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The Adoption Corner
Consultant-backed strategies for long-term success with Instructure tools
In our first three Adoption Corner posts, we’ve explored why adoption must go beyond technical success (Post 1), how to re-center adoption on people and purpose (Post 2), and how to sustain momentum through intentional training (Post 3).
After that first post, several of our Instructional Designers reached out and asked if I would feature Instructional Design in a future article. They noted that institutions often have access to instructional design during their implementation, but many aren’t quite sure how to leverage those resources strategically. Too often, instructional design is used only to create a quick course template, missing the deeper potential of what instructional design can do to drive adoption and enhance teaching and learning.
Instructional design is a multi-phased approach - starting with creating a consistent course template and providing coaching to instructors on effective course building. It ensures courses are not only consistent and high-quality, but also accessible for every learner. In short, instructional design makes adoption sustainable by making good design the default.
This month’s post highlights that opportunity. My hope is that it gives both new and established clients practical insight into the world of instructional design - and a clearer sense of how it supports long-term adoption success. A big thank-you to my colleagues on the Instructure Instructional Design Team for inspiring and collaborating on this post.
Guest Contributor
Payton Halinger
Senior Instructional Designer on the multi-client Instructional Design team at Instructure
The Pivotal Role of Instructional Design in Adoption
Instructional Designers (IDs) help ensure that technology is not only implemented but deeply integrated into teaching and learning. They can:
- Provide best practices for course design and problem-solving
- Build accessible, learner-friendly templates and blueprints
- Coach educators and leaders on effective and inclusive digital teaching
In short: IDs close the gap between implementation and impact.
1. Quality, Consistency, and Accessibility
One of the earliest adoption hurdles is course inconsistency. Learners may encounter completely different layouts and navigation across their classes, which leads to confusion and inequity. For learners who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies, these differences can even become barriers to learning.
This is where instructional design can make your courses shine:
- Course Templates provide fill-in-the-blank structures that remove design guesswork and bake in accessibility from the start
- Blueprint Courses scale that consistency across dozens (or hundreds) of sections, ensuring every learner has a predictable, navigable course experience
- Accessibility audits help identify and correct barriers before they impact learners
Key takeaway: Good design is inclusive design. Without it, adoption isn’t sustainable.
Pro-Tip #1: Include Accessible Design from the Start
It’s far easier - and far more effective - to design accessible content from the beginning than to retrofit later. Consider hosting an accessibility workshop before instructors start building their Canvas courses so accessibility becomes part of the design culture, not an afterthought.
It’s far easier - and far more effective - to design accessible content from the beginning than to retrofit later. Consider hosting an accessibility workshop before instructors start building their Canvas courses so accessibility becomes part of the design culture, not an afterthought.
2. Targeted Professional Development
Training introduces features. Instructional design shows instructors how to put those features into practice. Strategic use of instructional design often includes:
- 1:1 coaching on building accessible, engaging courses
- Course audits with feedback tailored to the institution’s goals
- Workshops for C&I leaders, so they can model best practices in their departments
Key takeaway: When Instructional Designers provide professional development targeted to an institution’s goals, instructors start the course build process prepared to utilize Canvas to its fullest ability.
Pro-Tip #2: Clarify Goals Before Bringing in IDs
Before bringing in Instructional Designers, take some time to identify your goals for your staff. What are the expectations surrounding their use of Canvas? What is their current level of Canvas knowledge? Answering these questions early will make your instructional design processes run more smoothly later on.
Before bringing in Instructional Designers, take some time to identify your goals for your staff. What are the expectations surrounding their use of Canvas? What is their current level of Canvas knowledge? Answering these questions early will make your instructional design processes run more smoothly later on.
3. Driving Utilization and Sustainability
Adoption metrics go beyond logins or pageviews - they’re about how the platform is used. Instructional design ensures instructors leverage the right tools in the right ways:
- Instructors use modules, discussions, and quizzes to deepen learning - not just store content
- Learners experience streamlined navigation, reducing cognitive load and increasing engagement
- Institutions see higher utilization of features tied directly to teaching and learning outcomes
Key takeaway: Build best practices into the core Canvas build process so instructors feel supported, learners feel empowered, and leaders see lasting impact.
