Taking Action with Canvas Data to Support Student Success By Christina Goldsmith (reposted with permission) Data is a powerful tool, but it’s not just about having numbers; it’s about knowing how to interpret and act on those insights.…

 By Christina Goldsmith (reposted with permission)

Data is a powerful tool, but it’s not just about having numbers; it’s about knowing how to interpret and act on those insights. As educators we rely on various forms of data to determine how our students are doing in our classes. Familiar forms of data may be grades or end of semester surveys. However, as an instructional designer and English instructor, I have come to rely on tools in Canvas gradebook and Canvas New Analytics to take proactive steps to support student success. These tools also enable me to dive deeper into data and improve the design of my courses. 

You might ask yourself:

• What trends do I notice?
• ​Which students are excelling, and who might need additional support?
• Are there any patterns in student participation and engagement?

What is Canvas New Analytics? 

Canvas New Analytics provides data and insights into student performance and course grades as well as course activity. With these insights and the Message Students Who feature it is easier to be proactive rather than reactive in efforts to support student success.

The New Analytics tool can be found in the menu on the right side of the course home page in Canvas. 

Key Features Include:

• Course Grade Tab: View average assignment grades, identify trends, and track student progress.
• Student Information: View student grades, percent of on time assignments, and participation data.
• Weekly Online Activity: Monitor student interaction with course content and activities.
• Reports Tab: Download data reports for further analysis.
• Message Students Who: Reach out directly to students based on performance or engagement metrics.

Actionable Insights from Course Grades

In the Course Grade Tab, you can view the average course grades for discussions, assignments, and quizzes. This can help to identify pain points within a course where students are struggling. 

You may want to ask questions like:

• Are there specific assignments where students consistently score low?
• Is there a trend across assignments that suggest students need additional support or clarification on certain topics?
• What resources or activities could help address these areas of difficulty?

To take action, consider revising or providing additional instruction on the challenging content or creating targeted interventions such as review sessions or practice activities to help students improve their performance. Additionally, reaching out to students directly for feedback on what challenges they are facing could provide valuable insight.

Here is an example of what you might see in the Course Grade tab:

You can select Missing, Late, or the bars within the graph to view students who fall within each area. This also allows you to use the Message Students Who feature (the envelope icon) to send personalized messages to groups of students. I'll dive deeper in to how to use this feature later in this article. 

​When viewing this data, you might ask questions like:

• Which students have the lowest scores on this assignment?
• Are there any trends in their performance across other assignments?
• Are there students who consistently have late or missing assignments, and if so, what might be causing these issues?
• Are there students who perform significantly better or worse than the class average?

To take action, consider reaching out to individual students who are struggling, offering personalized support or resources, and encouraging them to attend office hours or seek additional help.

Monitoring Weekly Online Activity

The Weekly Online Activity tab provides a visual representation of student engagement, displaying metrics like page views and participation. Page views can help you gauge which resources students find most useful, while participation shows active engagement such as posting on a discussion, submitting an assignment, or engaging with a quiz. A data table is included below the graph that can be sorted and filtered for more specific information. 

When reviewing this data, you might ask:

• Which resources are students using the most?
• Are students participating in discussions and assignments?
• Does page view data relate to student performance?
• Are there areas students are avoiding?

To take action, consider refining instructional materials based on which resources are most and least utilized by students. Consider reevaluating content for relevance, clarity, or accessibility and perhaps adding more engaging elements like multimedia or interactive content. Additionally, if certain students aren't engaging, you might reach out to those individuals directly to understand the challenges they are facing and offer help.

Message Students Who

One of the most impactful features of both Gradebook and Canvas New Analytics is the Message Students Who option. In New Analytics this is the envelope icon in the top right corner. Based on each tab, instructors can use specific criteria to send personalized messages to encourage, guide, or congratulate students.

The Message Student Who feature is also available in the Canvas Gradebook. 

When to Use Message Students Who

Encourage Early Participation:

During the first days of the course term, use the insights gained from participation data to reach out to students who have not yet engaged with course materials. In your message, offer encouragement and remind them of the course expectations. You can also ask if they are facing any challenges with accessing materials or understanding content, and offer support or additional resources to help them get on track. By proactively addressing these students early on, you demonstrate your commitment to their success and create an opportunity for them to re-engage with the course. 

Early Intervention:

Identify struggling students before they fall behind. Rather than waiting until after an assignment due date to message students who have not submitted an assignment, use this feature to provide a helpful nudge to students before an assignment is due. For example, when a discussion has an initial post due date of Wednesday and response posts due on Sunday, the "Have Not Yet Submitted" option can be used to send a friendly reminder on Wednesday afternoon to those students who have not yet participated in the discussion.

​This can also be accessed in the Message Students Who feature in New Analytics by selecting the envelope and looking up the discussion under the Weekly Online Activity tab.

Before Major Assignments:

Canvas New Analytics, alongside the gradebook, can help you identify students who have not yet viewed or submitted major assignments. Use the "Message Students Who" feature to send proactive reminders. Include tips for success, links to resources, and encouragement to get started early. This can help students manage their time, understand expectations, and submit quality work.​

After Missed Deadlines:

Lastly, the "Message Students Who" feature is an effective tool for following up with students who missed an assignment deadline. Rather than waiting for students to reach out, consider sending a supportive message that acknowledges the missed deadline, offers guidance on late submission policies, and provides resources for getting back on track. This outreach can encourage students to stay engaged and complete assignments, even if they are overdue. When using this approach I prefer to empower students to take action. Here is an example message: 

---

Hello,

I noticed that you missed the deadline for [Assignment Name]. I understand that sometimes things come up, and I want to offer my support to help you get back on track.

Please remember that you have up to 7 days from the original due date to submit your assignment. There will be a 10% deduction for late work, but submitting your work is still a great way to earn credit and show what you’ve learned.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to discuss the assignment further, I encourage you to reach out. I’d be happy to meet with you during my office hours to go over any challenges you’re facing or to provide clarification.

Take care,
[Instructor Name]

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This email is supportive, while reminding students of the course's late policy. It also encourages the student to reach out to the instructor to set up a time to meet during office hours. This empowers the student to take action and provides a clear path to make up the missed work and get back on track. 

​Downloading Reports for Deeper Analysis

For those who prefer to work with spreadsheets or conduct more advanced data analysis, the Reports Tab offers downloadable data. Use these reports to spot long-term trends or to share insights with colleagues.

Final Thoughts

Canvas New Analytics is not just about numbers; it’s about taking action and supporting student success. By using these insights, you can create a more supportive and responsive learning environment.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 | Images by Christina Goldsmith using Canva for educators | View the original post