The Canvascasters - The Official Instructure Podcast

Guest host Nicole Hiers meets up with Sam Christ, Instructure's Principal Learning Experience Designer, and Nancy Lowery, Cengage Marketing Manager for Instructor & Learning Management Systems. The trio talks about the new partnership Instructure now has with Cengage, as part of the LMS' Training Services Portal.

Guest host and Instructure Customer Marketer, Shelly Ruff, huddles up with Product Manager Jacqueline Coolidge and K-12 CSM Michael Prosia to talk about the newest, FREE, feature in Canvas — Admin Analytics.

Links for more information:

Shelly and guest co-host Amber Williams huddle-up with Janie Solinski -Ruddy to talk about the new and improved Training Services Portal for Canvas. We also talk #ConfettiWithCanvas and talk mental wellness moments with our #CanvasFam!

The Canvascasters Podcast co-host, Marcus Painter, appears on the BISD BirdCast Podcast to face-off against an old friend, Matt Miller!

The challenge was fierce, but the conversation and ideas were better!  What a great episode!

Check-out the following:

In this episode, Marcus talks to Aaron Ferguson the Coordinator of Distance Learning and Canvas administrator of Oxnard Online, and Saša Stojić, a dedicated Instructional Designer at Instructure.  These two, and many others at Oxnard Union High School District, have teamed up to create and build some truly impactful new approaches to content restructuring, accessibility best practices, course building, and credit recovery!

7 Pillars of Accessibility:

In this episode, Marcus talks with a few educators about the “side hustles” and hobbies that are integral to their lives, their mental health, and sometimes even their wallets.  Ultimately, all people are seeking the truest work/life balance possible.  The guests on this episode are all educators with amazing insights and stories about the activities that enrich and enhance both their personal and professional lives.

WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association

Welcome to Episode 50 of The Canvascasters Podcast.  Today, Marcus invites two of his good friends, Carrie Gardner and Lindsey Hallett from Kansas to kick-off the 2022-2023 school year the right way by filling up our Canvas Backpacks with everything educators need to know to thrive during the 2022-2023 school year!

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The purpose of Global Accessibility Awareness Day is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. GAAD is an annual event that occurs on the third Thursday of May! https://accessibility.day/ 

Our guest will include Amy Everhart (K12) & Matt Jennings (HE). 

Welcome to Episode 48 of the Canvascasters Podcast! In this episode, we talk with Misty Joaquin, a Digital Learning Facilitator, serving Little Elm ISD, in the great state of Texas! We dive into the importance of Mental Health, from an educator’s perspective.  We discuss strategies and healthy practices for mental health, as well as ways to make life more manageable using Canvas itself.

Welcome to Episode 47 of the Canvascasters Podcast! In this episode, we talk with Glenn Davis, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and professor of English at Bowling Green State University.  Glenn and others, spear-headed an initiative in 2020 to partner with the Instructional Design Team at Instructure to completely reimagine course design.

We will also discuss how Bowling Green State University placed a priority on course design in order to ensure quality learning within the various learning modalities they have faced throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic and what that initiative looks like today.

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Welcome to Episode 46 of the Canvascasters Podcast today we are "discussing discussions" which is one of the most powerful tools for learning within Canvas LMS! In this episode, we dig into the power of Discussions in K12 and Higher Education, fun ideas to innovate with discussions, and best practices from the experts as we are joined by Melissa Greer & Linda Lee.

Melissa Greer began her career as a high school Latin teacher for the Newton College and Career Academy and STEM Institute in Covington, GA., where she, herself, attended growing up.  This year she moved into a Digital Learning Coach role where she supports teachers at 3 middle schools.  Currently, she is working on getting her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Valdosta State University. In her infinite free time (*jokes*) she likes to hang out with her boyfriend and dog, travel, cross stitch, decorate custom cookies, and just be a nerd (listen to podcasts about and play D&D, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, books by Brandon Sanderson, etc.)

Linda Lee is a folklorist, educator, and instructional designer. She’s the Director of Instructional Design at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she leads instructional design and training efforts for the IDEA Courseware Team. She came to instructional design by way of adjunct teaching. She’s used Canvas as an instructor since 2014 and as an admin since 2015, when she joined Wharton as the school’s first instructional designer. Since then, she’s developed deep expertise in inclusive course design and all things Canvas, including Blueprint courses, discussions, and group assignments. She’s presented widely on these topics, including at InstructureCon 2021 and Educause 2021, where she co-presented sessions on “Change the Prompt, Not the Tool: Developing Effective Discussions” with Penn colleagues Meryl Krieger and Adam Zolkover.

