Canvas Survey: Week 8, Spring 2017

Here are the results of my Canvas survey available during Week 8 of the Spring 2017 semester. You can see the survey here: Canvas Survey. These are from my students in two different classes, both fully online classes. Total number of students: 77. Number of responses: 76. You can see the results from the Fall semester here.

My use of Canvas is very minimal; the courses are both open (no log-in required), so you can see: Myth.MythFolklore.net and India.MythFolklore.net. Based on last semester's results, I had written up these Tech Tips to assist students with using Canvas: Canvas Tech Tips.

Below I have summarized the ratings in chart form, and I have listed the free responses below; see especially the advice to instructors and to students — that is very useful I think! In a separate post at my Teaching with Canvas blog, I'll write up my thoughts about this; I just wanted to get the raw data out for now.

Although there was a marked increase in the use of Canvas overall, the ratings the students gave were basically comparable to the ratings I saw in the Fall, with no significant changes. As always, the more useful information is in the free responses!

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I asked the students how many of their classes were using Canvas (every student had at least one because they are in one of my classes). There was a big increase in the number of students using Canvas in multiple classes because in the Spring we went to an "opt-out" for Canvas, as opposed to "opt-in" for Fall. In the Fall, the average number of Canvas classes per student was just 2.4.

I asked them to compare Canvas to D2L. This was close to the rating from last Fall: 2.8.

I asked them to rate the Gradebook on a scale of 1 to 4. This was somewhat higher than the rating from last Fall of 3.0.

I asked them to rate the Calendar on a scale of 1 to 4. This was comparable to the rating from last Fall of 2.9.

I asked them to rate the Inbox/Messages on a scale of 1 to 4. This was basically the same as last Fall's rating of 2.5.

I asked them to rate the Mobile App on a scale of 1 to 4. This was somewhat lower than the Fall rating of 2.7.

Here are the free response questions:

What are your favorite things about Canvas so far?

• The calendar and to-do list are more convenient than D2L. The mobile app works better than D2L (which ran through an OU app), but it was still had a lot of bugs that need to be fixed. The interface of Canvas is nice looking.
• I only like that I can click on a grade and do the assignment. I hate everything else.
• The gradebook; it is nice to see what I need to do in order to receive an A and see how I am doing overall.
• The layout of the courses. The quizzes are easier to get to also.
• I like that you are able to get notifications for grades and etc. Also, the fact that you are able to customize these settings.
• I like that uploading documents is easy and allows so many formats.
• I dont like canvas
• I like that there is a calendar that shows all of my assignments and their due dates. This makes it easier for me to check up on what I need to do! I would really like to learn how to manipulate this calendar and export it to my phone or my iPad for my own uses, but I have not learned how to do it yet! I like that you are able to view the class roster still. In addition, you can create collaborations with your group mates, which is connected to Canvas. This makes it easier because you don't have to go to another application/program. It's all saved within Canvas.
• Clean presentation, functional, and responsive. Just as long as it works, I can deal with it.
• Easy to stay organized
• dashboard
• I like the home screen (dashboard). I like that the gradebook can calculate grades based on what you input.
