Within the last four years, two of our high school teachers have transitioned from using Google Classroom to Canvas. Google Classroom is a learning management system that organizes assignments based on when the teacher posts them. In contrast, Canvas is set up so that students must complete certain assignments to unlock their next ones. This transition has impacted students in both negative and positive ways in many aspects. 

Many students who were interviewed expressed finding it difficult to keep track of their work across separate classes using the two learning management systems, better known as LMS, as well as confusion from learning to navigate Canvas when it was new. 

Vincent Simpson, a junior at Concord, says, “One thing I dislike is usually there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to [using multiple systems]; certain students may be confused whether or not certain assignments are in a different place due to it being on Canvas rather than it being on Google Classroom.” During his interview, he mentions how he believes classrooms should stick to a singular platform to refrain from confusing and further challenging students throughout the year. 

In opposition to this, some students expressed a liking for the new LMS better than the old. When Audrey Rinehart, a freshman, was asked which LMS she would prefer to use, she stated, “I would choose Canvas just because of the organization, and I like how it kind of shows you the assignments more.”

The decision to switch was deliberate to help further prepare students. Biology teacher, Mrs. Fiero, was the first teacher to make this switch. She explains that she chose to switch during the COVID-19 era when students were forced to learn online. Fiero proclaimed, “Everyone had to switch to an at-your-own-pace method of schooling, called Modern Classroom, and with Canvas I could lock out individual pages so that they had to complete that [current assignment] before moving onto the next page, which was very on par with Modern Classroom.”

History teacher, Mr. Simmons, was next to follow in the footsteps of his colleague. During his interview, he explains being not only inspired by the technique that Canvas presents, but also the individuality it gives students.

Regardless of the various students’ upset with the switch, this transition is overall necessary for a variety of reasons. Not only does Canvas present a more organized and professional technique, but it also happens to be the LMS that many college professors use in their classrooms. This fact is crucial to students who want to move on to higher education after high school. 

While this switch has caused much confusion or frustration over time, this decision is notably positive in cases of both students and teachers.