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Welcome to Episode 45 of the Canvascasters Podcast today we are "discussing discussions" which is one of the most powerful tools for learning within Canvas LMS! In this episode, we dig into the power of Discussions in K12 and Higher Education, fun ideas to innovate with discussions, and best practices from the experts as we are joined by Melissa Greer & Linda Lee.

Melissa Greer began her career as a high school Latin teacher for the Newton College and Career Academy and STEM Institute in Covington, GA., where she, herself, attended growing up.  This year she moved into a Digital Learning Coach role where she supports teachers at 3 middle schools.  Currently, she is working on getting her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Instructional Technology from Valdosta State University. In her infinite free time (*jokes*) she likes to hang out with her boyfriend and dog, travel, cross stitch, decorate custom cookies, and just be a nerd (listen to podcasts about and play D&D, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, books by Brandon Sanderson, etc.)

Linda Lee is a folklorist, educator, and instructional designer. She’s the Director of Instructional Design at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she leads instructional design and training efforts for the IDEA Courseware Team. She came to instructional design by way of adjunct teaching. She’s used Canvas as an instructor since 2014 and as an admin since 2015, when she joined Wharton as the school’s first instructional designer. Since then, she’s developed deep expertise in inclusive course design and all things Canvas, including Blueprint courses, discussions, and group assignments. She’s presented widely on these topics, including at InstructureCon 2021 and Educause 2021, where she co-presented sessions on “Change the Prompt, Not the Tool: Developing Effective Discussions” with Penn colleagues Meryl Krieger and Adam Zolkover.

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Welcome to Episode 43 of the Canvascasters Podcast with our #DLDay Recap! Welcome to the first EVER CANVAS DEMO SLAM!  We have collected some verified Canvas Gurus to compete in what’s called a Demo Slam!  What’s a demo slam, you may ask?  Well, it’s simple.  Each competitor gets 3 minutes to demo anything they want in, about, or relating to Canvas LMS.  They have complete freedom of strategy, content, tips and tricks, whatever.  The only rules are that they have to complete their demo within 3 minutes, and, of course, it’s got to be related to our favorite LMS, Canvas.  And, the best part is that YOU, those watching LIVE, will vote to decide the winner!

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Welcome to Episode 42 of the Canvascasters Podcast with our #DLDay Recap! Our first session welcomes Kristin Barr (Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Personalized Learning) and Pattie Bowen (Instructional Technology Resource Teacher) as they discuss their journey with Canvas LMS and Impact.

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Welcome to Episode 41 of The Canvascasters Podcast and a special edition as Eddie & Marcus finally reveal some personal news. Join them alongside some of the CanvasFam as they celebrate this important accomplishment.

Details on Canvas LMS for Dummies:

Welcome to Episode 40 of the Canvascasters Podcast with Tracy Parodi!  Tracy works as an Instructional Technologist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Prior to working at Embry-Riddle, she served as an elementary school teacher for 7 years, as a K-5 Online Instructor for 7 years, and as a Personalized Learning Leader for 3 years, all in the Volusia County School District in Daytona Beach.

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Our FIRST OFFICIAL edition of The Canvascasters Podcast where the Canvascasters board the boat to Iceland and catch up with our CCE/Twitter friends Helena Sigurdardottir and Valla Ósk. Both educators have given so much to their schools and universities and recently led a deliberate Canvas LMS rollout. 

Helena has a Masters degree in Educational Science and Information Technology and is finishing a MicroMasters in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus.  She has been a classroom teacher for 20 years, and has been effectively using ICT skills to help students with learning disabilities in the classroom.  She has led implementation of smart devices in elementary and high schools in Iceland for eight years, and now as a part of international projects at the University of Akureyri. Helena’s work consists of advising teachers about pedagogy and technology within their courses. All courses are online in using Canvas.  She, along with a few others, are in charge of Canvas LMS and have just finished their deliberate implementation process. She finished the Canvas Certified Educator program in August 2021

Valla has a Bachelor's degree in Danish and has lived in Denmark for some years, both for work and study. She has a teaching degree as well, and is a Danish teacher (in Iceland Danish is taught as a foreign language). She’s even taught IT, Introduction to Social Science, and Innovation. Valla has been a part of establishing two upper secondary schools, in 2004 and in 2010. Although Valla has experience using both Angel and Moodle she started using Canvas while working at the University of Akureyri in 2019. Since September 2019, Valla’s work has included instructional design at the Center of Teaching and Learning at the University of Akureyri, where she continues to support teachers in using Canvas and other programs, such as Panopto, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. Valla also had the chance to participate in the CCE program!

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Want to learn about how you can win a CCE Scholarship...

Pay close attention to the break in this episode to snag your chance!

