The makers of Canvas discuss the trends they are watching.
As vaccines offer the promise of a gradual return to normal, colleges and universities are preparing for a post-pandemic future. COVID-19 has radically altered higher education. Some changes are temporary, while others — such as hybrid learning models — may find a permanent place.
Thousands of universities and colleges rely on the Canvas learning management system for both remote and in-person learning. EdTech spoke with Ryan Lufkin, senior director of education product marketing at Instructure, the maker of Canvas, to gauge which 2021 trends are likely to stick around.
LUFKIN: The pandemic accelerated a lot of changes already taking place in higher education. Almost overnight, the level of technology-enhanced learning went through the roof on campuses around the world. In many ways, this forced colleges and universities to catch up with student expectations around technology in the classroom. That means more consistent delivery of blended and online courses, better leveraging of mobile apps to access class information, and an expansion of courses being offered online — leading to greater flexibility for students.
In addition, it’s spurred a greater appreciation for the value of using data in the classroom to support students. Without face-to-face interactions, educators are more reliant on student data to identify which students are struggling. They can use the feedback and communication tools built into the LMS to support them.