DanielleLentz
Instructure
Instructure

Curious to learn more about best practices and features/products to consider for onboarding courses? Look no further than this blog post! 

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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katehoof
Instructure
Instructure

 

New Year, New Canvas

Three Resolutions To Improve Your Canvas Courses

 

Unlock the potential of your virtual classroom with three powerful resolutions, ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and engaging interactions in your Canvas courses for the upcoming semester.

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DanicaBotts
Community Explorer

Howdy from Houston! 🤠👋🏽

Take a sneak peak into the world of Instructional Designer (ID) for a Education Service Center. If you're  not from Texas, then you've probably never heard of an ESC. Established in 1967 by the Texas legislature, regional education service center's service as a hub of support for schools districts and charter schools with improving student performance and implementing state initiatives. I'm a proud to serve Region 4 which is the 8 country area compromising the 48 public school districts and 41 open-enrollment charter schools of Houston and surrounding areas. That's more than 1.2 million students, 165,000 educators, and 1,500 campuses!

Our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), internally called Education Specialists, support every academic content area as well as specialized departments that provide guidance for anything from State and Federal programs, Superintendents & School Board, to Teacher Preparation.

Read on to get a peek into my world!

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katehoof
Instructure
Instructure

 

GenAI: Your Ultimate Teaching Assistant!

 

 

Say goodbye to the days of relying solely on student helpers for classroom tasks! Enter the era of Generative AI (GenAI), revolutionizing education by becoming your go-to assistant at any time. In this blog post, we explore how GenAI, including ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude, can skyrocket your productivity in course development, and grading. While the debate around academic integrity continues, the undeniable benefits of saving instructors' time take the spotlight. Discover how GenAI can swiftly generate outlines, assessments, learning materials, and more, helping you reclaim valuable time.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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LyndseyMartin
Instructure
Instructure

 

Reading Your Classroom When It's Online

Use your superpower to create great assignments!

 

Writing directions that help your learners get everything they need from an assignment can be tough! Let’s look at some ways you can upgrade your assignments that result in better outcomes.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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8 0 551
mirandamcintosh
Instructure
Instructure

Canvas Course Evaluation Checklist v3.0

Building Quality Content

In this post, we share our newly released Canvas Course Evaluation Checklist version 3.0. This version includes newly added items to support full Course content builds at your institution. Learn why we updated the checklist and get your very own copy.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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tbrinton
Community Participant

Hi everyone! Thought I’d write a post as well as creating a Screencast of something I’d like to share.

I know this is something very basic, but I’m hoping it could help at least one person out there in the Canvas community!

We use simple HTML page anchors in our Degree Education Template, making it easier for students to navigate around our course syllabus as it is a bit of a long read at times.

We also use these in Information Centers that sit on our instance of Canvas for the same reason.

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8 1 871
stotman
Community Explorer

This took me much longer to figure out than it should have; maybe it will be helpful to you (or, for the more seasoned veterans, a chance to tell us how to do it better). Also, if you do not need text to overlap images, you can insert the image above your text header (this is much easier than the process below).

Quick story about what I was trying to do (skip this paragraph to get to the tutorial). I'm creating a gamified online course for college and graduate students in the form of a Space Opera. There's lots of content, but I wanted to create an unfolding epic story to go along with the content. Each main mission was mandatory. This could be weekly assignments, quizzes, readings, etc.; each element included a snippet of the adventure story. I used this storyline to keep students engaged in the content. I also had side missions that were optional for the students to complete but helped them to earn more badges for the leaderboard (these were also connected to the story; in this case, side quests provided fuel for a spaceship and offered other benefits like extra credit on quizzes, due date extensions, etc. I wanted image headers at the top of my canvas assignments, quizzes, etc. I also wanted to let the title overlap the background header a little to give it a more sophisticated look.

Screenshot-2023-06-22-at-10.55.25-PM.jpg

My Problem


Sometimes my image would only appear in the editor but not on the front end, the part the students see. This happened sporadically throughout my canvas shell for reasons I do not understand. You should also know that my university does not allow me to mess with any backend CSS, so everything has to be in line (there's probably a better workaround for this, but that's a problem for another day).