• I like the modules tab because you can flip through it easily.
• I like that there is an app, I like the calendar, and I like the condensed coursework page!
• The ability to plug in grades for assignments as well as seeing statistics on assignments/tests.
• I have not yet noticed anything that special compared to D2L as of yet.
• I like that it has a layout that has customizable colors and pictures. It is nice to log in and see the things that I added. I love the gradebook and the fact that I can see the average of the class on each assignment and where I stand. I also like that it calculates my total in the class for me for all classes and I can test out other hypothetical grades in my gradebook to see what I need to get on an assignment.
• All the assignments are easily accessible and I like receiving emails about my grades.
• Gradebook
• the calendar and grade estimates
• The grade book
• It is easier to navigate than D2L.
• The layout of the courses and the modules section that make it easy to see what all the instructors have posted
• I like the grade percentages that show
• The calendar is very handy and overall Canvas runs a lot smoother.
• better UI/layout and navigation
• I like that the app is easy to navigate and use.
• Trying out grades.
• I like how the calendar is all mixed together with all of my classes
• The ease with which you can calculate your potential grade in the course.
• I like that it has a usable app for android. It's also very colorful and a lot more appealing than D2L.
• ease of navigation
• The gradebook
• Gradebook
• I like the aesthetic appeal of canvas and ease of use.
• It calculates your grade for you
• I like the dashboard.
• the calendar
• Easily maneuverable. I'll agree that it wasn't like that last semester, but it got significantly easier this semester.
• That there is an app, and that I can play with "what if" grades.
• I really like the layout/design. It is very easy to get around and find what you are looking for
• it's easy to navigate and work
• I like how you are able to color code your classes and manipulate potential final grade points.
• The calendar and when assignments are due
• I love how easy it is to navigate
• The class calendar and the gradebook
• How convenient it is to have as an app whenever I am on the go and don't have my laptop with me.
• gradebook and the calendar
• I like how my grades are automatically calculated with the specific weights.
• Mobile App
• The grade book and that you can "test" different scores
• I really like the gradebook and the inbox for quick messages.
• interface
• keeping track of assignments and tracking grades
• Easy navigation
• I love the canvas calendar! It syncs to my google calendar which helps me keep my life on-track!
• gradebook
• I really like the calendar option and the gradebook option where you can put in estimated grade!
• easy to navigate
• The calendar and being able to input grades into the grade book to see what grade you would get.
• I really like the organization of Canvas. I feel like it's much more user-friendly than D2L.
• The Calendar and that it calculates your overall grade.
• I like that it reminds me what is due soon on the right hand side bar
• The gradebook and the mobile app. I receive notifications whenever a grade is put into the gradebook and it allows me to know my score instantaneously without having to pull out my laptop.
• The calendar and the "what if" grade options!
• The gradebook
• The simplicity in which anyone can easily navigate and is able to use its functions
• I love how clean and simple it looks, and how easy it is to navigate: D2L always felt cluttered and kind of stressful, but I've never felt that way about Canvas.
• The organized layout.
• Its easy to use.

