July 2nd Design Smarter,
Not Harder

Supercharging Your Canvas Template with DesignPLUS

Goals

My goal for the session is to demonstrate the easiest and fastest way to build a course in Canvas.

By the end of this session, you should hopefully be able to...

Identify what needs to be edited in the template
Edit the template with DesignPLUS
Add more template pages with the QuickStart Wizard
Customize template pages with the Sidebar

Description

This practical session focuses on how to maximize the use of your Canvas template with the editing tools available in DesignPLUS. It covers how to use the Canvas template effectively, introduces the QuickStart Wizard, and showcases what’s possible when you're ready to enable the full Sidebar, like adding interactivity to enhance student engagement. You'll leave with practical tips and exciting new ideas to take your courses to the next level using DesignPLUS.

Use the headings below to view some brief notes about each topic covered in this session.

DesignPLUS

UTA subscribes to DesignPLUS from Cidi Labs, which gives us access to five super cool tools.

Key Action Items

View "hidden" messages only visible to people with edit access*

Access via the green button in the bottom-right corner

QuickStart Wizard

Add pre-designed content to blank pages*

Access via the blue QuickStart Wizard button on new pages

MultiTool

Includes the Module Builder*, Due Date Modifier, and Template Builder

Access via the MultiTool link in Course Navigation

Sidebar

Add pre-designed content to pages
Advanced editing
Create interactive content

In edit mode, select control + 1 on your keyboard

Upload/Embed Image

Upload/embed images
Scale and resize images
Select images from Unsplash or Prexels

Available under Apps in the rich content editor

*indicates things we'll talk about today

UTA also subscribes to TidyUP from Cidi Labs, which is another tool that you can use to remove unused content and files. We don't have time to talk about this today, but you can learn more in our TidyUP guide.

UTA's Template

Each page in the UTA Template is accessible and designed to meet Quality Matters Standards. Refer to the key action items on each page for more information.

The UTA Template contains:

Home page
Getting Started module
Module template
Assignment template pages

QuickStart Wizard

The QuickStart Wizard is a built-in tool that appears on any new and empty page in Canvas. It lets you add predesigned, accessible pages right into your Canvas course! Browse and select from the template categories:

1. Classic UTA Templates (from CDE)
2. Student Resources (from CDE)
3. Getting Started Templates (from CDE)
4. Advanced Interactive Templates (from CDE)
Assignment (from Cidi Labs)
Discussion (from Cidi Labs)
Page (from Cidi Labs)
Syllabus (from Cidi Labs)
All Course Pages (from the course you're currently working in)

Sidebar

To enable the Sidebar, follow these steps:

Open any Canvas course.
Navigate to a page or content item you wish to edit.
Click Edit.
While in edit mode, use one of the keyboard shortcuts:
- Windows: Ctrl-1 or Alt-Shift-d
- Mac: control-1 or option-shift-d
The Sidebar will remain visible until you dismiss it by clicking the in the upper right corner or exiting the page.

Sidebar Tour

Top Toolbar: undo and redo
Main Navigation: current element, add new element, accessibility, help, advanced, settings
Element Selector: current elements from biggest to smallest, like the nesting dolls
Action Toolbar: select, copy, cut, duplicate, remove formatting, move up, move down, add paragraph before or after, and delete
Action Panels: content, style, advanced, and preview

Snippets

Snippets are pieces of content you can add to a page. To add a snippet:

Place your cursor in the editor where you want the snippet to go.
Open the Add menu.
Select Snippets. This will insert a [Snippet] placeholder in the editor at the cursor position and load the Snippet tool in the Main view of the sidebar.
In the Content Panel, search for a snippet, or use the Source Panels and Category Panels to locate a snippet.
Hover over the snippet buttons to see a preview.
When you find the snippet you want, click the snippet's button. This will replace the [Snippet] placeholder with the selected snippet.
Edit as you normally would.

Suggested Workflow

Update your course Home page
Update your About This Course page
Update your Meet Your Instructor page
Add and update other pages to your Getting Started module (e.g., Respondus, APA, AI, course introductions, etc.)
Update your Syllabus page
Update the module template to reflect how you want all of your course modules to look
Use the Module Builder to create the pages for all your modules
Add your content to each page
Add due dates/availability dates using the Due Date Modifier

Resources

YouTube Series

Each video in this series from CDE walks you through essential tools, features, and techniques that will make course creation smoother and more efficient.

DesignPLUS Course

CDE's guide to the DesignPlus Sidebar will show you the basics of DesignPlus and prepare you to use the DesignPlus tools in your courses.

Cidi Labs User Guide

Learn EVERYTHING DesignPLUS has to offer from the official Cidi Labs user guide!

Get inspired! Check out these example course modules!

Contact

Jess Kahlow

For questions about this session or the DesignPLUS course

The CDE ID Team

For general questions about CDE and course design

Before You Go!

Course Design Days

Join us for Course Design Days! This fast-paced, hands-on workshop series designed to help you build a clear and engaging course in Canvas using the UTA template and DesignPLUS. By the end of this series, participants will be able to:

Develop a clear, student-friendly course structure that aligns with instructional goals.
Apply effective design practices that enhance clarity, accessibility, and engagement.
Build the course out in Canvas in an organized, scalable, and consistent way.
Prepare the course for launch by completing key setup tasks.

Dates: August 5–8
Time: 11 AM–12 PM (via Microsoft Teams)
Who it’s for: Instructors teaching in Fall 2025 who already know the Canvas basics
What you’ll need before Day 1: A completed syllabus and access to your Fall 2025 course in Canvas

To participate and earn your Course Design Days badge, please complete the short application to confirm you meet the prerequisites.

Sign up fast! The first three people to register for the series will win a custom page makeover, featured in our YouTube series as an example of great course design!

Last updated [Current Date]