The Solution


Through a lot of troubleshooting, the problem was in the URL for the image. Canvas creates a bit of code at the end of the image URL that it needs to display the image correctly. This is how I got it to work more consistently. 

Finding the Right Image URL 

 

  1. To get the IMAGE URL with end coding for Canvas, click the Insert Image icon in the editor first. Upload your image.  

    Quick Tip: I made my header images 2000px wide and however tall you want your header image to be so that it will go behind your text. I also created a gradient at the bottom of the image so that it ended with a consistent solid color. This will allow you to blend the header image with the BACKGROUND COLOR of the entire canvas page, meaning the header image doesn't have to be as large as the page.

  2. After you insert the image onto your page, click the image to get the IMAGE OPTIONS button.

  3. In Image Options, copy the complete URL of the image located at the top of the dialog box. This will include the extra bit of code you need. Once you copy this URL, close out the image options and delete the picture you inserted (It's no longer necessary).

  4. Open up the HTML editor by clicking on the < / > icon at the bottom of the text editor. 


This is how my code looked. 


<div style="background-image: url('YOUR 
IMAGE URL'); background-position: center top; background-size: contain; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: #COLOR HEX CODE; padding-top: 30%; padding-bottom: 5%; text-align: center;">YOUR PAGE CONTENT</div>

Creating Your Image Header with Overlapping Text

 

  1. Using the HTLM/CSS code above, paste the image URL you copied into IMAGE URL. Be sure not to delete your ''ticks bracketing the URL in the process.

  2. For the page BACKGROUND-COLOR, change the code to the color you used at the bottom rim of your image. It will likely be a hex code that starts with a # followed by 3 - 6 numbers. Later when you put in your text, make sure there is enough contrast between your text color and the background color.
      
  3. Adjust the PADDING-TOP percentage (in the example, 30%) to determine where to start your text over your image. Overlapping the picture gives a more sophisticated look.

  4. Back out of the HTML editor to see your work. Word to the wise, sometimes, if the code conflicts with Canvas rules, it will erase much of your work, so you might want to copy the HTML code in a text file separate from Canvas if the editor gobbles up your code. 

I hope that helps! Don't forget to save! 

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LoraMiller
Instructure
Instructure

4 Canvas Features that will Leave You Charmed

Are you searching for the pot of gold at the end of the Canvas rainbow? 🌈

Look no further, because we’ve got the lucky charms you need to make your Canvas experience magical!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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6 2 2,670
tiffany_foster
Instructure
Instructure

5 Golden Rings Giveaway: Course Stickers

Course Sticker Freebie

Who doesn't love course stickers? Add a little sparkle to your course with our course sticker freebie.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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4 3 1,155
bfirestone
Instructure
Instructure

5 Golden Rings Giveaway: Wrapping Up The Year

Ready to Recap 2022?

Let's kickoff Day 4 of our giveaway with a...

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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1 1 875
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

5 Golden Rings Giveaway: New Year's Resolution

Ready to win some swag?

It's Day 3 of our 5 Golden Rings Giveaway and we are so excited to hear about your Canvas goals for the New Year. Sharing will enter you in a drawing to win an awesome prize!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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1 0 678
tiffany_foster
Instructure
Instructure

5 Golden Rings Giveaway: This or That?

Ready to win some swag?

We are so excited to bring to the community a "This or That" game and a chance to win some swag!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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2 1 1,022
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

5 Golden Rings Giveaway: Caption This!

Ready to win some swag?

Let’s start this holiday party with a fun picture-captioning activity that enters you in a drawing for some awesome Instructure swag!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

Learning Services' 5 Golden Rings Giveaway

Do you love giveaways and learning something new?

You do not want to miss our 5 Golden Rings Giveaway! Not only will you have a chance to win actual prizes but you will also love the assortment of jewels we have to offer you this season!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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2 0 2,018
SamOHanlon
Instructure
Instructure

Maintaining Engagement Through the Mid-Semester Slump

How can I use instructor presence to keep students engaged?