Are there things you do NOT like about Canvas? Is there something you miss in Canvas that was possible in D2L?

• The Canvas interface is unnecessarily complex. It's difficult to find documents compared to D2L. There are too many emails from Canvas - most of them are also unnecessary. The group feature is not structured well; it's confusing to switch between the general class page and group page. Loading documents and Powerpoints are slow and sometimes does not even work.
• I hate so much about Canvas. It put me in a class I dropped weeks before the semester started, and I had to contact three different people to get it fixed. I work as a TA, and I can't get any of my students email addresses. I couldn't even figure out how to group message my students. I hate that I can't download individual papers, I have to download all of them at once. I am only in charge of half of the class, so I end up with a lot of useless documents. I hate that I can never find the emails my professor sends me from Canvas because they just disappear. I hate that I can't get links in Canvas to open in separate windows unless Canvas declares them ""unsafe." But above all else, please bring back the ability to email people or at least see their emails without having to use Canvas. I need to be able to get replies and not have the messages disappear or not work. I had to spend 30-40 minutes trying to find students' emails on the OU People Search site. 
• The daily general email messages from professors are annoying and I only really want to be notified if I new grade is up. Or if it is something important. I also miss being emailed an assignment download that D2L
• It's just a little harder to find things in Canvas as opposed to D2L, like the uploads professor put on canvas for the course.
• D2L was a lot more simple. It was really easy to use in my opinion. Everything was straightforward. I do not feel this way about Canvas.
• I do not like the layout, because the functionality is not as straightforward as it was in D2L. I think it is the way the instructors are laying out the sites, so as they get more feedback that may improve
• I just like D2L
• I hate HATE that there is not an option to separate class grade notifications from class assignment creation notifications. I have a professor that adds assignments as we go and it just spams my OU email with "assignment has been created" and "assignment has been edited" emails which push the important emails to the bottom. D2L had an option to view the grades with a bar graph so you could see how many students got which grade. I really liked that because I could accurately asses where I stood within my class. Canvas only has the option to view the IQR statistics, which is okay, but I want more info. I also liked that D2L was more organized than Canvas because all the files were under "Content." In Canvas, there are so many tabs with Modules, Files, Assignments, etc., which are all redundant and showing the same things over and over. Why can't we just have one tab that leads us to the topic/assignment and the files for that assignment?
• Connecting emails to get notifications through Canvas not totally responsive, layout is clean but a little confusing sometimes, and I prefer the design of D2L, personally
• not correlated to our actual submission of assignments
• I don't like the way the dashboard is formatted because I wish the images were smaller so I didn't have to scroll. I usually use the coursework tab instead because it's all condensed there.
• I do not like the formatting of the dashboard page very much and I think the email notifications are a bit excessive sometimes.
• I do not like the fact that we aren't able to pop out the window for files like we were in D2L.
• I don't really like the notifications. Even if an assignment is completed it still says it is coming up and it makes it hard to see what I actually need to do. I don't like that we don't get email receipts when we turn in documents and it is annoying to have the notifications for messages until I open them when I already saw them in my email.
• It doesn't load the first time
• I liked being able to see the roster for each of my classes in D2L. It helped me to know if I knew anyone in my class before the first day.
• I just don't like that some professors don't know how to use it well, so it isn't full beneficial yet.
• The only thing is that it seems like the instructors get confused on where to put their uploads. For a couple of my classes, I have to go searching through multiple tabs in order to find the assignment I'm looking for, because the file can be in either modules, assignment, etc.
• Sometimes the app sends me notifications for things that I have already seen or sends me notifications for unimportant things that I have tried to turn off.
• Change is hard. I feel everything is the same, but some professors just don't know how to use Canvas yet and that makes things difficult. 
• No, they seem to have the same functionality.
• I like that everything ever posted in D2L was on the news section.
• Not really
• I don't like the notification system. It's quite confusing.
• I miss that you can't see the class average on assignments on Canvas like you could on D2L.
• I don't like the inbox/messages. Too difficult to manage and delete.
• I really don't care for the messaging system in canvas. In D2L I could easily e-mail the entire course list if necessary in attempt to get lost notes or anything of the sort. With canvas, I have tried multiple times and the absolute only way I've found to do that is by selecting each name individually (which is rather time consuming).
• It is just hard to adjust to a new system, but I do not notice anything missing from Canvas that we had in D2L.
• I just liked how familiar I was with D2L already.
• It was easier to submit assignments and view each student's discussion responses in D2L.
• I miss the class directory having everyones email.
• the inbox/messaging stinks.
• How the assignments and notes are set up
• I don't really like how the inbox is setup.
• Sometimes it is hard to find things but that is probably due to the instructor.
• How the notifications work
• Though we can tweak the notifications how we want it to be, it's still quite a bit of a task having to deal with the way the notifications work.
• Seems like it's in a beta design
• the to list does not always accuractly display what tasks I need to do, the notifications are deleayed
• I don't like the canvas inbox! I get bogged down with junk email that I would rather see in my OU email account.
• it goes down too much
• I wish you could have different notification settings for different classes.
• I wish that the calendar was more comprehensive. Sometimes events or assignments don't appear on it.
• A notifcation on the canvas homepage that shows you have a new grade.
• how to grades are usually wrong because of weighting
• I haven't used d2l since last spring so I honestly couldn't tell you. I just know that I enjoy canvas right now because it is easier to navigate and check scores/look at files in the class.
• The one thing I liked about D2L was the easy-access notifications button that used to be at the top-right. Otherwise, nothing.

What advice would you give to INSTRUCTORS who are setting up a Canvas course?

