Evaluating the Usability of Canvas LMS on PWA and Native Mobile Platforms: A Role-Based Comparison of Student and Teacher Experiences
Beau Gray M. Habal
a
,
Manuel B. Garcia
b
,
Geliza Marie I. Alcober
c
,
Angelo C. Arguson
a
,
Fanny C. Almeniana
a
,
John Benedic R. Enriquez
c
a Computer Science Department, CCSMA FEU Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
b Educational Innovation and Technology Hub, FEU Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
c Information Technology Department, CCSMA FEU Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
2025 23rd International Conference on ICT and Knowledge Engineering (ICT&KE), (2025), pp. 1-6
Abstract: This study examines the Canvas’ usability in Learning Management System (LMS) from the perspectives of students and teachers, focusing on experiences across Progressive Web App (PWA) and native mobile platforms. A task-based usability testing approach was employed, combining quantitative measures of task completion and time with qualitative insights from observations and participant feedback. Findings indicate that both platforms supported high task completion, though clear differences emerged in efficiency and feature accessibility. Teachers achieved a 91.7% completion rate on the mobile app compared to 100% on the PWA. The mobile app was faster for grading and assignment creation, while the PWA provided broader feature coverage, particularly for analytics, though some users reported navigation difficulties. For students, performance differences were more pronounced: average task completion time on the PWA was 1.24 minutes compared to 5.72 minutes on the mobile app. Tasks such as replying to announcements and checking grades were completed up to ten times faster on the PWA. Overall, the mobile app demonstrated greater stability and efficiency for routine functions, whereas the PWA offered extended functionality and cross-platform access but with tradeoffs in responsiveness and interface clarity. These results highlight the role of platform choice in shaping user experience and suggest directions for optimizing Canvas LMS for both teaching and learning contexts. By advancing usability in digital learning platforms, this research contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, while also supporting SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through insights on mobile technology design, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by emphasizing accessibility across diverse devices and connectivity conditions.