Canvas Investigations

Canvas Investigation (CI) events are online meetings that occur several times each semester. CI events provide opportunities for Academic Technology (AT) and Instructional Design (ID) staff at the University of Minnesota (UMN) to share use cases, strategies, and ideas for how to use Canvas and related educational technologies to enhance teaching and learning. Presentations are informal events and AT or ID staff typically present for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the topic and number of presenters during a session. Please contact one of the planning group members listed below if you are interested in presenting at a Canvas Investigations session. 

ATiCoP members are automatically invited to CI events through the UMN Gmail calendar.

Upcoming Presentations

 

Past Presentations with Recordings (2024)

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Canvas for Outreach and Community (April 3, 2024)

Recording Canvas Investigation April 3, 2024 - Canvas for Outreach and Community

Host: Sara Nysten
Presenters: Nathan Carlson (ASR Office of the Registrar, DORS), Amy Baker (UMN Extension), Taylor-James Gilard (School of Nursing), and Kalli Binkowski (College of Biological Sciences)
Presentation Slides

Summary: Nathan Carlson from the University of Minnesota's Office of the Registrar introduced the Destiny One platform and its evolving features, including integrations with various Learning Management Systems and other tools. Amy Baker discussed the Extension program and the complexities of setting up extension courses, as well as the challenges with guest accounts in Canvas. Taylor-James Gilard shared his experiences with running courses and conferences through Destiny One integration with Canvas, and Kalli Binkowski promoted the "Science of Craft" courses offered by the biological station in Itasco.

Assessment of Design and Delivery of Canvas Courses (March 6, 2024)

Recording Canvas Investigation Mar 6, 2024 - Assessment of Design and Delivery of Canvas Courses

Facilitated by Annette McNamara (OIT-ATSS), the presenters will discuss the mechanisms and tools they use for Canvas Course Evaluation. Similarities and differences will also be explored, and there will be time for questions.

Presentation slides

Presenters: 

  • Annette McNamara, OIT
  • Tony Leisen, CSOM
  • Emily Ronning, Alexis Tarter, LATIS
  • Nicki May, Lyn DeLorme, CEHD

The New Zoom Whiteboard (Feb 7, 2024)

Recording Canvas Investigation Feb 7, 2024 - The New Zoom Whiteboard

Host: Adolfo Carrillo Cabello
Presenters: Jennifer Englund (ATSS), Rebecca George-Burrs (ATSS), Jake Kramer (OIT)

Summary
The team discussed the exploration and challenges of using the Zoom Whiteboards feature across the University of Minnesota system, focusing on accessibility, potential solutions, and user experience. They also planned and executed three activities to allow participants to explore and collaborate on the whiteboard. The team identified and discussed several issues with the whiteboard feature, including access permissions, visibility, and inconsistencies in functionality. They also considered the use of templates and the potential benefits of creating organizational-wide templates. The team agreed to test the tool in their upcoming meetings to identify more use cases and troubleshoot issues.

Past Presentations with Recordings (2023)

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Current state of AI in teaching and learning with Canvas (Dec 6, 2023)

Recording Canvas Investigation Dec 6, 2023 - Current State of AI in Teaching and Learning with Canvas

Shared Slide Deck - with presenters and resources
Host: Sara Nysten

Presenters:

  • Asa Olson, Assistant Director of Academic Technology, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMTC "Teaching with generative AI in the disciplines and what's beyond AI literacy"
  • Dan Emery,   Assistant Director, Writing Across the Curriculum, UMTC "Using generative AI as a reading/summarizing tool and its implications for teaching and learning"
  • Sara Schoen, Instructional Designer for Academic Technology Support Services (ATSS) - systemwide "Conversations around what instructors are doing with students (in terms of supporting them using AI)"

 

Resource: Recaps from UMN Academic Technology Support Services (ATSS) and Center of Educational Innovation (CEI) Workshops

FeedbackFruits Tool Suite: Pilots, Examples, Use Cases (Nov 1, 2023)

Recording Canvas Investigation Nov 1, 2023 - FeedbackFruits Tool Suite: Pilots, Examples, Use Cases

Presenter: Annette McNamara and Yelena Yan, ATSS
Host: Adolfo Carrillo Cabello

Hear how the first FeedbackFruits Learning Community pilot is going, and learn more about the 15 tool options offered in the ongoing pilot of the full FeedbackFruits Tool Suite. We will demo a few tools, focusing on those that seem most likely to address existing tool functional gaps. We’ll invite participants to share their own pilot experiences, use cases, tips and tricks.

Resources: 

Google Apps Inventory (Oct 4, 2023)

Host: Sara Nystuen

Google Integrations and Use with Canvas (Pros and Cons) 

Supporting Student Success in Canvas (September 6, 2023)

Host:Adolfo Carrillo Cabello
Presenters: Karen Jeannette, UMN-Duluth & Alexis Tarter, CLA Latis

Recording

Slides: Supporting Student Success in Canvas
More resources are listed in the slide deck. 