• Try to make it as simple as possible, put files into folders to make it easier to find, and do not use the group feature.
• Don't bother setting up your course on Canvas. Use an alternative site and just input grades on Canvas. It isn't worth the hassle.
• Make sure that things are published for students to see on time. The fewer tabs we have to open the better.
• Model the straightforward design of old D2L courses
• Dont, go to D2L
• Links, links, links. Many instructors set up links to modules, files, and syllabi that do not work. I heard that Canvas has a "view in student mode" option that many instructors tend to neglect. It would really be helpful if they took a look at it every so often to make sure that students are seeing what they need to. In addition, I think instructors should input assignments and due dates early on in the semester. The bombardment of emails I receive when they start messing with Canvas to add assignments is not necessary if they planned assignments out in advance. Of course, there are some assignments that require careful planning and specific timing, but I have a professor that started out the semester with NO assignments!
• Make sure you let people know how to set up Canvas notifications through email; I've had problems with receiving them from a class even with an OU Email attached. Integrate Canvas "tips" into your course for those new to it, maybe?
• Post assignments well ahead of the time they are due
• All the side bar options are a little confusing (Modules, Files, etc). I miss the contents button.
• Sometimes, instructors put content on Canvas but do not make it public to the students so we cannot view it. It has been difficult determining what is public and what isn't in some of my classes.
• Sometimes professors put content up on Canvas but do not make it public so that students can access it! So maybe a training would be helpful for professors.
• Make folders in the module tab
• If there are features that are superior, maybe point those out to the students.
• Make sure to actually learn the program and publish the course and assignments in a timely manner. If you set a due date keep it and keep your class organized on canvas. Send emails instead of canvas messages.
• Make it consistent.
• to organize everything in an obvious way
• Make a slot for each assignment for the entire semester so all of the points possible show in the grade book. It makes it easier to calculate grades.
• USE IT! It is better if the instructors actually utilize Canvas, instead of just having a few files and grades on the site.
• Have one place where you put your assignments and one place where you put your readings and so on and so forth.
• Remember to make files public... And in the correct locations.
• Please organize the modules. I like being able to navigate those easily and not having to search through and find where certain files are.
• Be sure of exactly where things are being put.
• Add all due dates to the calendar so students can refer to that instead of the syllabus.
• If the files are all conjoined together it makes it hard to find information. It's easier when modules are set up to navigate easily.
• I really enjoy when they have it set up with the calendar. Most of my professors don't have that set up, but I like being able to see what is due in each class all in one place.
• Put assignments in the Syllabus, not the Calendar
• If possible, open the course EARLY so that students can figure out where things are in canvas. Sometimes things are not where you might expect and it is much easier to find things later on if you're able to take some time (before the semester starts and your schedule gets hectic) to locate things and ask any questions you may have about the system. Also, keep up with your e-mails so when students have questions about canvas they get a quick response!
• Make sure you publish things so students can see them. We had a lot of trouble at the first of the year with instructors thinking something was posted but students couldn't see it.
• Have things organized
• Try to make the schedule and syllabus as clear as possible.
• TO USE THE GRACE PERIOD
• get the entire page set up before the class starts (grade book, files, design). It has been frustrating being in classes that only create assignments right before the due date. Students are often in online classes because they needed to take it to fit better with work/life and need to be able to do assignments on their schedule.
• to put in all the dates of assignments early
• Get the notes in the right section
• I would make sure that my instructors have the files grouped in folders and the modules to be organized by Unit and by date.
• Group things that are related together or organize by date/week
• Utilize all the features that are available!
• Put all the due dates for assignments on the class calendar!
• I guess be more specific in where certain materials are posted and how they are posted. Sometimes it can be confusing to find or understand instruction-wise.
• Publish the course sooner rather than later so that the class can become familiar with the setup.
• Try an organize files and name them well so it is easy for students to find what they need.
• I wish there was a standard of what to use each "page" on the class page for
• Use the grace period!
• Nothing, I thought all of my professor set up their courses neatly.
• place as many assignments on it as possible for students to get ahead.
• do no be afraid to upload files or experiment with what canvas has to offer-be careful with online quizzes-short answers are risky
• Put as much information as possible
• Don't use the inbox! Just email students
• publish the course quickly
• The "module" tab for Canvas is super useful in organizing which lectures would be under which exam, therefore, I hope instructors would use module to organize the class materials.
• make sure that the work can be accessed from a different source if canvas goes down
• Keep things organized and file documents the same all year. It is confusing when one lecture is in files and one is in modules, etc. just be consistent.
• I really appreciate when my professors put a lot of information on Canvas. Having the syllabus as well as assignments, notes, and dates on Canvas makes it easier to keep track of everything and keep up with my work.
• Please put your assignement so they can be viewed in the calendar
• To be organized with folders and calendar
• Use the message tool more to let students know about deadlines.
• Learn as much about the possible features because the more the instructor knows they can provide a student access to, the friendlier interface a student is able to interact with
• Hide/delete the widgets on the left-hand course toolbar that aren't going to be used in class ("conferences, collaborations, files," whatever), just to make it that much easier to navigate.

