Opening the doors on a new school brought the opportunity for Marshfield Public Schools to build a 1:1 program in its second year. Learn how Canvas became the launch point, empowering teachers to communicate more eectively, grade assignments faster, and almost instantly disseminate information to large groups of students
The Challenge
Marshfield opened the doors to a brand new, state-of-the-art high school in September 2014, with plans to launch a 1:1 program in its second year. They put a team of people together to think about what they were going to do from an instructional perspective, as well as the sustainability of the technology-rich environment they had created.
The sta started talking about devices first and piloted several options with students and teachers in fall 2015. After deciding on Chromebooks as the device for their 1:1 initiative, they shifted focus to figure out what was needed to make those devices successful in the classroom. They needed a launch point for everything, and that launch point was an LMS. So their search began.
“Canvas is a ordable, and we love its open architecture. They have a great customer support model and community, and are committed to providing a product based on our needs instead of just the standard corporate product.”
David Cawthorne, Director of Technology, Marshfield Public Schools
Key Findings
Canvas has improved teacher eciency and has successfully become the hub for Marshfield’s 1:1 initiative.
Marshfield saw 99% usage across 1,500 users in the first year of Canvas adoption.
70-75% of teachers began using Canvas for daily instruction, and close to 100% started using Canvas weekly in the first year.
Our usage was much higher than anticipated. We were hoping for 30-40% of our classroom teachers to use Canvas for daily instruction. Currently, we are seeing 70-75% of our teachers using it for daily instruction, while close to 100% are using it week to week.
- David Cawthorne,
Director of Technology, Marshfield Public Schools
The Solution
Marshfield needed an LMS to support their 1:1 initiative. After reviewing LMS options, Marshfield chose Canvas. Canvas allowed teachers to communicate more eectively, grade assignments faster, and disseminate information to large groups almost instantly. They also liked that it was easy-to-use and intuitive, which allowed teachers to spend less time figuring out the software and more time interacting with students.
Canvas is a affordable, and we love its open architecture. They have a great customer support model and community, and are committed to providing a product based on our needs instead of just the standard corporate product.
- DAVID CAWTHORNE,
Director of Technology, Marshfield Public Schools
The Results
“Canvas became our launch point, and I think that’s why we were successful.”
-David Cawthorne, Director of Technology, Marshfield Public Schools
In March 2015, Marshfield hired seven 1:1 coaches to pilot both Canvas and Chromebooks in their classrooms. They were tasked with developing best practices for teaching with technology, as well as providing a curriculum for their new blended learning approach.
At the end of the pilot year, the coaches showcased what they were doing with 1:1, how they were using it in their classrooms, and how it integrated into the overall goals of the 1:1 rollout–organization, communication, and collaboration.
When Marshfield rolled out their 1:1 initiative school-wide in fall 2015, Canvas quickly became the learning hub. Chromebooks were given to all 1,350 students, and all the training for both teachers and students was delivered via Canvas. Everyone learned that Canvas as their go-to resource for everything: questions, assignments, quizzes, test dates, scores, etc.
“Canvas is a natural fit for our 1:1 initiative. Canvas tools provide an incredible foundation, enabling us to transform teaching and learning at MHS, truly preparing our students to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”
-Aimee McAlpine, Integration Specialist, Marshfield Public Schools
The rollout process happened much faster than anyone at Marshfield could have imagined, and it was quickly deemed a huge success. School leaders attribute much of that success to how easy and intuitive Canvas is and the commitment made in the beginning to have the support structure in place for teachers and students. Teachers are constantly reminded that the goal is not to overwhelm anyone with initiatives but to positively impact students. Surrounding districts are now looking to Marshfield for help in making their 1:1 initiatives more successful.
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