Canvas User Group

Overview

Canvas User Group

Where: Four Points Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
1125 Boston Providence Turnpike
Norwood, Massachusetts 
Directions

When: Thursday, April 11, 2024
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member
Early-bird rate through 3/9/2024: $175 (savings of $25)
Member rate after 3/9/2024: $200

Non-Member
Early-bird rate through 3/9/2024:  $255 (savings of $45)
Non-Member rate after 3/9/2024: $300

The registration covers the workshop, morning and afternoon breaks, and lunch.

Event Overview
The NERCOMP Regional Canvas User Group Meeting is a dynamic forum to gain insights into how Canvas is utilized across various campuses. This event enables users from diverse backgrounds to network with colleagues across our region and leave with fresh ideas that align seamlessly with their institution's LMS strategy.

The upcoming Canvas User Group event will host speakers from Instructure and multiple Canvas-affiliated institutions, fostering a shared learning environment. Attendees can exchange novel ideas, discover best practices, and explore innovative ways to utilize Canvas at their institution.

Session Outcomes:
Participants will:
 - Gain a broader understanding of Canvas implementation strategies.
 - Learn about innovative uses of the platform from various institutions.
 - Build valuable connections within the Canvas user community.

Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking the "Register Now" button, you indicate a commitment to attend and will be held responsible for the registration fee. Your fee can be refunded if you notify us of a cancellation at least 5 business days before the event via email to nercomp@nercomp.org.

Event Disclaimer:
NERCOMP reserves the right to use any photographs or other mechanical recordings taken at NERCOMP events in promotional materials. No mechanical recordings of any kind may be used at NERCOMP events without the prior written consent of NERCOMP organizers and presenters. The views and opinions expressed at NERCOMP events do not necessarily reflect those of NERCOMP, nor does NERCOMP make any representation regarding the information presented at NERCOMP events.

Agenda

Canvas User Group Agenda

7.30 am-9:00 am  Registration and Coffee

9.00 am-9:10 am  Introduction to the Day 
Robin Robinson, Director of Education Technology and eLearning at Framingham State University 

9:10 am-9:45 am  Round Table Conversations
Discussion of trends, disrupters, and strategic initiatives
Facilitators:
April Bellafiore, Director of Multi-Modal Education, College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at UMass Amherst.
Tamarin Butcher, Associate Director of the UMass Amherst IDEAS team (Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support)
Robin Robinson, Director of Education Technology Office at Framingham State University

9:45am-10:45 am Instructure/Canvas News
Speaker:  Michael Yakubov, Ed.D,  Northeast Account Manager, Instructure

The world of digital learning is ever-changing. To continue developing a more competitive and budget-focused approach to institutional sustainability, a SWOT analysis composed of student feedback, industry assessment, resource allocation, and knowledge-based outcomes is essential. Instructure has continued aligning its vision to academic success goals and metrics with various digital tools and emerging technology. During this presentation, we will highlight industry trends such as AI, share feedback from students and faculty, and briefly showcase our ed-tech tools that are quickly aligning to the market and are helping to close the gap on career readiness. 

10:45 am-11:00 am  Break

11:00am-12:00 pm  Lightning Round Presentations

The Lightning Round presentations are a series of 15-minute talks designed to share best practices and insights and encourage conversations about innovative ideas and tips for using Canvas tools. 

 LMS Tools @ Harvard Business School
Speaker: Kara Amana, Manager, Learning Technology Services, Harvard Business School

In this presentation, we will explore the innovative capabilities of LMS Tools, a custom suite of applications developed by Harvard Business School (HBS) designed to enhance and personalize the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) experience for faculty, staff, and students. By leveraging the Canvas API and LTI integrations, along with HBS's proprietary applications, LMS Tools delivers a suite of functionalities tailored to meet the unique educational and administrative needs of the HBS community.
 

Supporting Large Lecture Courses
Speaker:  April Bellafiore, Director of Multi-Modal Education for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) , UMass Amherst. 

The move to Canvas illuminated a number of assessments, feedback, and classroom management practices utilized by large lecture courses at UMass that were not evident during the initial gathering of LMS usage requirements. This spring, a small working group led by the instructional design team began work to review migration issues and develop targeted solutions to assist faculty teaching courses with 100+ students migrating to Canvas.  

Building a Homegrown Math Placement Test in Canvas
Speaker: Mary MacDonald, Senior Instructional Designer, Framingham State University

Learn how Framingham State University used native features of Canvas to create a new process for placing students into introductory math classes. This new placement test experience addressed several concerns raised by Mathematics faculty about the existing placement process, including accuracy, flexibility, and accessibility. Canvas features highlighted in this process include the New Quiz engine and Mastery Paths. The resulting placement experience was built and administered to approximately 400 students (and counting) beginning in the Summer of 2023. 

Advising and Program Sites in Canvas
Speaker: Adam Hauerwas, Academic Systems Architect / LMS Administrator, Providence College

PC has long used its LMS creatively since it is the "go-to" system for faculty and students.  Migrating from Sakai, we have re-created sites in Canvas based on advisor/advisee relationships and major/minor/departmental affiliations for students and faculty using SIS-generated data.  Canvas features used include Section membership with specialized sub-accounts and roles. 

12:00 pm-1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm-2:00 pm Unconference Conversations

Facilitators
Adam Hauerwas, Academic Systems Architect / LMS Administrator, Providence College
Mary MacDonald, Senior Instructional Designer, Framingham State University

Join us for an unconventional and dynamic Unconference Session at the Canvas User Group meeting! In this interactive gathering, we’ll break away from traditional conference formats and embrace spontaneity, collaboration, and creativity.