Student engagement is a key component of good instructional design and, like many elements of instructional design, it is more difficult online. So how do you engage students in an online course? Well, Canvas has got you covered with tools and tips to connect with students and keep them coming back!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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3 2 3,452
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

ID Horror Stories: Put Poor Design to Rest

Do you need a spellbook on good course design?

When looking at the cauldron of instructional design, it all boils down to cognitive load. Put poor design to rest and reanimate your courses with a few simple principles that will leave you fearless in the face of course-building horrors.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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5 2 2,059
KCTesterman
Instructure
Instructure

Best Practices for Formative and Summative Assessments in Canvas

How can I add my formative and summative assessments into Canvas?

 

Formative and summative assessments are integral steps in the process of learning, but how can you bring them to life in Canvas? Whether you’re new to the platform or you’re a Canvas pro, we’ve got you covered with all the tools to build engaging formative and summative assessments in your Canvas class.

 

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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4 0 3,160
SašaStojićIto
Instructure
Instructure

Accessibility in Online Course Design

What's Included in This Post?
• Why Accessibility Matters in Course Design
• 7 Pillars of Accessibility
• Explore Examples of Content Accessibility Using a Screen Reader

 

"A11y" stands for "accessibility." It is a numeronym, with 11 representing the number of letters between the letter "a" and the letter "y."

Accessibility (A11y) is the practice of making web content accessible and usable for as many learners as possible. When content is not accessible, many learners lose out on class engagement which creates obstacles in their academic journey. Let's dive into some accessibility basics and learn how to improve inclusion, equity, and accessibility in the "digital classroom."

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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7 4 6,537
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

Ready, Set, Launch!

Are you wondering what’s coming to the RMT suite?

 

The Instructional Design team has been working hard to launch our ten newest Ready-Made Templates! We think you’ll love them! Check out this post to learn more about what each template has to offer, and get a glimpse of how we collaborate here at Instructure.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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6 3 2,378
DrNufer
Community Coach
Community Coach

amador-loureiro-BVyNlchWqzs-unsplash.jpg

The internet is full of web typography, and our Canvas pages are no exception. Albeit fairly limited, we do have options to customize and optimize our fonts and typography through the Rich Content Editor and with simply HTML in the HTML editor. Let's explore some of the options available to us.

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2 0 2,256
dlourcey
Instructure
Instructure

Turn the Page on Your Canvas Course

Wondering how to close out your Canvas course?

 

The ID team shares tips and best practices for wrapping up a semester or academic year in Canvas. Read more to find out what you can do to make the transition from school to summer as easy as turning a new page in a book.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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rosina_marie
Instructure
Instructure

Teacher Appreciation ID Giveaway

Ready for some Canvas FREEBIES??

Instructure’s Instructional Design Team has created some punny stickers for your course. We hope you’ll stick with us (get it?!) and check out this blog post!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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3 2 1,912
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

The Dos and Don’ts of Icon Maker

Interested in learning more about how to best integrate icons from the new Icon Maker in your Canvas Course?

 

The Instructional Design Team at Canvas has compiled best practices in using Canvas’s new Icon Maker. Read more to find out the Dos and Don’ts of Icon Maker!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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10 0 4,005
NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

Four Tips to Spring Clean your Canvas Courses

At a loss for how to make changes to your course this late in the academic year/semester?

Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing! The ID team is here to help you Spring Clean your Canvas course with four easy tips you can implement today!

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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Maryna_Dibrova
Partner
Partner

Welcome to our first post in 2022. This issue contains resources to support you as we strive to ensure you receive the solutions to maintain student engagement and learning.

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NicoleHiers
Instructure
Instructure

New Year, New Course Goals

Are you struggling to set achievable goals for your courses?

 

Have you ever made a promise to yourself you didn't keep? I've spent so many years making new year's resolutions, only to break them within two weeks of setting them. Each time, I set my expectations too high without the proper systems set in place to achieve my goal. For me, this year has been different. Using the SMART goal-setting framework, I have finally felt successful in my progress, giving me the confidence to pursue more challenging and deeply-rooted goals. What do you wish you could achieve for your classroom; whether it's online, in person, or hybrid? Take some time to explore this blog post for resources and strategies for setting achievable goals this year.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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7 0 2,024
rosina_marie
Instructure
Instructure

 

Design Tips for Pages in Canvas

Are you looking for some design tips for your Canvas Pages?