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Welcome to Episode 37 of The Canvascasters Podcast w/ Don Lourcey! 

“The Don”, as we like to call him, is the Digital Teaching and Learning Coach & Canvas Administrator at Iredell-Statesville Schools in North Carolina.  As is the case with so many amazing educators, Don started as an English teacher!  He has extensive expertise in digital and online learning throughout his career.  And, on top of all that, his Canvas game is strong!  He is an Instructure Contractor: Instructional Designer, Canvas Trainer, and a Canvas Certified Educator Facilitator.

Don Lourcey has been highlighted in a number of Canvas webinars and Livestreams and is a strong voice in the Canvas community who is always helping fellow Canvas users improve!  

In This Episode:

Welcome to Episode 36 of The Canvascasters Podcast!

2021 Nebraska Canvas User Group Conference - Marcus, Eddie, and our good friend KC Testerman (DR. KC!) hosted an afternoon chat with audience Q&A. It's always great to spend time with KC and we had a blast being a part of this conference.

Welcome to Episode 36 of The Canvascasters Podcast!

2021 Nebraska Canvas User Group Conference - Marcus and Eddie were invited to keynote this 5th Annual Event and it was incredible. We are humbled by the experience and hope you find a few nuggets in our keynote recording - in its ENTIRETY!

Welcome to Episode 35 of the Canvascasters Podcast!

Today we turn over the mic to two of our favorites as they host The Canvascasters.

Eddie & Marcus were thrilled to provide this closing session for the Elementary Summer Camp provided by the fantastic facebook group : Canvas for Elementary. This is the audio recording from that session.

Welcome to Episode 34 of the Canvascasters Podcast!

Today we welcome two members of the TL;DR Canvas Podcast - Jenn Mitchell & Ryan Lufkin! 

After working in higher ed, Jenn worked in marketing before finding a home in K-12 edtech. Passionate about supporting educators as they make real, lasting impact for students, she leads the K-12 product marketing team for LMS and Assessment products. Ryan’s career has been largely spent in the edtech space. His experience spans enterprise resource planning and curriculum design and he has worked for various LMS providers. He currently focuses on strategic initiatives that market Canvas to both new and existing customers.

In today's episode we cover everything from:

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This week we welcome Snehal Bhakta to the Canvascasters Podcast!

Currently, Snehal is a CTE Administrator employed for the 5th largest school district in the country, Clark County School District(CCSD) focusing on ensuring that Nevada’s future workforce is prepared for success. Snehal has worked on projects related to increasing student and community participation with National Job Shadow Day, started an Annual Student Workforce & Innovation Summit for seniors, promoted growth of Career & Technical Student Organizations, and leads CCSD’s #GirlsinSTEM and #GirlsinTECH Initiatives as well as supporting STEM Equity and Diversity programs across 59 middle and 47 high schools especially for those students that are underserved and underrepresented.

Mr. Bhakta also serves as the Nevada Affiliate Coordinator for NCWIT(National Center for Women & Information Technology), legislative member for the Society of Information Management(SIM) of Las Vegas, steering committee member for the Intermountain STEM Steering Committee, and holds board positions on several other local organizations.

In 2017, he was awarded the Top Tech Exec Award in the Education Category by Cox Communications and in 2019, the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity(NAPE) awarded Snehal the 2019 Rising Star award at their National Summit for Educational Equity in Washington, D.C. and received the COX Business 2019 Top Tech Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with diversity in the workforce in Southern Nevada.

Mr. Bhakta has also been appointed in 2020 to the Governor’s Advisory Board for STEM, Nevada State Multicultural Committee, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity(NAPE) Executive Committee, and the Inclusion, Access, Equity and Diversity Taskforce for the Association of Career and Technical Education(ACTE).

In This Episode You Will Hear Great Stuff Like:

“Data is great, but you still gotta work with humans”

“You can tackle equity with a hammer or with a scalpel”

“Empower learners to CHOOSE a CTE path, rather than force them down that path.”

Welcome to The Canvascasters Podcast.

Jim Wolf has finally joined our show! In his current position, Jim trains and coaches teachers on Canvas utilization and other educational platforms and trains teachers on technology integration.  He has a MSEd in Education from DePaul University and a MSEd in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University. Jim is a Certified Technology Specialist, a Canvas Administrator, Instructure Advocate, a Google Certified Educator levels 1 and 2, and an Apple Teacher.

He is currently studying for his Certified Education Technology Leader Certification.  Jim is also currently working through BETA testing for the Canvas Certified Educator program, as well as facilitating CCE courses. He truly believes that technology is the best way to engage with students.  In his free time, Jim does documentary and artistic photography, and he has recently become a beekeeper.   He is a California transplant and when Jim grows up, he hopes to become a Director of Instructional Technology.

