Canvas New Analytics
Canvas New Analytics is a simple, built-in statistical tool that can help you keep your students on track, by providing you insights into student engagement and performance. This page explains the recommended preparations, gives some examples of how to use the tool and provides links to guides.
Can I use new analytics?
Yes, every room in Canvas has new analytics activated. However, to get the most out of the tool, you need to know what you are measuring and have a plan for what to do with the collected data. More specifically, you should:
- Clearly define the Intended Learning Objectives (ILO) with specific, measurable goals for what students should achieve.
- Create activities in Canvas that are connected to your ILOs such that measuring how students access and interact with the activities indicate their achievement of your ILOs. Activities can be, for example, reading a page, taking a quiz, submitting an assignment, participating in a discussion and so on.
- Have an understanding of what data will be collected and used, and how to ensure compliance with privacy regulations and ethical standards.
- Be prepared for iterative course design, as in be prepared to use analytics to inform continuous improvement, based on data insights and student feedback.
- Establish a support system for students who may struggle.
Examples of how to use new analytics
As a teacher, you probably will notice if some students are starting to fall behind or seem disengaged, but it might be difficult to pinpoint what is causing it. Canvas new analytics can help you with valuable insights, giving evidence to help you better understand the situation and take timely and informed actions.
Example 1: Some students seem to struggle to keep up with the course
Scenario: You have a course with weekly assignments or quizzes to keep students active in the course. You notice that several students are not submitting the assignments or quizzes, missing deadlines. The students may be struggling to keep up with the course or have lost motivation. When you open up new analytics, you can see the engagement metrics for those students. A downward trend in participation rates and grades in the weekly assignments indicates in which activities the students are struggling.
Intervention: Informed with this data, you reach out to the students, offering personalized support. You suggest resources tailored to their interests and schedule one-on-one check-ins. Based on the insights, you could also modify your course materials, incorporating more interactive elements and group discussions to foster engagement for the entire class.
Monitor progress: Over the next few weeks, you continue to monitor their engagement through Canvas. Hopefully, you notice an uptick in their participation, reflected in the analytics.
Example 2: Lack of interest in important or useful material
Scenario: You have created online material that you expected students to find useful, but when you open new analytics you notice they don't seem to make use of it. The students may not know where to find the material or not know how to use it.
Intervention: Make the material easier to find and remind the students that it exists. You could also gather student feedback on the usability and relevancy of the material and redesign it, if necessary.
Monitor progress: As in the previous example, you monitor the engagement with the material over the next few weeks and hopefully notice an uptick in activity.