What advice would you give to STUDENTS who are using Canvas?

• Try to understand how your professor laid out their class page and talk to your professor if you have any questions about where to find assignments, documents, or where to turn in material.
• Just good luck. It is going to suck. You won't be able to contact anyone. It will be redundant and hard to navigate. Just try your best.
• Please put your emails in your profiles, it makes it easier to contact you if I have a question about the assignment.
• PRACTICE! Go through every tab and see what you can do with it.
• Use the calendar to keep track of upcoming due dates
• I would suggest getting to know how to navigate the site early on. Without these navigation skills, it makes it harder to find your assignments and can cause problems.
• Get your bearings on the platform early on before you start doing work with it; covering your basis on email notifications and what link leads where will save you headaches.
• Check the messages
• make sure you are simultaneously adding your assignments on canvas
• Just play around with it. You'll get it eventually.
• Do not get the daily email notifications because they are extremely excessive.
• Probably get the app! I haven't gotten it yet, but my friends have said it is helpful.
• Make use of the grade changer so you can see what you need to make to get the grade you want.
• play around on Canvas until you are comfortable with the technology.
• Learn the program as quickly as possible- but it is not that hard and it is really similar to D2L. Make sure you utilize the gradebook to see where you stand.
• It can be confusing when you first start with Canvas, but you will get used to it.
• Know how to navigate
• explore before your classes start so you are familiar with the layout
• Make use of the grade book to track your progress
• Make sure to check the announcements pages for your classes and pay attention to due dates if they are set on Canvas.
• Get familiar with the layout.
• Set up the app on their phone.
• It takes time to get used to, but once you understand it things will go smoothly.
• Use the grade calculator to keep track of how you're doing.
• Check everywhere for assignments- profs don't know what they're doing.
• Make sure and check the deadlines ahead of time and set up the notification system so that you can get emails or texts about your deadlines.
• Check your emails and announcements every day.
• Get ready for a drastic change from D2L.
• Check the Calendar just in case!
• Familiarize yourself with it as early on as you can. Go through and figure out where things are and how to find what you're going to need throughout the semester. The way canvas is set up is a bit weird and has a small learning curve.
• Just play around with it. It really isn't hard to use.
• Play around with it so you know where everything is.
• Be patient. You'll the get the hang of Canvas sooner or later.
• To have your app send you notifications!
• take advantage of all of its cool features!
• pay attention and explore course information at the beginning
• use the notification
• I would tell students to "play" with program. At first, all of the tabs and expandable tabs can be overwhelming, but you will get used to it.
• Just learn it.
• Check your emails and announcements every day!
• Just click around and play with the site, because you'll figure it out if you utilize the tools that are given. It's fairly basic and to the point, the only issue is how each class is setup and organized.
• embrace it
• Always check the upcoming assignments area!!
• Get the app
• Install the app
• Use the calendar more. It is extremely helpful.
• get email updates
• use it, do not just get files off of it, it has many other uses like grade tracking, working ahead on assignments
• Take advantage of the notifications
• Make sure to have your notifications turned on!
• check messages everyday
• Sync the calendar and turn on email notification for Canvas!
• explore the different pages and options that canvas gives
• Use the calendar and put your own personal calendar in it.
• Utilize all the tools Canvas offers. It's a very comprehensive portal, and you can use it to do a number of tasks related to your classes.
• Set up the notifications
• You can change the name of your courses, color code them, and hide some if you want.
• Check your calendar on there every week to see what you have going on. You don't have to have a daily planner if you check the canvas calendar periodically to see when assignments are due or when exams are.
• The more you use it, the more familiar and easier it gets!
• Use the app.
• Don't hesitate to reach out to a professor and letting them know about your needs and see if there's a feature that may be better able to adhere to it. If one student has a concern, there must be more who feel the same way.
• Take advantage of the Calendar option, and the way the grade book lets you plug in theoretical assignment scores to see how they would impact your class average.
• It is a new system, and if they are used to D2L it will take time to get acquainted. However, it is far better in my opinion.
• That times are changing and Canvas can be a good thing if you give it a chance.

What is your overall impression of Canvas?

