Every school year brings lots of “new.” One of the most impactful novel elements to both students and teachers this year at Rockhurst was the switch to Canvas.
Canvas is a learning management system (LMS) in the same vein as Google Classroom, but the platforms don’t have many similarities. This switch not only means students receive and turn in their assignments differently, but how teachers assign and grade that work was altered as well.
The early feedback from both sides of the equation has been mixed—to say the least. Students and teachers say they’ve experienced a roller coaster of emotions, but the thought is the roller coaster will slow down.
“In about two to three months people will like it,” English teacher Chris Hopper said. “Right now, the growing pains are difficult.”
Assistant Principal for Academics Mike Wickenhauser told Prep News Rockhurst has been considering this change for five years. This was the year they pulled the trigger.
Not all staff were ready for the LMS swap.
“I was not a fan of the change to Canvas, and I felt like I was not convinced why we needed to make this change,” speech and debate coach Phil Helt said.
Wickenhauser says a primary reason the switch to Canvas was made was so parents could more easily see their student’s progress and grades. Canvas was also thought to be easier for teachers to assign and grade student work. However, some teachers have not finding Canvas easy to navigate.
“I’ve adapted [to] it,” Helt said. “I think there are still features I don’t understand…I also think that there are quirks of Canvas that even students are struggling with, but I don’t know how to help [students] with it.”
Others say they expected struggles and pushback.
“I knew that it would be a steep learning curve and that there would be much wailing and gnashing of teeth,” Hopper said.
Still others say that slowly, but surely, they’re getting the hang of it.
“I thought it was kind of cumbersome,” math teacher Martin Radosevic said, “but as I’ve used it more it’s a little bit easier now.”
Administrators say, while the path right now may be rocky, they believe Canvas will be a better LMS down the road.