Pro-Tip #3: Consistency Protects Learner Bandwidth
When every course looks and feels different, learners spend unnecessary cognitive energy just trying to figure out where things are, instead of focusing on what they need to learn. That “navigation tax” drains bandwidth for learners of all ages: a 7th grader juggling six classes, a college student managing multiple online sections, or a professional completing required training.
By using templates and blueprints, you create a consistent structure that lowers cognitive load. This doesn’t just reduce frustration - it frees learners to invest their energy in mastering content, engaging with peers, and applying skills. Consistency is more than a design preference, it’s a direct investment in learner success.
When every course looks and feels different, learners spend unnecessary cognitive energy just trying to figure out where things are, instead of focusing on what they need to learn. That “navigation tax” drains bandwidth for learners of all ages: a 7th grader juggling six classes, a college student managing multiple online sections, or a professional completing required training.
By using templates and blueprints, you create a consistent structure that lowers cognitive load. This doesn’t just reduce frustration - it frees learners to invest their energy in mastering content, engaging with peers, and applying skills. Consistency is more than a design preference, it’s a direct investment in learner success.
True Story: Scaling Templates for Measurable Adoption Gains
In Year 1 of Canvas adoption with one district, our team focused narrowly on a handful of Math and ELA courses. Using Instructional Design hours, we created custom templates and blueprint courses for those subjects. The goal was simple: remove barriers for teachers, build in accessibility and consistency, and give students a predictable course experience.
The results were immediate. Impact data showed a measurable uptick in page views and feature usage across those pilot courses. Teachers reported that course building was faster and less stressful, and students felt more confident navigating their classes.
Because of that success, the district committed to a two-year plan: by Year 2, blueprinting all core, state Standards of Learning (SOL)-tested content areas. This phased approach built momentum with early wins, gathered feedback, and then scaled design best practices across the entire district.
The lesson? Instructional Design hours aren’t just about “prettier courses.” They make adoption sustainable. Start small, prove impact, then expand - use ID strategically to increase utilization, improve accessibility, and make consistent design the norm.
Closing Reflection
Each post in this series reinforces a central truth: successful adoption is intentional. Instructional design initiatives are one of the most strategic ways to make that intention visible - in the form of accessible, consistent, and sustainable courses that benefit every learner.
If your institution has access to ID support, don’t see it as a “nice to have.” Treat it as an investment in equity, instructor confidence, and long-term adoption success.
Key Takeaway: Instructional Design Adoption Checklist
- Leverage ID Strategically
- ☐ Identify where Instructional Design can have the most impact (templates, blueprints, course audits, coaching)
- Start Small, Scale Smart
- ☐ Pilot ID work in a few courses or subject areas, measure the impact, and then expand to more departments or grade levels
- Prioritize Accessibility
- ☐ Bake accessibility into templates and blueprints from the start (headings, alt-text, consistent navigation, color contrast)
- Ensure Consistency Across Courses
- ☐ Use templates and blueprints to reduce “navigation fatigue” so learners can focus cognitive energy on mastering content, not finding it
- Blend PD with Design
- ☐ Pair Instructional Design support with professional development, so instructors not only use templates but also understand the why behind them
- Measure and Share Impact
- ☐ Track adoption metrics (page views, feature usage, course activity) to demonstrate how design investments translate into deeper utilization and improved learner experience
📚 Adoption Corner Series Index
Just joining us or missed a post? Check out the full series below.
- Introduction to the Series: The Adoption Corner: Consultant-Backed Strategies for Long Term Success ...
- August 15: The Technical Success Is Just the Start - The “People Work” Is Where It Gets Real
- September 15: Beyond the Launch: Why Your Instructure Platform Needs a Strategic Training Plan for Every User
- October 15: Strategic Use of Instructional Design for Adoption Success (from Instructure Instructional Design Ex...
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Next Month: Adoption in Action: Using Data and Analytics to Measure Progress and Drive Strategy (A quarterly pulse check on how your implementation is performing, what data to review, and how to turn insights into action)
🗓 New posts will go live on the 15th of each month!
We would love to hear from you!
What questions, challenges, or success stories are you experiencing when it comes to adoption? Share them below - your insight may help shape a future blog post in the series!
Our team of dedicated strategic consultants helps customers deepen and elevate their use of Instructure Learning Platform products to meet pedagogical goals across their organization by offering expertise, strategic advice, customized consultation, and targeted coaching. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM, or reach out to @Kelley_Lozicki, Manager, Learning Services, or by email at klozicki@instructure.com.
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