Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
4-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Organizational Leadership
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Dr. Lisa Wickersham-Fish
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Dr. Suzanne Barker
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Dr. Andrew Lumpe
Abstract
The topic of this dissertation is learning management systems, specifically Canvas. Research has proven that student engagement is a strong factor in student achievement in both online and inperson courses. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a deficit in instructors’ ability to acquire and maintain student engagement in online courses. This study details why this problem exists and how instructors have successfully addressed it in higher-level online courses. The primary purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine how learning management systems, specifically Canvas, can increase student engagement in online courses in higher education. Qualitative research was the chosen paradigm for this research in the form of a qualitative descriptive study. Semistructured interviews were used to acquire data for the study. The chosen sample included North Texas residents aged 18 or older who had taken a higher-level online course within the last 4 years. The researcher acquired consent to participate in the study from participants and conducted a 10-question semistructured interview with each participant. The key results indicated that many instructors lacked a strong understanding of, or the ability to use, all of Canvas’s features. Those who successfully created engaging learning environments for students used the discussion function intentionally. The key conclusion was to ensure instructors received professional development on the Canvas learning management system to educate and equip them to use all its features, including but not limited to discussion boards, the studio function, and the web conferencing tool. Other key actions for instructors included shifting from director to facilitator, ensuring teacher presence, and providing specific and timely feedback to students in online environments.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Jerald P., "How Can Learning Management Systems Positively Impact Student Engagement In Online Courses?" (2026). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1028.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/1028