How Teachers Really Feel about Canvas
Have you ever been in class when all of a sudden, learning stops and your teacher is forced to mess with chords, reload canvas, or get so aggravated that they mutter aggravations to themselves or passive aggressive comments towards our beloved Canvas portal? Sometimes even having to call the Tech Office, even though the Episcopal website claims that “Our faculty are passionate about technology. Teachers receive ongoing training, support, and professional development to ensure optimal use of the latest, most effective classroom innovations.” However, this statement may be a stretch considering the reality of the teacher-technology relationship. Though Canvas was first implemented almost 3 years ago, teachers still feel like they aren’t as “tech savvy” as they should be. Mr. McCreary, Upper School English teacher says that “Despite technology's best efforts, it is still sometimes hard to get what seems simple, like something from a computer onto the board” and that “nobody ever really counts on it working.” He also shared how he will often print out assignments that he has already put on Canvas because students will either not check for them or not want to bother to find them, which he calls “redundant.”
Despite how often Episcopal boasts about their advanced technology, many teachers struggle with the ever-changing Canvas platform. Mr. Willis, another Upper School English teacher talked about how some teachers attend Canvas training seminars over the summer, and then teach what they’ve learned to the other Episcopal teachers. Regarding Canvas, Mr. Willis says that, “I'm still getting used to it. Every year it does develop and grow as a platform and my peers do help me in understanding using beneficial ways to use it. It still doesn't offer me the self-autonomy i had before.” The rapid pace that technology is evolving has left many teachers frustrated and confused. Maybe the issue lies in the education that the teachers are given for Canvas. Mr. Schuh, Upper School History teacher claims that “Canvas, for what it is, does a very nice job.” but that “My problem is often that I don’t know how to work it.” For a website that students and teachers alike use practically everyday, there should be a better understanding of it. For some teachers, the technical issues with Canvas will sometimes cut into class time, like for Mr. Willis, who says that “each week, 10 minutes of class time” are lost because of smartboard, internet, or Canvas problems.
Canvas is something that will most likely not go away, as it does do what it is intended to, despite teacher difficulties. What needs to happen is better education for the teachers so that they can understand the technology better, and in turn have a more efficient learning environment.