As Penn State moves to adopt Canvas, a new Learning Management System used for online course delivery, members of the Learning Design team have been busy with several Canvas user experience research projects aimed at improving student experience and informing best online course design practices in the College of IST and across the University.
In December and January, a Canvas User Experience (UX) research study was conducted where five World Campus College of IST undergrad students came to University Park to participate in a study and give their feedback on an IST sample course in Canvas.
At the same time, IST Learning Design team members are also leading efforts of a cross-unit Canvas UX research study with representatives from World Campus, plus the College of Liberal Arts and Earth and Mineral Sciences, which will build upon the efforts of the first Canvas UX research project. With this research project, 20 online students will be recruited to test and give feedback on different course designs.
A third research effort, the Canvas User Survey, is being worked on with members of the Learning Design team and Dr. Jessica Kropczynski of the College of IST. This research effort will also look to involve Colleges and online students across the University in an effort to gain student feedback to inform best course design practices across Penn State.