Student and Faculty Focus Group Follow-up (August 2, 2023)

Hosted by SaraNystuen

Resources Canvas Investigation Aug 2, 2023:

Canvas Show & Tell – prepping for the next year (May 3, 2023)

Participants shared ideas and brainstormed: Jamboards Canvas Show & Tell

Understanding Work Patterns in Canvas

  • What is something that you have continue to do since Canvas implementation?
  • What things do you find in need of constant review and adjustment (pain points in need of constant review)?
  • Name one tip and trick that others might not know
  • What is your go-to LTI, why?

LTIs in context - Part 2 (April 12, 2023)

LTIs in Context (Part 2): Understanding support and process of integration  (Presenters: Nicki May, Paul McLagan, Sara Schoen, and Peg Sherven)

Host: Sara Nystuen
Presenters: Nicki May, Paul McLagan, Sara Schoen, and Peg Sherven

Resources:

LTIs in context - Part 1 (Mar 1, 2023)

LTIs in context (Part 1): Making sense of LTI integrations and their uses in Canvas

Host: Adolfo Carrillo Cabello
Presenter: Chris Scruton, OIT 

Recording Canvas Investigation Mar 1, 2023 - LTIs in context (Part 1)

Presentation slides

Kaltura Tips & Tricks (Feb 1, 2023)

Recording Canvas Investigation Feb 1, 2023 - Kaltura Tips & Tricks

Presentation Slides
Document Tips, Challenges, and Questions

Presenter: Alex Anderson;
Contributor: Mark Hilliard, Nima Salehi
Host: Silke Moeller

Resources: 

Past Presentations with Recordings (2022)

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Canvas Sections (Dec 7, 2022)

Recording:

Canvas Investigation Dec 2022 – Canvas Sections

Presentations and resources:

  1. Difference between PeopleSoft Sections and Manual Sections in Canvas and use cases for each.  Manual Sections as groups, for incompletes, accommodations (Drew LaCapelle)
    1. Understand course sections
    2. Manually create a section
  2. Using Manual Sections in practice (Alexander Kulacki)
  3. One-offs about the upkeep of manual sections and drops. (Sara Nystuen to mention if Drew doesn’t)
  4. Cross-listing sections  (Tracy Wilson)
    1. old-style cross-listing (diff departments teaching same course)
    2. grad/undergrad (gradebook)
    3. labs/lecture (due dates)
    4. co-teaching (diff instructors)
    5. online/F2F (schedule/recordings/assessment/zoom)
  5. Batch cross-sectioning and magic tool (Tony Leisen)
    1. Folder with Video, example, code
    2. Spreadsheet copy for using the tool
  6. Use Cases for Small number manual section management via People Tab - AT Level (Sara Nystuen)
  7. Grading Cross listed Sections (Liza Meredith)
  8. Using Section Enrollment Tool (Silke Moeller) - Demos
  •  

Maximizing FbF implementation and use: How to get started? (Nov 2, 2022)

Recording

Canvas Investigation Nov 2022 – FeedbackFruits Implementation and Use

Description

This session will provide an overview of the implementation plan for FeedbackFruits. The session will include tips and tricks from Carlson's Instructional Team, as well as ideas for marketing, increasing buy-in, and managing expectations. 

Presenters

  • Susan Tade, ATSS
  • Leah Dwinnell, Tony Leisen, Esther Maruani, Sao Yang, Carlson School of Management

Slides and Resources

Gradebook Setups and Settings: Weighting, Extra Credit, and more (Oct 5, 2022)

Recording

Canvas Investigation Oct 2022 – Gradebook considerations, challenges

Presenters

  • Pedagogical Considerations of Extra Credit 
    • Grace Atkins, CLA Latis-LX – CEI resources
  • Technical aspect/challenges/limitations of Canvas Gradebook setup 
    • Dennis Svendsen, OIT & Soni Froyen, ATSS
  • Grade Posting Policy and Late Policy Considerations 
    • Tracy Wilson, CFANS
  • Consideration about Weighting vs Total Points - Differences and Why's? 
    • Kalli-Ann Binkowski, CBS
  • Instructors sharing Challenges, Solutions, and Issues with Canvas Gradebook
    • Penny Nichol, Psychology TC
    • Merc Chasman, Mathematics Morris (Recording)
    • Sara Nystuen, CFANS
    • Sarah Buchanan, Language Morris (Recording)

Slides and Resources

See presenter slides (resources are listed at the bottom)

Design Tool Showcase (Aug 3, 2022)

Recording

Description

Presenters

Sara Nystuen-Royzenfeld, Sarah Maxwell, Tracy Thomas Wilson, Honey VanderVenter, Sara Schoen, Yelena Yan

Slides and Resources

Discussion (May 4, 2022)

Recording

Presenter and Resources

Hypothesis Evaluation and Lessons Learned (Apr 6, 2022)

Recording

Presenter

  • Karen Jeannette 
  • Shana Crosson

Slides

Assessment Strategies (Mar 2, 2022)

Recording

Presenters

  • Aparna Katre: Assessment with Hypothesis and Rubrics
  • Adam Brisk and Karen Jeannette: Assessment in transition: Shifting processes and mindsets for small and large courses

Slides and Resources

New Quizzes (Feb 2, 2022)

Recording

Presenters and Resources