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March Teacher Appreciation Event: Home Page & Sample Module Template What’s Included in This Post? • About our event • Home Page and Sample Module Template   We are Instructure’s Instructional Design Team! More specifically, we are @kristen_anderse,  @tiffany_foster,  @mmetallo, laurie.norris, and  @psanchez1. Between the six of us, we have over 36 years of Canvas experience! Within Canvas, we have been students, teachers, admins, trainers, and instructional designers. We have created fully online, hybrid/blended, and face-to-face courses for learners ranging from preschool through post-secondary and everything in between. Why Are We Hosting This Event? We utilize the Canvas Community on a regular basis to position instructional design resources! We understand the impact and power of the Instructional Designers' space within the Community and want to give back. We are excited to collaborate and share tips and tricks about our Canvas Design Best Practices.    About This Month's Event For the March event, we have created two free Canvas templates designed for those instructors moving from ground to online. Do you or someone at your institution have the need to quickly move course content from a ground course to an online environment? If so, we suggest importing your chosen template into a course shell as a launching point. Why? A template turns a blank shell into a fill-in-the-blank Canvas course. Teachers who are already lacking time can begin with a pre-built point of launch. Power users can take and modify the template without needing to start from zero. About the Templates Home Page Template The home page is designed to provide communication information, course expectations, and access to the learning materials in an easy-to-follow format. The sample content module includes the layout and formatting for a module overview, presentation, Discussion, Assignment, Quiz, and wrap-up. Instructors can duplicate and edit the module materials in order to customize the content for their learners. Along the way, we provide tips and tricks to enhance the learning experience. Modules Based Template Template The Welcome to your Virtual Classroom! The module is designed to provide communication information, course expectations, and access to the learning materials in an easy-to-follow format.  A Monday-Friday-based content module supports a weekly curriculum with sample overview, presentation, offline and online practice layouts, Discussion, Assignment, and wrap-up. Instructors can duplicate and edit the module materials in order to customize the content for their learners. Along the way, we provide tips and tricks to enhance the learning experience. Template Access Select the following link to automatically download a copy of the Home Page & Sample Module Template Canvas export package: Ground to Online Course Home Page & Sample Module Template :smileyalert: UPDATE 03/23/20: We now offer a free template that is Modules based and aligns with Adapting to Online in a Pinch! Export package access: Adapting to Online in a Pinch Template Home Page Based Template Preview Directions Part 1 | Importing Content Into Canvas Course Shell Importing files are explained in the following Canvas Guide: How do I import a Canvas course export package? Download the template course export file (linked above). Open the Canvas course in which you'd like to upload the home page template. We recommend that you load these packages into empty course shells in order to prevent the potential overriding of your current course content. If you do not have an empty course shell (or course in which you feel comfortable loading these materials), please contact your Canvas Administrator. Select "Import Course Content" from the right-side menu and complete the following For Content Type, select “Canvas Course Export Package” For Source, select "Choose File" and then locate the home page template file you've just downloaded (typically found in the Downloads folder on your computer) and unzipped Select the file and then "Open" For Content, select "All content" Finally, select "Import" A green box with the words "Completed" will appear once the upload is complete. The content will now be uploaded to your course! Part 2 | Customizing Your Home Page Based Template Selecting the "Home" button will take you to your new home page design. You can edit the page utilizing the Rich Content Editor. Within the Modules button, you will find two Modules that complement this template. The first Module, "For The Instructor" provides you with links to relevant Canvas Guides. The second Module, "Sample Module" contains sample materials that you can duplicate and customize. Please note, if you choose not to use the module it should be set to unpublished so that students do not see the sample content.   Final Thoughts   Follow us for our full event! We can't wait to continue sharing with you!   Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!   Our Instructional Design team offers templates, consultation, badging services, course evaluations, workshops, and more. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM or @deonne_johnson, Manager, Learning Services, via djohnson@instructure.com ... View more

