As an educator and technology enthusiast, I recently had the privilege of attending InstructureCON 2024, Instructure’s annual conference focused on the Canvas Learning Management System and educational technology. The event was packed with insightful sessions, inspiring keynotes, and exciting product announcements. Here are some highlights from the sessions I attended:
Mastering Mastery: Unleashing Canvas and Mastery Tools for Effective Learning
- Explored self-pacing within modules and mastery pathways
- Demonstrated use of outcomes and learning mastery gradebook
Canvas Beyond Instruction: Trailblazing Uses in Evaluations, Licensure Advancement and Professional Learning
- Showcased statewide implementation of Canvas for professional development and micro-credentialing
- Highlighted use of Canvas for educator evaluations and licensure advancement
Digital Badging with Credentials: Getting the Most out of the Tool
- Provided insights on setting up and organizing digital badges
- Discussed limitations and best practices for credential certification
Resume Revolution: Students Shine Bright Through Canvas e-Portfolios
- Presented a college-wide initiative improving student retention through e-portfolios
- Demonstrated how e-portfolios help students articulate skills and connect with potential employers
Boosting Retention by Leveraging UDL in Canvas
- Explored Universal Design for Learning principles applied to Canvas courses
- Shared strategies for creating more inclusive and accessible learning experiences
Betting on AI: A Winning Hand for Personalized Learning in an Online Classroom
- Showcased AI-assisted content creation for course personalization
- Demonstrated innovative uses of AI for generating study guides and assessment questions
UDL/AI/and Canvas
- Explored the intersection of Universal Design for Learning and AI within Canvas
- Provided practical examples of using AI to meet diverse learner needs
Building and Managing Successful Online/Hybrid Programs
- Shared best practices for faculty support and course development
- Highlighted innovative uses of Canvas Studio for enhancing online engagement
Unique Ways to Use Credentials & Badges
- Presented creative applications of badges for various educational contexts
- Discussed long-term planning and intentionality in badge implementation
Troubleshooting Blueprints
- Offered practical solutions for common challenges with Canvas Blueprint courses
- Provided tips for effective course syncing and content management
Exciting Product Enhancements Coming to Canvas
Instructure announced a plethora of new features coming to Canvas for the 24-25 school year. This years new feature list is a great balance of some much needed adminstrative tools, responsible AI enhancements, and additional tools to enhance the student learning experience. The announcements included:
- AI Content Assist: Native AI integration within the rich content editor, coming in late 2024.
- Block Editor: A new drag-and-drop editor interface for easy content creation.
- Selective Release of Modules: Allows educators to differentiate instruction by releasing modules to specific individuals or sections.
- Canvas Rubric Enhancements: Improved user interface and workflows for rubric creation and marking.
- Discussion Checkpoints: Enables deeper, more meaningful discussions with clear guidance for students.
- Smart Search: Allows users to search across Canvas course content with concept-based results.
- Canvas Apps Page: A central hub for LTI tool discovery and management within Canvas.
- Intelligent Insights: A new product leveraging AI and analytics to help educators make data-informed decisions.
- EdTech Collective Marketplace: A public-facing directory of Canvas-integrated tools for easy discovery.
- Expanded Portfolio and Credentialing Features: Investments in lifelong learning experiences, including an integrated view of portfolios and credentials.
Here is the full press release of all of these enhancements.
InstructureCON 2024 was an inspiring event that showcased the continuous evolution of Canvas and the broader educational technology landscape. As we look to the future, it’s clear that AI, personalization, and data-driven insights will play increasingly important roles in shaping the learning experiences of students.