This site is designed to show some of the ways in which we have used Canvas and other tools to enable blended learning in a course at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Mae Klinger, Dan Levy, and Teddy Svoronos

Current Demonstration: Statistics Online Modules for Prof. Dan Levy's API-209 Course

Click below to experience specific modules:

Decision Analysis	Estimators	Sampling Distributions
Hypothesis Test	ANOVA	Power
Multiple Linear Regression	Dummy Variables	Non-Linear Regression

An Introductory Note from Prof. Levy:

Greetings! You might be interested in exploring the modules for two potential reasons: (1) pedagogical, and (2) technical.

Pedagogical

These online modules are designed to give students in my Advanced Quantitative Methods course an opportunity to learn about and practice key statistics/econometrics concepts, before we delve into more advanced treatments of the concepts in class. I assign the modules as part of related problem sets, and they help to provide an "even playing field" for a heterogeneous group of students, who may come to my course having taken anywhere from zero to six statistics and econometrics courses.

Each module has the same basic structure: students engage with the content in various ways (watching tutorial videos, reading text and diagrams, and engaging with practice problems); then take an end-of-module quiz; and submit an anonymous feedback survey. The data from the quiz helps me understand what students got out of the module, and diagnose some common misconceptions. I use the quiz results to adapt my teaching plan by focusing on the concepts/ideas that proved to be challenging for students. The feedback survey has been invaluable in helping me to improve existing materials and craft new modules. As you explore the demo modules I would greatly appreciate it if you would fill out the same brief feedback surveys to let me know your views.

Technical

These modules pilot an integration between the Canvas course site platform and Open EdX. I piloted this integration, developed by TLT Architect and Technical Lead Philip McGachey, to take advantage of the option to integrate modules my course team and I had previously created in the EdX platform. I imagine that others may be interested in this integration, as it provides an opportunity to combine the strengths of Canvas (excellent course and learning management tools) with those of EdX (multi-media MOOC-style learning units).

If you are interested in learning more about these modules, please contact us at mae_klinger@hks.harvard.edu.

Module Credits

Module Development: Dan Levy, Teddy Svoronos, Mae Klinger, Josh Yardley

EdX/Canvas Integration and Support: Philip McGachey, Marlee Chong, Kristin Sullivan

Blended Learning: Blended Learning Demonstrations