• I had a lot of hope and expectations for Canvas because it looked modern, but I was highly disappointed after using it. It needs a lot of work, and it definitely needs to simplify.
• It is the worst thing, and I'm so glad I'm graduating so that I never have to use it again.
• Canvas is fancy, but I like D2L better simply because it was easier to use.
• It's not horrible, however I do miss D2L. I can get used to canvas though, as it is not a huge change.
• I am not a big fan. I miss D2L.
• It is ok and I will get used to it, but overall it is my least favorite LMS out of the several I have used over the last decade and 3 colleges I have attended.
• not for me
• As you can probably tell from my evaluations above, I don't really like Canvas at all. It gets the job done, I suppose, but it could be much better. I heard that we had to switch to Canvas because D2L was getting too pricy to keep. What a shame. Although Canvas has a more "modern" layout, D2L was where it was at.
• It's something that works for my class purposes, and that's fine in the long run, but I prefer D2L's layout, as it feels easier to navigate and is more attractive.
• I like it how it is easy to use
• good
• It's ok. I wish we could just stay with one website and not change. Especially if we're seniors.
• Overall, I like it just fine and do not have a particularly strong opinion of it!
• I like it so far! I am indifferent as to D2L versus Canvas though.
• Seems relatively simple, but I don't see the need to change over from D2L.
• It seems to get everything I need to get accomplished handled.
• I like it a lot. It has its drawbacks but I haven't had many problems with it and I love the gradebook.
• very good
• It needs some work.
• it's not terrible but it's better than D2L
• I like it. It is well organized and fairly easy to use.
• I like it more than D2L. It has a lot more features, but I think I will like it more when I get better acquainted with it.
• Overall, I like it and I'd use it how it is now as opposed to D2L.
• I don't mind it.
• Great so far. Had a few times where it didn't work, but better than D2L.
• many similar features to d2l, but prettier and easier to navigate
• Very cute and functional overall. Like D2L but nicer UI.
• Great!
• its good
• I'm getting used to it and it's getting more easy to use.
• I think it's a good switch from D2L.
• I really enjoy it now that I have gotten used to it. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it has gotten better with time.
• it's good
• It's pretty good.
• good
• I like canvas. There are things I like about it and things I don't care for. For the most part, I don't feel that it is much different than D2L but I'm very slightly partial to canvas.
• It was easier to understand than D2L.
• I like Canvas
• I like it.
• I like the design and how easy it is to maneuver.
• Overall, I like Canvas. It is an adjustment, but I believe it is going to benefit students more as they adapt.
• i like it!! I wish more professors took advantage of all of its features!
• i like it
• it is good, just needs time
• Canvas has a cleaner format than D2L. I like how Canvas is versatile and able to be manipulated to fit the needs of the student.
• Not bad
• I like it!
• I'm getting a hang of it.
• It isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be in the beginning, but I will say that it is better than D2L in the way that it is setup and functioning.
• positive one
• I really like it!
• Great step in the right direction
• Love it! Very user friendly
• I really like it and I hope that it continues to become the primary source for OU.
• I like it better than D2L and moodle
• Excellent, I love it- cant wait to use it again next semester
• I love it
• Love it!
• very good
• Much better than D2L, but still needs work. The calendar in particular is something I want to improve. And the layout needs a little more adjustment. It is very user friendly, but sometimes a little confusing.
• I like how it doesn't log off on it own even when I have it open and not using it for a long time. In D2L, there is a time limitation when you log in and is not active on the website, it log you out, and I did not really like that.
• I like it a lot!
• I like Canvas a lot. It has helped me keep organized so much better than D2L did. I use to have to write out all of my assignments in my own calendar/planner but now I can simply look at the calendar on Canvas and it even tells me what I've completed.
• I'm a big fan of Canvas. I hope we continue to use it.
• Love it
• love!
• It is a good resource that OU invested in and I'm happy with the result. (Not sure if canvas is a ou only thing or if canvas is a company that other schools are on too)
• Love it!
• Much easier to use than D2L
• I love it!
• I love it, and just wish I'd gotten to spend more time with it.
• Organized, Easy to use.
• I really like it. I am someone who truly cares about my grades so I like the option "what if" so I can figure out what grades I will make to make a certain grade.