Guidelines for how much content on a single Canvas page?

[andrew_sheppard]

Some instructors opt to put all of a module's content onto a single page (links to multiple readings, several embedded videos, etc) along with many paragraphs of text. Too much content on a single page can overwhelm learners and lead to cognitive overload. Moreover, we want our online learners to have a sense of momentum as they progress through an online course. 

What guidelines do you tend to use to break up large amounts of content over several content pages? If you are aware of related peer-reviewed studies that help address this question, I welcome that as well. I tend to advise that students spend no more than 30 minutes on a single Canvas page - but, that's just a general rule.  I appreciate any insights!

Edited to provide link to the anonymized Canvas Page for context. 

[Chris_Hofer]

I remember hearing from @rseilham when he presented on the mobile apps at a Canvas InstructureCon conference several years ago...  he reminded us that you might not be using mobile, but your students are.  Meaning, when you design your content pages, you should try and keep the mobile user in mind as well.  This would be especially true for long pages you design on a desktop/laptop.  Those same pages will most likely be a lot longer on a small mobile device or a tablet using the Canvas mobile apps.

[andrew_sheppard]

Thanks @Chris_Hofer . You're so responsive that I'm beginning to suspect you might be AI. #HoferGPT 🤖 I appreciate the reminder of student mobile use.

Here are a few web articles discussing course page length considerations:

• https://webservices.ulm.edu/policies/sites/policies/files/Web%20Usability%20Guidelines_09-04-2014.pd...
• https://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/onlinelearning/OnlineCourseDesignTips.pdf 
• https://www.minotstateu.edu/oit/documents/BestPracticesinOnlineCourseDesign.pdf

There seems to be a consensus about not requiring excessive scrolling; and suggestions of "one page" length. I suspect the "one page" guide is a carry-over from print design, and may not be as relevant. Some students may favor longer pages on mobile, as opposed to navigating across multiple content pages. I welcome any other insights from you and our peers.

[ProfessorBeyrer]

Thank you @andrew_sheppard for including those resources. Here's another one from a group that's been researching and writing webpages since the dawn of the web, and their articles present research-based recommendations:

The Fold Manifesto: Why the Page Fold Still Matters

[andrew_sheppard]

Thanks for sharing that, Gregory. It's good food for thought.

[DrNufer]

One way that I sometimes break up content on a single Canvas page is using accordion menus.

https://www.howtocanvas.com/create-amazing-pages-in-canvas/accordions 

https://youtu.be/MOiWzjd7AgM

They're not really accordion menus, but can kind of function like such if you stack them.  It's actually pretty easy and fun to build them