January Teacher Appreciation Event: Seasonal Home Page Button Giveaway What’s Included in This Post? • About our event • Seasonal Home Page Button Giveaway   We are Instructure’s Instructional Design Team! More specifically, we are @kristen_anderse,  @tiffany_foster,  @mmetallo, laurie.norris, and  @psanchez1. Between the six of us, we have over 36 years of Canvas experience! Within Canvas, we have been students, teachers, admins, trainers, and instructional designers. We have created fully online, hybrid/blended, and face-to-face courses for learners ranging from preschool through post-secondary and everything in between. Why Are We Launching This Event? We utilize the Canvas Community on a regular basis to position instructional design resources! We understand the impact and power of the Instructional Designers' space within the Community and want to give back. We are excited to collaborate and share tips and tricks about our Canvas Design Best Practices.    About This Month's Event For January’s event, we have created free, seasonal-themed home page button images for your course! You can choose from photography or illustration-based designs. Just like changing a bulletin board in your classroom to reflect a season change, you can update the design of your Canvas home page buttons. Be sure to check back in the Community in the coming months for other seasonal button sets.  Each of the buttons can lead to course essential topics: Learning Modules, Resource Materials, Question Forum, and Teacher Contact Information. Link your buttons to relevant materials in your course to give your students easy access to commonly needed materials.  Button Access & Preview January 2020 Course Design Essentials Buttons Giveaway   Button Installation Select the link above to download the button PNG files.  Upload the button image files to your Canvas Course Home Page and insert ALT tag to ensure accessibility.  Canvas Guide: How do I insert course images into the Rich Content Editor using the Content Selector as an instructor? Select each button to link to the appropriate course content while still editing the page. Canvas Guide: How do I insert links to course content into the Rich Content Editor using the Content Selector as an instructor? Save your changes. Test your new buttons to ensure links are functional.  Enjoy!    Final Thoughts   Follow us for our full event! We can't wait to continue sharing with you!   Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!   Our Instructional Design team offers templates, consultation, badging services, course evaluations, workshops, and more. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM or @deonne_johnson, Manager, Learning Services, via djohnson@instructure.com ... View more

Ready-Made Template Suite   The Instructional Design Team at Instructure is always looking for opportunities to assist teachers and admins in the creation of engaging Canvas courses. In the past, we have created and shared our Course Evaluation Checklist, Mobile App Design Course Evaluation Checklist, and Home Page Templates.     We took another step forward in Canvas design by creating a suite of Canvas course templates available for purchase.   We did this because we believe that templates help reduce stress load, encourage growth, and help you and your faculty create an engaging Canvas experience! How is that possible, you ask? Well, it's simple... a template turns a blank course shell into a fill-in-the-blank Canvas course.    Our Recipe For Success  Provide Teachers with more time to focus on enhancing learning content  +  Provide Students with simple navigation, clear directions, built-in support, and technical guidance right when/where they need it most = Increased Canvas buy-in from Teachers and increased Student engagement What's Included  We've loaded our templates with modules that include sample pages, assignments, support materials, and more. Banners, buttons, icons, and other design elements are included and can easily be customized and re-used.  Template Preview Watch the following short clip to preview a template designed for Secondary students: Secondary Template Preview Sample Home Page Designs    What's Available  We currently offer the following template types, with more options added all the time:  Early Learners Elementary & Middle School Secondary Higher Education Specialty Programs Professional Development Leaders & Administrators Global Canvas Orientation Learn More Contact your CSM today to learn more about our Instructional Design service offerings and to access our Ready-Made Template Suite (which includes full-course previews). ... View more