2:00 pm-3:00 pm  Next Steps for the User Group
Facilitator: Kevin Kennedy

"The Canvas User Group is all about collaboration, curiosity, and camaraderie. Our journey with Canvas doesn't have to end in the conference room. As a lively user group, we have many opportunities to stay connected, learn from each other, and make a lasting impact on our teaching and learning practices. What's next for the group?" 

3:00  pm  End

Speakers

Kara Amana

Kara has an impressive trajectory of leading teams and championing educational technologies in higher education. Currently, she holds the position of Manager of Learning Technology Services at Harvard Business School (HBS), where she orchestrates the strategy for educational technology services and their associated applications. 

In her role, Kara oversees a dynamic team that administers and supports a myriad of technology solutions tailored to meet the unique educational requirements of HBS. This involves interfacing with a broad spectrum of individuals across HBS and Harvard University, setting priorities, and ensuring optimal team capacity management. 

A testament to her expertise, Kara excels in managing people, consulting with faculty and business partners, and delivering a diverse range of technology solutions in an enterprise-level setting. Her knack for listening, critical thinking, and rapid learning allows her to comprehend current processes, discern requirements, and pinpoint innovative tools and methodologies that fulfill set objectives. 

Kara's passion for technology and education is evident in her endeavors to enhance the learning experience, making her an invaluable asset to the HBS community and the broader IT landscape in higher education. 

 

April Bellifiore
April Bellafiore is the Director of Multi-Modal Education for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at UMass Amherst. In her role, she supports CNS faculty and departments as they seek to implement, expand, and refine online and flexible learning strategies. In addition to her current experience with the UMass migration to Canvas, April led two previous LMS transitions, from WebCT to Blackboard, and from Blackboard to Angel (before going back to Blackboard again), while at Bristol Community College. 

Tamarin Butcher

As Associate Director of the UMass Amherst IDEAS team (Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support) Tamarin has been a driving force behind the Canvas LMS initiative and oversees the identification and implementation new technologies and instructional design practices to enhance the academic learning environment. Tamarin has been with IDEAS since April 2022, serving first as a Team Lead, then as Acting Manager, and now as Associate Director.  

 

Adam Hauerwas

Adam has managed three different learning management systems for Providence College, from ANGEL to Sakai to Canvas.  He is a "jack of all trades" as well and serves as Tier 3 support within the User Support division of the college's IT services, supporting operating systems, application software, and academic technology.

 

Kevin Kennedy

With over a decade of experience teaching college-level classes, Kevin brings a purposeful approach to technology use in the classroom. His passions include increasing student autonomy and investment in class and using gamification and game-based elements to build a community in the classroom and increase student involvement. Kevin works as an instructional technologist at Framingham State University and is also a part-time faculty member with the Bridgewater State University English Department.

 

Mary MacDonald

Mary is the Senior Instructional Technologist with Framingham State University’s Education Technology Office (ETO). In this role, she manages the Learning Management System and associated integrated technologies and contributes to a wide variety of education technology initiatives across the university.  Before ETO, Mary served FSU for over six years as an instructor and manager of the campus Planetarium, where she developed a unique and diverse array of skills, including AV and multimedia production, technical support, immersive media, event planning, and more. Her areas of interest include Extended Reality, Open Educational Resources in STEM, data science, and digital literacy. 

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson is the Director of the Education Technology Office, Learning Spaces and Innovation within ITS at Framingham State University. Together with her team of five, she is dedicated to helping faculty identify and implement the best practices for technology-mediated teaching and learning. Robin and her team work collaboratively to solve problems and create a welcoming environment for faculty to engage in meaningful learning experiences that support students' intellectual growth. Robin earned a Master's in Technical and Professional Writing from Northeastern University in Boston. She has presented at regional and national conferences. In addition, she is co-coordinator of the Master of Education in Educational Technology with her colleague Steve Courchesne. Outside the institution, Robin serves on the NERCOMP Board as vice-chair and was recently appointed to Instructures' Customer Advisory Board.  

Michael Yakubov

Michael Yakubov is currently a Senior Account Manager at Instructure working with over 200 institutions in the New England, New York, Delaware, Washington D.C., and New Jersey regions to establish best ed-tech practices and resources planning for academic success. Prior to joining Instructure, Michael spent 12+ years in higher education as an Assistant Director of Admissions, Executive Director of a Business School, and Dean of Enrollment Management and Strategy. Spanning experience at small liberal institutions, mid-sized state universities, and community college settings has helped Michael align the values coveted by institutions when evaluating digital tools for student and faculty success.

Moreover, Michael possesses a Doctorate of Education from Wilmington University, focusing his dissertation on institutional closures and fiscal resource planning. Outside of higher education, Michael owns a small consulting company called The Resumaniacs, where he provides services in career empowerment and quality HR practices. 

Lodging

Hotel Information:

Rooms are available at the Sheraton Norwood, the conference location.
To make reservations contact the Sheraton Norwood at 781-769-7900 and request the "NERCOMP Room Block".

The room block for April 9, 2024, will be available until 5:00 pm local hotel time on Sunday, March 10, 2024.  
Standard queen guest rooms are available for $165 per night, and include a complimentary full buffet breakfast.

Slides/Handouts

1.  Canvas User Group Presentation 
Kara Amana, Manager of Learning Technology Services, Harvard University
April Bellifiore Director of Multi-Modal Education for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at UMass Amherst
Adam Hauerwas, Academic Support and Integration Specailist, Providence College
 Kevin Kennedy, Instructional Technologist, Framingham State University
Mary MacDonald, Senior Instructional Technologist, Famingham State University
Robin Robinson, Director of the Education Technology Office, Learning Spaces and Innovation within ITS at Framingham State University

2. Advising and Program Sites
Adam Hauerwas, Academic Support and Integration Specailist, Providence College