The Rockwood School District has decided to go all in on Canvas for the 2024-2025 school year.

While Google Classroom has been students’ preferred online learning platform, the advancements Canvas brings outweigh the familiarity of Google Classroom.

From MIZZOU to Harvard to St. Louis University, most of the post-secondary world has adopted Canvas as its main platform.

If we begin using Canvas in high school, the transition to college will be much easier.

This change doesn’t just benefit students. It benefits teachers as well.

Canvas integrates with the Infinite Campus platform and moves grades into Infinite Campus automatically and seamlessly. Teachers spend less time grading and more time teaching or planning lessons.

While the simplistic design language of Google Classroom is preferred by students, Canvas’ modules are organized more efficiently. Looking back at past assignments is quick and easy in Canvas while you may have to scroll for hours in Classroom.

The complicated design of Canvas may initially confuse students, but the in-depth tools integrated into the service are powerful.

Canvas links to Pearson, Studymate, Google Drive and more course-specific resources. Most math and science classes have already used Canvas and Pearson for homework, science labs and textbooks.

Google Classroom is often used by language arts, history and elective classes. There isn’t as much of an incentive to switch to Canvas for them because the Canvas tools don’t directly benefit their classes.

However, they should embrace this shift to Canvas for their students. If every class uses the same platform, students will be less disorganized and more likely to find their work.

Change isn’t always a bad thing. Streamlining the assignment and education process will only benefit students.