** UPDATE JANUARY 2020** Our Canvas Course Evaluation Checklist v2.0 is Now Available! Please visit our Course Evaluation Checklist v2.0 Blog Post to learn more about v2.0 and create your own copy of the checklist. We hope you enjoy!    When Shauna Vorkink - Content Services Director first approached me about collaborating on a Course Evaluation Checklist with Erin Keefe - Training Team Lead and Deonne Johnson - Consultant, I was beyond thrilled. I knew this was something I could utilize in my current position as an Instructional Designer for Instructure, but even more importantly, it would provide the framework to ultimately help millions of Canvas users. Potential Uses Share this checklist with your colleagues Apply the principles to your own course Elevate the quality of your institution’s courses   Access The checklist is available via Google Docs "Make a Copy" so you can customize for your institution. Please select the following link for access: Course Evaluation Checklist Editable   Note: We ask that you maintain our Citation list located at the bottom of the document.    :smileyinfo: Update This checklist is now available in Spanish! Please select the following link for access: Lista de Evaluacion del Curso   :smileyinfo: Update  Members of the Content Services team collaborated with Canvas mobile app guru,  @rseilham , to create another go-to resource to help you understand mobile app design considerations. Please be sure to visit the Mobile App Design Course Evaluation Checklist blog post to access this additional resource!   Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!   Our Instructional Design team offers full Course Evaluations. Course evaluation services provide insight into best practices. Recommendations will focus on aligning course objectives, accessibility, and overall creation of an enhanced user experience. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM or Shauna Vorkink - Content Services Director ‌at svorkink@instructure.com. ... View more

Thanks for the likes, tweets, and feedback regarding the Course Evaluation Checklist! Members of the Content Services team collaborated with Canvas mobile app guru,  @rseilham , to create another go-to resource to help you understand mobile app design considerations.   Why Consider Mobile App Design? Some students will access your Canvas course and materials from a computer at school or home. Other students will use their mobile device during their lunch break at work, standing in line at a local coffee shop, or (for younger students) in a classroom that is tablet friendly. Students will have a slightly different experience whether accessing Canvas from a browser or using Instructure's free Canvas app.    About The Checklist This checklist focuses on design principles for mobile app users. Examples are built directly into the checklist so you can quickly see how incorporating these considerations creates a dramatic difference for students. We hope you'll find this checklist to be a simple and illuminating glimpse into the mobile app.     Potential Uses Share this checklist with your colleagues Apply the principles to your own course Elevate the quality of your institution’s courses   Preview   Access This checklist is available via Google Docs "Make a Copy" so you can customize for your institution. Please select the following link for access: Mobile App Design Course Evaluation Checklist Editable   Note: We ask that you maintain our Citation list located at the bottom of the document.    Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!   Our Instructional Design team offers full Course Evaluations. Course evaluation services provide insight into best practices. Recommendations will focus on aligning course objectives, accessibility, and overall creation of an enhanced user experience. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM or Shauna Vorkink - Content Services Director at svorkink@instructure.com. ... View more

From: Our Instructional Design Team  To: Our Amazing Teachers We feel that a well-designed course home page can inspire students to engage more deeply and quickly with learning materials. In appreciation for all that you do, we have created two customizable home page templates that you are free to use in your courses as-is, modify as desired, and share with others.    We hope these home page templates will support your endeavors in crafting an exceptional online learning experience for both you, and your students!     Grades K5 Grades 6-12 Includes Home Page with editable course title, course banner, and "Welcome" text placeholder 3 Customizable Buttons:  Learn | Help | Parents Directions on how to modify template buttons and banner "Welcome to Class" student Module with content page templates: Support & Parent Resources  Includes Home Page with editable course title, course banner, and "Welcome" text placeholder 3 Customizable Buttons: About Your Teacher | Class Resources | Learning Modules Directions on how to modify template buttons and banner "Welcome to Class" student Module with content page templates: About Your Teacher & Class Resources  File Access Click on the link below to download the template from Canvas Commons ( How do I import and view a Commons resource in Can...  ) K5 Teacher Appreciation Home Page Template  File Access Click on the link below to download the template from Canvas Commons (How do I import and view a Commons resource in Can...  )   6-12 Teacher Appreciation Home Page Template    More Appreciation from the Instructional Design Team If you'd like to learn more about our services, check out our recent Canvas LIVE Partner Day Keynote: Confessions of the Canvas Design Team We also have a customizable Course Evaluation Checklist available for your use!  Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact your CSM. ... View more