It is episode THIRTY of The Canvascasters Podcast as we welcome Dr. Ellen Bloomfield.

Dr. Ellen Bloomfield serves as the Director of The Center for Teaching & Learning at Midway University where she led the transition to Canvas LMS in Spring 2020.  As a result of the pandemic, the university switched to remote learning in March 2020 just shy of the 2 month go-live date for Canvas.  During this time, Ellen led the faculty through rapid remote conversion of Spring 2020 courses in the previous LMS while preparing faculty to teach in our current Canvas LMS for Summer 2020.

Dr. Bloomfield has 20 years’ experience in education, working as a secondary mathematics teacher prior to joining Midway University in 2014.  At Midway University, Ellen has managed the institution’s Library, administered the online learning management system, and created Midway's Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation. An Instructional Designer, by degree, Ellen’s passion is supporting faculty enabling them to successfully leverage technologies to create highly engaging and effective learning environments for their students.  Her research interests include the connections between learning theories, technology integration models, and effective pedagogical practices.

In this episode:

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Canvascasters Podcast!  

Canvas + UDL= Designing for ALL learners

With 17 years of experience in public schools, Katie Fielding is always excited to talk about ways to integrate technology into the classroom. Katie transitioned to the role of Instructional Technology Coach at Woodbridge Senior High School after 13 years in the high school Science classroom. In that position, she has quickly found her niche in sharing instructional practices with her colleagues, and she was selected VSTE Coach Of The Year in 2019.   Katie takes joy in building capacity in others so they can fully participate in the digital world.

Katie has a special interest in improving homebound instruction for chronically ill students.  She shares this message through professional learning opportunities and connecting with educational leaders on the topic. Now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she hopes to improve those virtual practices for all learners..

In this episode we discuss:

How the Google Innovator Academy shaped her Design Thinking Mindset How Canvas Can Make Google Better The Positive Mindset Cat's Canvas Backpack w/ (Nerd Alert) HTML

Welcome to Episode 28 of The Canvascasters Podcast!  We welcome Cat Flippen who is an award-winning edu-leader recognized for her expertise with technology-empowered teaching and learning. She has an extensive background as a high school educator, district administrator, consultant, K-12 and Higher Ed faculty, and she currently serves as the Instructional Technology and Professional Learning Specialist and ELL/ESOL Coordinator for Jackson County Schools, in Georgia. She is a Google Certified Innovator and Trainer and has garnered several honors including being named the 2014 Georgia Foreign Language Teacher of the Year and a 2014 ISTE Emerging Leader.

In this episode we discuss:

Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 2 of The Canvascasters Podcast!  

In this episode we welcome Melissa Loble to the show! She talks about the transformative educational landscape, what is in her Canvas backpack, and how she is preparing for CanvasCon 2020! 

Melissa is a seasoned Education Technology executive, customer experience, and business leader. She is passionate about innovating digital alternatives to traditional teaching/learning practices and delivering at scale. She is an IMS Global Learning Consortium Board Member. She is also a TEACHER - Officially 21 years in the educational industry, and will be celebrating her 7th year at Instructure in December. And, above all of that, she has actually listened to our podcast and is willing to publicly state that she is a listener and fan of the show!

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Suzy Lolley has been in public education for 16 years. She served as both a middle and high school English teacher and as an instructional technology specialist for teachers in K-12. She is currently a technology integration specialist at Kennesaw State University, and supports the personalized learning initiatives for two Fulton County elementary schools. She is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Master Trainer, a Microsoft Surface expert, and a Raspberry Pi ambassador. As if all of that wasn’t enough, we have Suzy on the show today because she is an amazing Canvas resource and provides great content on her Youtube Channel with her Canvas For Littles Series.

Welcome to The Canvascasters Podcast.

Kona Jones (2x) has graciously accepted our invitation to return to the show to discuss how DISTANCE LEARNING doesn’t mean DISTANT! Kona is the Director of Online Learning and facilitator of the Faculty Academy at Richland Community College in Illinois.  Kona is a Canvas power-user and has been a mainstay in the Canvas Community for years

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast - Marcus & Eddie make big announcements on their professional lives. We talk why we do what we do, thank the supporters we have, and get into the Bitmoji Classroom that has swept the CanvasLMS social media feeds/

Please consider supporting our Podcast.

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast:

Dr. Betinna Love joins the show!

