information on grades and assignments, facilitating an active role in their student’s academic life. Features include:
- Real-Time Updates: Unlike traditional report cards, which provide retrospective insights, Canvas offers up-to-date information on grades and schedules
- Official Grades: While Canvas helps in tracking progress, the official grades are often recorded on a separate platform, like ParentVUE or StudentVUE, which is updated periodically (e.g., overnight)
- Web Portal Access: Besides the Parent App, a web portal is available for a more comprehensive view of enrollment information, course schedules, and more
Parents are strongly encouraged to utilize these tools for an in-depth understanding of their child’s academic standing, as they complement the broader enrollment and scheduling functionalities offered by ParentVUE.
Additional Features and Resources
Canvas offers a suite of additional features and resources designed to enhance the digital learning experience for both students and educators within the Beaverton School District. The platform’s advanced communication tools, extensive webinars, training, and a comprehensive support system play a crucial role in the district’s educational success.
Advanced Communication Features
Canvas enables educators to communicate effectively with students and parents through its integrated system. The platform supports:
- Real-time Updates: Notifications for assignments, grades, and announcements
- Collaboration Tools: Discussion forums for interactive learning
Webinars and Training
The district provides:
- Scheduled Webinars: Regular live sessions for educators to learn new Canvas features
- On-demand Training: A library of training materials accessible anytime