 

Ever see a super inviting and well-thought-out page in Canvas and think, “OoooOoOo! I want to be able to do that!” but then wonder how? Or maybe you have even begun experimenting with visual design in your Canvas courses and just need some tips and tricks to up your game? A well-designed page will not only complement and enhance the content you’re delivering but also create an engaging learning space for your students. Take a moment to read through this blog post for some simple things you can start incorporating into your courses today.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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deonne_johnson
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni

Why Serve? Humanitarian Expedition Reflections

Want to know more about the culture of our design team?

 

Deonne Johnson, the manager of the Instructional Design Team, shares her reflections on the relationship between service and self care, and in doing so, pulls back the curtain on the culture inside the instructional design team.

Enjoy and please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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deonne_johnson
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni

It’s a wonderful thing to be able to pursue your passions in both your career and your personal life. It’s been almost a decade since I’ve joined the CHOICE Humanitarian family (as both a participant and Trip Leader) and, coincidentally, I’ve been at Instructure since almost the same time, 9 years. I’m so grateful to work for Instructure and am thankful for the “Instructure Cares” program that offers employees flexible time off to participate in charitable activities big or small. I’m reminded of a favorite quote by Albert Einstein, “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” My connection with both organizations is nothing short of miraculous and I’m incredibly honored to be a leader for both. I’d love to share how I use my Instructure flex-time to give back with CHOICE.

I love sustainable CHOICE’s approach to reducing world poverty. All initiatives are driven by locals themselves and receive support from the locally-based country director and CHOICE headquarters. Support may come in the form of training, funds from corporate partners/monthly donors/individual supporters, or service-oriented expeditions. As a group, participants travel to a rural community to experience rewarding work, lots of play, adventure, and connection. The work spans a variety of projects from constructing classrooms, stoves, or medical facilities to helping plot gardens or trenching water systems. One of the things I love about CHOICE is that the project is an opportunity for intercultural exchange. After every trip, I come home with new perspectives and deep connections to people on the other side of the globe. Here are a few of my a-ha moments. 

On my first full day in the Kenyan village, Dzisuhuni, I sat down next to Umaji and we began making dolls together. The children and Umaji laughed with me at my inadequacy in making a doll from fabric scraps, but my grandmother would be proud to see how I reached into the recesses of my mind to use some thread to sew on some eyes and a mouth. Providing these dolls at school encourages young children to attend and enjoy school with the hopes of increasing retention. 

Our most recent project in Kenya was to build a school. Although the project was important, the intercultural exchange was equally as important. Participants connected with locals as they dug ditches together and drove miles to the quarry to bring back supplies. This intercultural exchange helps visitors to expand their global perspectives.

Access to quality educational opportunities is a human right. Young women drop out of school after reaching maturation for a variety of reasons, including lack of access to feminine hygiene products. Special shoutout to Days for Girls and volunteers who create hygiene kits so girls have supplies needed during menstruation.

Lessons Learned

  • Change is hard. Change fatigue is real. Thanks to colleagues at Instructure, I could relay Change Management strategies and understandings to the headteacher and teachers in the African village.
  • I’m in absolute awe of CHOICE’s locally-based staff. Their boots on the ground ensure that resources and impacts are maximized. Their dedication and commitment to alleviating poverty inspire me to be a better human. 
  • People are more alike than different. We have our struggles and our challenges, but we’re all doing the best we can. And when we look at others and assume positive intent, the world becomes a much kinder place. 
  • Life and projects can be overwhelming. However, when we show up to support one another and when we open our hearts to receive support, life is so much easier. Sometimes we just need to show up, for ourselves and others.

I’m so fortunate to do work that matters (both for Instructure and CHOICE). Both organizations are driven by the desire to make the world a better place. I’m incredibly grateful to work for a company that supports employees' wellness and wholeness. A company that has a mission in education but also believes in giving back. If you’re interested in joining a company that provides the opportunity to live its core values of openness, relationships, equality, ownership, and simplicity, check out our current open positions.

deonne_johnson_0-1653510401799.gif

 

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