For many of us, summertime means beach trips, spending time with friends or family, and…camping!
To celebrate summer and the pilot of Canvas LMS, their new learning management system, Virginia Beach City Public Schools took campers (aka educators) to Camp Canvas twice this year–in June and August.
Here, we’re going to cover some highlights from Camp Canvas:
What is Camp Canvas?
Camp Canvas was an all-day workshop hosted twice this summer by Virginia Beach City Public Schools. A combined total of over 1,400 campers attended between the June and August sessions. In these jam-packed days, camp counselors (aka teachers, instructional coaches, and other facilitators) shared their wisdom on all-things Canvas by Instructure: from course design to SEL, modules, Canvas Studio, and more!
We sent our Principal Learning Consultant, David Dick, to experience the event in-person. After attending, he said:
I had the opportunity to attend Camp Canvas in June and August. To have 1,400 teachers attend an optional all-day workshop was amazing to see! The planning, structure and overall experience was second to none. Working with Virginia Beach is a unique experience since they are the 4th largest school division in the state at around 65,000 students. I can't wait to see how they turn last years' success in their pilot of Canvas [LMS] into their first year using it throughout the entire division.
Brittany Ferguson, Camp Director and Instructional Technology Specialist at Red Mill Elementary School, led campers on their journey to prepare for a new learning management system. When describing the vision behind Camp Canvas, Ferguson said:
“As our division piloted Canvas [LMS] with a select group of elementary and secondary schools, we knew we wanted to create a learning experience unlike any other. We know changing an LMS can be stressful for educators, so why not make it fun and engaging?! Perhaps, the most positive feedback centered around the structures of our session: workshop style, with the opportunity for teachers to create, collaborate, and take risks with Canvas [LMS]!”
Ahead of kick-off, all campers were encouraged to participate, put their learning to work, and share their camp stories on Twitter with #vbcampcanvas.
Counselors' Kick-Off: A Big Camp Canvas Welcome
Both sessions started with the entire camp coming together to kick things off. Counselors sang, danced, and gave an overview of what the day would look like. The #1 Camp Canvas Hypewoman (aka Director of Instructional Technology), Dr. Sharon Shewbridge shared a ghost story about their last LMS and got everyone excited about the path ahead with Canvas LMS.
@DrShewbridge and @RMES_ITS rocking the opening session of Camp Canvas! #vbits #vbcampcanvas pic.twitter.com/vS6cyLtjGM
— Jennifer Clements (@JennClementsVB) August 11, 2022
Learning Trails for Everyone: Elementary, Secondary, & Administrators
After kick-off, campers got to choose their path for the day from several trails (aka schedules) personalized to both their grade level and comfort with technology.
Camp Canvas is ready for campers to arrive in the AM! Camp counselors are excited to share their knowledge of @Canvas_by_Inst & so much s’more with you all. Doors open at 7:30 with the opening session starting at 8:00! @vbschools @DrShewbridge #vbits @BeachSupe #vbcampcanvas pic.twitter.com/mMoGVq7Sej
— Charlie Hinsch (@cwhinsch) June 22, 2022
And with a full day of learning prepared for them, campers were off to explore! Elementary and secondary campers engaged with presentations full of content tailored to their needs–module design to app integrations and grading and feedback.
Had the privilege to present with @anchorgalEDU at #vbcampcanvas! pic.twitter.com/Hqh8CopSoz
— Cynthia Housianitis Johnston (@RMES_Gifted) August 11, 2022
Random #VBCampCanvas tip: Use emojis for a visual organizational symbol. Press the windows key + . to insert them! Thanks for the tips on module design @MsMacyHenry and @jdoddvb #VBITS pic.twitter.com/zzCNXmCEtU
— NuckolsNews (@NuckolsNews) August 11, 2022
Giveaways, Food Trucks, and S’moresels
Between sessions throughout the day, campers could make stops at the canteen for snacks, pick up tickets for giveaways, or hear a bite-sized S’moresel (aka a short session full of 5-10 pro tips on topics like messaging and course naming in Canvas LMS.)
Not only do you get wonderful Canvas training, you get amazing snacks. #vbcampcanvas @sericfisher @MonicaRoach15 #VBITS @WhawleyITS pic.twitter.com/lB86puYBAS
— Phuong Nguyen Adviento (@SalemES_ITS) August 11, 2022
Putting the learning to work. #vbcampcanvas pic.twitter.com/wKSf3CTrQf
— Carl Alberico II (@dembericos) August 11, 2022
After a learning-filled morning, campers refueled and connected over lunch provided by local food trucks.
LuVaBowls, ShakeYOurCrepe, Sweet Tweets #VBCampCanvas food 🍽🥤🥘 truck 🛻 #vbits @vbschools @HowToCanvas @Canvas_by_Inst pic.twitter.com/qmpSBfyYCR
— MrsHoldcraft (@MrsHoldcraft) August 11, 2022
Together on the Trail to Canvas LMS Success
For the rest of the day, campers continued on their learning trails, practicing their new Canvas LMS skills, and planning for the upcoming year.
Confident about Canvas! #vbcampcanvas pic.twitter.com/zu3BDSCI0Z
— Jeanne Dodd (@jdoddvb) August 11, 2022
Many educators know the pain of sitting through a day of professional development that is boring, passive, or irrelevant.
According to our State of Teaching and Learning report, high-quality teachers remain a top factor in student achievement. Now, more than ever, it’s important to provide educators professional learning experiences like Camp Canvas that elevate their voice, give them choice, and enable them to keep learning, all while having a blast.
Brittany Ferguson and the rest of the team at Virginia Beach City Public Schools proved with Camp Canvas that professional learning can be fun with sessions that are well-planned and meaningful.
When asked about their experience at Camp Canvas, campers gave overwhelmingly positive feedback:
I literally could start screen recording at ANY point of this feedback and it is overwhelmingly positive. #VBITS were name dropped, sessions were kudo’d… all the feels with our amazing #vbits #vbcampcanvas counselors!!! pic.twitter.com/l8lb4GBMUE
— Brittany Ferguson (@RMES_ITS) August 12, 2022
Everything was great! I learned so much by getting time to actually work within Canvas [LMS] but we still had the support of the presenters, thank you!
- Educator from Pembrooke Elementary
I really felt that every instructor was professional, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was a very upbeat event and I am so happy I attended! I was most appreciative of the ability to work in Canvas [LMS] with the instructors present and willing to help and offer tips. I like "hands-on" learning. Thank you so much for this opportunity! I attended Keynote, Create & Manage Course Modules, Course Navigation & Home Page, Google Assignments & External Tools (LTI), and Canvas Studio.
- Educator from Landstown Middle
[Camp Canvas] helped to reinforce the lessons I learned about Canvas [LMS] in the Spring’s Grow with Canvas Modules. I learned more about synching Canvas and Synergy as well as Mastery Connect which I didn't know anything about prior to Camp Canvas. Great Camp Counselor presentations today! Thank you for your time and enthusiasm!
- Educator from First Colonial High School
All in all, Camp Canvas was an innovative professional learning experience that brought educators together and set them up for success ahead of a new year with Canvas LMS.
Happy Trails!
The Instructure Team
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