Highlights from the 2024 Northwestern Canvas Hall of Fame Induction

The Northwestern Canvas Hall of Fame instructor award recognizes educators at the forefront of the integration of technology and innovative practices into Canvas. The 2024 cohort has once again demonstrated exceptional creativity and dedication to enhancing student learning experiences. Here's a closer look at their work: 

Most Innovative Course Winner Connor Bain: Simplifying Large Class Management 

Connor Bain, winner in the Most Innovative Course category, has spent considerable time working to optimize the management of large classes through Canvas. Managing up to 500 students at a time, Connor emphasizes the importance of a unified platform where all course materials are organized and accessible within a few clicks. This streamlined approach not only simplifies access but also addresses the common challenge of resource navigation. 

Connor's innovative use of Canvas's API leverages automated grading, progress reporting, and course content management, which significantly enhances his time-management for such a large enrollment. Bain advocates for incremental adoption of new features and emphasized the value of peer feedback on assignments to foster a collaborative learning environment.  

What we can all learn from Connor: 

• Introduce one new feature or tool each quarter to avoid overwhelming students. 
• Peer feedback on assignments helps students understand different approaches and improve their own work by reviewing others'. 
• The importance of organizing your Canvas course, primarily if you teach large classes or first-year students.  

Best Use of Video Winner Erez Levy: Empowering Learning Through Video 

This year's winner for Best Use of Video, Erez Levy, has set a new standard in video-based instruction by utilizing visual aids to support his busy MBA students. When faced with the challenge of students feeling overwhelmed by complex material, Erez turned to video as a solution. He recorded and edited over 100 videos using Screencast-O-Matic and integrated them into Canvas via Panopto. This created a comprehensive library of resources that complemented the concepts explained during class and provided explanations for financial problems so students could practice at home.  

Levy's approach allows students to revisit lectures and solutions at their own pace, reducing the number of questions during office hours and improving their understanding. Despite the initial challenges of achieving video perfection and overcoming the discomfort of recording himself, Levy has successfully created a valuable learning tool. From his experience, we can highlight the importance of balancing technology with essential human elements like discussion and critical thinking. 

What we can all learn from Erez:  

• Consider a “flipped” classroom methodology. 
• Let go of perfection when recording videos.  
• Be intentional when recording so that you can reuse the videos in future classes.  
• Are you already creating videos for your students? Get even more creative when recording your videos with a lightboard! 

DEI/Accessibility Winner Rosemary Bush: Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement 

In the DEI/Accessibility category, Rosemary Bush has made significant strides in integrating Canvas to support diverse learning needs. Transitioning from in-person to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosemary embraced Canvas quizzes and lecture recordings to ensure accessibility. Although she initially missed the in-person interactions, the remote teaching experience taught valuable lessons in blending technology and online teaching methods effectively. Through support offered as part of the Mission: Accessible challenge, she improved her course delivery and student engagement. 

Rosemary's approach includes a blend of in-person and online methodologies. For instance, her use of recorded lectures for review purposes has proven invaluable for students, allowing them to revisit complex concepts at their own pace without compromising in-class engagement. Using quizzes in Canvas instead of on paper allowed her to gauge student understanding in real-time, identify gaps in comprehension, and plan for future instruction. 

What we can all learn from Rosemary:  

• Use Panopto to seamlessly integrate class recordings.
• If you are recording in the classroom, double-check the microphone batteries; you will be surprised how fast they run out. 
• Use low-stakes quizzes to gauge student understanding in real-time and identify gaps in comprehension.  
• Utilize question banks to easily build Canvas quizzes.  

For further information about the Northwestern Canvas Hall of Fame or any of the topics related to this article, request a consultation with a learning engineer.