Academic Digital Presence
I created the infographic below for a Canvas certification course, “Humanizing Learning in Canvas.”
The course was part of the Canvas Certified Educator for Higher Education pathway.
This was my text to accompany the infographic:
The idea behind this infographic was to examine how an Academic Digital Presence can assist students, providing them with various pathways toward the learning environment within Canvas.
In this Venn diagram, Canvas is at the center as a hub for student engagement. The most critical component is Social Presence, which helps to establish trust, the foundation of the 6 C’s of Motivation.
I began the construction of this infographic with Michelle Pacansky-Brock’s Liquid Syllabus in mind. As a “pre-course” feature of humanized learning, the Liquid Syllabus helps students understand the journey they will be embarking on, and the opportunities for learning and engagement in the class.
As I explored the ideas behind a Liquid Syllabus on brocansky.com. (Academic-Personal), I noticed there was also a Google Site dedicated to her class, History of Still Photo. (Liquid Syllabus). This Google Site detailed the entire class, describing grading expectations, materials, and learning outcomes. And all of this was accessible to students before even logging into Canvas.
In conjunction with a Welcome Letter to students, these two websites helped create a constellation of digital entities which students could explore to learn more about the course and the instructor. The Welcome Letter to students, either as a PDF or a link to the Liquid Syllabus itself, is especially important. By reaching out to students before the class has begun, instructors can show that they are present and excited to begin a new educational journey, helping to establish trust early on in the learning process.