[ARCHIVED] Separate K12 Version of Canvas

[kmeeusen]

In reading through all of the hundreds of feature requests, it is quickly becoming apparent to me, and perhaps to Instructure also, that a separate version of Canvas specifically for K12 should be developed.

Many of the use-cases being described in feature requests do not pertain to Higher Ed in any way, shape, or form. One obvious example would be parent observers - in Higher Ed FERPA regulations do not permit parent observers of the child's educational activities without express written permission of the adult student. Another might be hiding grades in all the variations asked for. Many many more examples abound. I am concerned that as the K12 use grows, Higher Ed customers are going to be overwhelmed with features that simply do not apply, making the UI much more complicated and difficult to support.

No, I don't see this happening tomorrow, and I don't particularly see this as a "feature request", but I would like the raise this point for discussion by the community.

[jeffrey_weimer]

I think this idea has merit. I agree, we clearly have two distinct markets as shown by the distinctly different needs for and restrictions on the use of Canvas.

Certainly, one way around the problem is for Instruction to create two different Canvas products. Another is to develop something akin to "plug-in" modules (if I dare use the word) that are added to a Canvas core depending on need.

That does not mitigate the direct problem that you note. The Feature Requests are becoming harder to "sort through" for relevance to one market segment or the other.

I wonder then whether we might have a simpler fix. Perhaps the Feature Requests should be divided in to K-12 and Higher Education segments, just as we have these two separate Groups for Discussion.

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JJW

[Beth_Young]

I think this idea makes sense,  @kmeeusen  . More than once I have read a feature idea and thought, "I can see why that function would be critical for K12, but I would absolutely not want it for my students." 

Other times, though, the feature ideas could work for higher ed too, such as " modifiedtitle="true" title="Annotation in Quiz Questions I guess one risk of two different products would be a lower likelihood that good ideas from one group would transfer to the other.

[Stef_retired]

 @kmeeusen ​, since this is a discussion that invites ongoing open participation, rather than a question where a single answer might eventually be marked "correct," I'm going to change its nature to an open-ended discussion. Hope that's ok with you

[kmeeusen]

Of course it's OK. I just want to gauge people's reactions to this concept.

[Jeff_F]

I'd prefer Canvas continue to use sound judgement so as to not over complicate the LMS with excess features.  With feature bloat in check there may not be a need to split the product.  Another approach would be to simply add feature sets via API vs. two separate products.

On the topic of feature requests, perhaps a form with input fields would help with the issue  @jeffrey_weimer  points out.

• Idea summary:  
• Details:
• Potential impact:  ask for the change to be justified
• Who this benefits:  students, instructors, admin
• Primary market: K-12 , Hi Ed, etc.

Additional structure may go a long way to help ensure ideas are fully detailed and thought out.

[kmeeusen]

I quite like the idea of a Feature Request form. Has anybody added a feature request in the Community group for this?

[scottdennis]

Hey  @Jeff_F ​,

Just FYI; the option for an idea template is something that we'd dearly love to implement.  We've passed that idea along to Jives product team (Jive makes our community platform).

[watsonnk]

Late in this discussion, but you've identified one of the reasons behind what seems to be a lack of responsiveness to requirements for HE needs.  Having a feature request form would make it clear who the end users in need are. Deciding what to implement will depend on the relative size of the two communities and resources available, so prioritisation.  Does anyone know (or perhaps someone from Instructure could estimate) on what the relative size of the K-12 vs. HE user bases are at the end of 2015?

[Chris_Munzo]

Sorry watsonnk​ but I just saw this post from December.  The link below will take you to a post from the excellent "e-Literate" blog.  They posted a slide from InstructureCon 2015 that gives you a visual of the breakdown of Instructure's client base:

http://mfeldstein.com/instructure-accelerating-growth-in-3-parallel-markets/

[Stef_retired]

 @kmeeusen ​ and everyone else participating in this thoughtful discussion: The awesome Community Managers (and  @Renee_Carney ​ in particular) have been diligently working on a sorting system that allows feature ideas to be more readily distinguished by user, interest group, and feature. You'll find the early results of that work here: Canvas Feature Ideas  As you'll see, some of the areas are marked "Coming Soon!," but they are indeed coming soon.