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and Associate Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia. Dr. Love is also one of the field’s most esteemed educational researchers in the area of Hip Hop education. Her research focuses on the ways in which urban youth negotiate Hip Hop music and culture to form social, cultural, and political identities to create new and sustaining ways of thinking about urban education and intersectional social justice. Her work is also concerned with how teachers and schools working with parents and communities can build communal, civically engaged schools rooted in intersectional social justice for the goal of equitable classrooms.

What's a Canvas Backpack? It's really just a clever way of showcasing the Canvascasters' favorite Canvas tips and tricks. You won't want to miss this session, where we dive into some of their favs, as well as showcase how to use them.

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast:

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast:

Travis Thurston joins the show from Utah State University’s Office of Empowering Teaching Excellence. Travis directs all professional development programming for ETE developing and facilitating seminars, workshops, and a teaching conference focused on the improvement of teaching

Travis discusses the need for teachers to choose their own professional development path and his love for micro-credentialing and badging inside Canvas LMS.

Travis’ Backpack

Discussions (Peer Review, Gallery Walks)

Check out some of some great videos provided by Travis!

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast:

Marcus and Eddie give a quick update on things going on inside our districts and how we are all currently being affected by Covid19 in education. This episode will also break down some of the best things we’ve seen come out of the last few months and how Canvas is helping us both achieve digital instruction continuity while in full-on disruption mode.

Webinars w/Canvas Jedi

Facebook link:

In this episode of The Canvascasters Podcast:

In this episode, the Canvascasters welcome Stevie Frank to the show. Stevie is a 5th-grade instructor in Zionsville, Indiana. She’s passionate about podcasting & experimenting through the Canvas LMS with her Canvas Littles. Stevie has worked with Dr. Chris Leland around “disrupting the commonplaces” of our readers and getting them to interrogate texts. Right now, her edu-passions are focused on equity in the classroom and building cultural understandings. You can follow her on Twitter @steviefrank23!

InstructureCon2020 details launched this week!

A 2019 Year-In-Review - A highlight of all the great guests we've had this year on the podcast. A special thanks to everyone who has made this year possible. 

It finally happened...

Our first CanvasLMS HQ guests are on the show!

Welcome to The Canvascasters Podcast.

Welcome to The Canvascasters Podcast.

In this episode, Chris Giles (@ohcanadatweet .... OH CANADA!) joins us from Beaverton, Oregon! A Canvas Administrator at Beaverton School District in Oregon. Beaverton is a public school district of nearly 41,000 students in 34 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 6 high schools, 5 Option schools, and 2 Charter schools! Chris facilitates Canvas professional development and facilitates the use of other digital platforms for grades 6-12 specifically. Beaverton has approximately 20,000 students using Canvas on a weekly basis.

Chris has a unique voice to share through his educational journey and offers a different perspective as an Admin at such a large district. 

In this episode we discuss:

• His brief exit from the classroom, moving to Brazil, and working with the Department of Ed in Arizona.

• What Canvas looks like in an everyday classroom.

• Setting students and teachers up for consistency and success in an LMS.

• Our love for Tier 1 support through Canvas & our CSM's!

Those that have inspired Mr. Giles through his educational journey:

Welcome to The Canvascasters Podcast.

Kona Jones returns to discuss EDU19 w/ EDUCAUSE in Chicago, her flipped script into failure moments, and her quest to humanize online learning.

#EDU19

#HUMANIZEOL

Kona Jones also shares her three big soapbox canvas tips that have changed her life forever and her FOUR must follows on social media.

Welcome to the Canvascasters Podcast.

In this episode Marcus and Eddie discuss what they've been up to the last few weeks. Eddie gives specifics on his "Speed-dating through Hogwarts w/ Canvas" PD, and Marcus throws down some knowledge on eLearning attendance. Also in this episode THE CANVAS JEDI - Kona Jones (@konajones) who is the current Director of Online Learning and coordinates Faculty Academy at Richland Community College. She is responsible for the development of faculty and student technology training materials, provides instructional design support to faculty, oversees the assessment of online courses, and facilitates faculty professional development​. Kona loves teaching and is an adjunct instructor of statistics and developmental psychology. Her passion is student success and in 2019 she was awarded Adjunct Faculty of the Year. Kona is also a Canvas Coach and Canvassador, contributing extensively in the online Canvas Community and elsewhere.

We had such an engaging conversation we've decided to split this episode into TWO PARTS so you get "twice the Kona".

In this episode we discuss:

A special thanks to all our listeners and recent followers of the podcast.

Middle-aged nerds on their journey to become Canvas LMS Jedi. Together they are The CanvasCasters. United by EdTech and all things Canvas! This is an UNOFFICIAL (and we can not stress this enough) UNOFFICIAL Canvas LMS Podcast.

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