RJUHSD makes the switch from Google Classroom to Canvas
Canvas will be the primary learning management system within the next three years at GBHS due to a contract that went into effect on July 1 2022.
This switch cost RJUHSD $348,925 through ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding and encompasses all nine schools within the district.
“We looked at the colleges that RJUHSD graduates attend, and all 10 of the most commonly attended colleges are already using Canvas, so it makes sense to help get our students prepared for what they’ll see in college…an
y colleges who aren’t yet on Canvas are switching to Canvas as well,” Jennifer Leighton, the RJUHSD Executive Director of Learning Support Services, said in an email.
Prior to Canvas, Google Classroom was officially used in the district for the last two years over the pandemic.
Canvas offers more interactive features, including easy video submission, discussion boards, different tabs for linked resources and separate sections for assignments, announcements and grades.
Grant Adams, a Spanish teacher at Granite Bay High and American River College, prefers using Canvas because it is more interactive.
“Canvas has a lot more opportunity to incorporate video communication with something called Studio, having discussion board interactions (and) embedding material within the pages inside Canvas….Google Classroom, I pretty much looked at as more of a database to post things,” Adams said.
To ease the transition to Canvas, more than 150 teachers in the district attended the “Canvas Summit” in June 2022 at Antelope High School to familiarize themselves with the new system.
They learned how to use different features of the application and how to structure their digital curriculum in a way that is compatible with Canvas, rather than their previous styles that were suited to Google Classroom, and worked on building their courses on Canvas for the upcoming school year.
While Canvas offers more in terms of tools interwoven in the site, the switch was a drastic change for staff and students alike. Since its release in 2014, some students and teachers have grown to accustomed to Google Classroom and prefer the familiarity of it.
“They’re both easy to use, but I’m just more comfortable with Google Classroom,” Granite Bay sophomore Adam Elsawaf said.
While the district is paying for Canvas, teachers are currently under no obligation to use it, and some continue to post assignments on Google Classroom.
Zachary Weidkamp, who teaches Film and Media at Granite Bay, continues to use Google Classroom for three of his classes.
“Google Classroom is easy to use, and it’s intuitive … It takes a lot longer to do anything on Canvas…as a teacher, I need to be fast and get stuff done,” Weidkamp said.
An advantage of Canvas for teachers is that Canvas and Aeries gradebooks sync. Aeries is the application used to input only grades and attendance, and with Canvas, the data transfers automatically between programs to make for more time-efficient grading.
“I hope (the) district sticks with this LMS (learning management system) long term. For students and teachers we can feel like we just started to get really good at Google Classroom and now we are changing to Canvas. That can lead to frustration and a natural apprehension to change not knowing when the next new LMS will be required,” Stephen Miller, a Granite Bay science teacher, said.
Ellen • Feb 17, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Personally I don’t think this is a good idea because students and teachers are just now getting 100% confident with Goggle Classroom. Switching to canvas may cause bigger problems such as not knowing how to turn in an assignment, them getting mark as late.
Kaylene Wharff • Oct 11, 2022 at 10:55 am
I think this article is very interesting. I had no idea that the conversion from Google Classroom to Canvas would cost so much money. I personally have used both, and prefer google classroom over canvas.
Kaylene Wharff • Oct 11, 2022 at 10:55 am
I think this article is very interesting. I had no idea that the conversion from Google Classroom to Canvas would cost so much money. I personally have used both, and prefer google classroom over canvas
brayden • Sep 30, 2022 at 10:53 am
I get why there doing this but I don’t really like canvas I’m just used google classroom
cade • Sep 23, 2022 at 11:02 am
This could be a good thing if it is more effective than google classroom. It could help both the students and teachers if it is successful.
Allison Kimoto • Sep 23, 2022 at 8:39 am
I like google classroom better because it’s not as confusing as Canvas. I’m using Canvas for PE and I don’t really understand how it works, and how to use it. Most of the time when I turn stuff in through Canvas, I don’t know if it actually submitted or not because it doesn’t say.
Ashlyn Trammell • Sep 16, 2022 at 10:58 am
I don’t like canvas, it glitches and when I turn things in it doesn’t show up. I like google classroom a lot more.
Lauren Wells • Sep 16, 2022 at 10:56 am
I feel like we have depended on Google Classroom sense we where in middle school and it’s weird to think that we will be switching to Canvas. It is just going to make it more confusing.
nittilai • Sep 16, 2022 at 10:52 am
For me, I personally like Canvas better than Google Classroom, because it helps me keep track of my assignments better.
Mia Wiggen • Sep 16, 2022 at 10:52 am
I have used Canvas in multiple classes and heard that almost every college uses Canvas. I understand the benefit of switching but I hate Canvas and much rather prefer the workings of google classroom.
Stepan • Sep 16, 2022 at 9:12 am
I feel like I’ve grown very accustomed to Google Classroom. To me Canvas feels too different and I’ve already run into several things I dislike. It also feels a little glitchy to me, I don’t know why.
Videhi Shelat • Sep 16, 2022 at 8:53 am
I think this article does a really good job showing both ends by showing the benefits of Canvas but also the disadvantages of the change. I personally wasn’t really happy about this change from Google Classroom to Canvas because it was already a hard transition to Google Classroom during the online school period and we’ve just started to really get used to it. It’s cool to see that there are other students and staff members that feel the same. Hopefully, the change ends up being for the better as the article sort of displays through the benefits of Canvas.
lilia • Sep 16, 2022 at 8:52 am
The switch to Canvas may help the transition of students going from high school to college, as most colleges are using the system. However, it may affect the well being of the work that students will do. Personally, I feel as if I just have gotten into the groove of Google Classroom, and it may mess up my work if I have to worry about adapting into the new Canvas system too.