Recently, The Sequoia Union High School District blocked the extension “Better Canvas,” which is now called “Better Campus,” on school computers. For students, Better Canvas was a beacon of personalizing our digital space which would transform the dreary task of checking schoolwork into an enjoyable experience. It wasn't just about aesthetics; it was about ownership and identity. It let us personalize Canvas which is an app all students use on a daily, keep track of assignments with tools like the rainbow checklist, use the GPA calculator to know where we stood in our classes, and made the whole experience feel less overwhelming. 
The truth is, students didn’t have any issues with Better Canvas. It wasn’t distracting or harmful, it was helpful. Research shows that when students can personalize their learning environment, they’re more engaged and motivated, which leads to better results. It also shows that teens function on a reward system, so when we reached 100 percent on the rainbow checklist it felt like an accomplishment and pushed us to keep going. Reaching 100 percent meant we had completed all of our assignments for that day, which encouraged us as students to build good habits and stay consistent with our work. Better Canvas gave us that chance, and now without it, many of us feel less organized and more stressed.
We believe student voices should matter when it comes to the tools we use every day. That’s why we’re asking the district and decision makers in our schools to bring back Better Canvas on school computers. It wasn’t just about customizing how things looked, it gave us a better way to learn, track our progress, and actually enjoy logging into Canvas to view assignments. Reinstating Better Canvas will make a positive difference in the way students view work and overall school experience.