UAH SSC designs CANVAS course for student resources

UAH SSC student workers, Natalie Mann and Will Siota, narrate the CANVAS videos. Mann and Siota have worked as tutors and PASS leaders.

Photo Courtesy: Melissa Berry

The transition from high school to a university setting can be overwhelming for entering university freshmen.

With this in mind, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Student Success Center has designed a CANVAS course to help students navigate through college. "Our purpose was to meet students where they are, meaning they can access this new resource anytime and from anywhere," said Melissa Berry, Coordinator of Virtual Learning in the UAH Student Success Center (SSC).

Berry said the course contains valuable information in a variety of topics from "How to Email My Professor" to "Time Management" and "Reading Tips." Some good news for students, Berry said, there are no tests or assignments associated with the course; instead, it should simply be used as a resource.

There are 15 modules, each unit contains an informative short video, a downloadable handout, and links to campus resources. The future plan is to continue to add learning, study, and self-management strategy modules that can aid students throughout their college career and eventually add course content assistance in a variety of subjects.

Because academic achievement is a predictor of student success, the Office of Academic Affairs believes it is important to make the CANVAS course available to all undergraduate students.

"Students need and deserve academic services to support their success at UAH," said Dr. Brent Wren, Associate Provost. "Staff in the SSC has worked hard to develop a strong set of services and make those services available, but building it doesn't mean they will come. We must find multiple ways to put services to meet students where they are most likely to consume them.

"Some students will visit the SSC, some will prefer the one-one-one virtual format, and others will be more comfortable using electronic support services," Wren added. "The Canvas page represents another delivery mechanism, and because it is tied to something students already use for their courses, it may represent a more visible presence for some students."

The design of the course was an SSC team effort. Berry directed the course project, with each staff member assisting in research, topics, or design. She produced all the videos in which two SSC student workers, Natalie Mann and Will Siota, describe each of the topics. "Both Nat and Will have worked at the SSC as a tutor and a PASS leader, respectively. They are passionate about learning and recognize that the topics covered are relevant to all students," said Berry.

Before the unique course was designed, "UAH administration searched for ways to meet students where they are and this is one way we can do that," Berry explained. "Our first step in doing this was in fall 2015 when the SSC launched online tutoring for select courses. Now all of the Tutoring Programs are available online. The SSC Canvas course was simply the next step in the process. I’m very excited to see the course expand into content so that students will have even more ways to use us as a resource."

According to Berry, learning management tutorials similar to the SSC’s CANVAS course have not been widely adopted by universities. Once the SSC course design was underway, Valerie Johnson, Tutoring Programs Coordinator, explained our vision as part of a presentation at The University of Alabama Scholar’s Institute. Berry said attendees expressed interest in designing a similar course at their campuses.

UAH students and faculty should be able to see the CANVAS course displayed on their Dashboard this fall. The SSC staff will be introducing the course to most incoming freshmen in their FYE classes.

Johnson and Berry will present the UAH Canvas course at the National College Learning Center Association in October.