Faculty Resource Additional Resources and Video Tutorials

DesignPLUS provides additional resources and video tutorials to support instructors in maximizing the tool's capabilities within the Canvas LMS. These resources include comprehensive guides, best practices, and detailed instructions on using various DesignPLUS features effectively.

Sidebar Overview

Edit Current Element: Select elements in the rich content editor to edit the current element. If elements are nested, multiple elements will be available to edit in the edit current element tab.
Add New Elements: Place your cursor in the rich content editor to position where you want to add a new element. Elements are sorted into categories, however if you use a few frequently, favorite them to access them quicker. You can also use the search bar to search for elements.
Accessibility/Usability: Improve the accessibility and usability of your Canvas pages by investigating and corrected the flagged errors.
Help/Tutorials: Contact your primary support entity for DesignPLUS and view user guides, tutorials, and walkthroughs created by your institution and CidiLabs.
Advanced: Edit content with advanced HTML, element attributes, custom CSS, quick style manager, custom headings, custom banner titles, custom link grids, and custom styles.
More Options: Arrange or preview your content in various screen sizes, access various language accent letters, and alter your user settings.
Active Tool: Select an active tool to access the editor panels and action toolbar for the selected element.
Action Toolbar: Select, copy, cut, duplication, style, delete, refresh, move up, move down, etc. settings for the selected element.
Editor Panels: Access and edit the content, style, quick styles, wrapping, etc. of the selected element.

For more information on the DesignPLUS sidebar, please visit DesignPLUS Basics: Before You Begin.

Building Basic Pages

Every page should start with a theme!

Select the "Add New Elements" tab from the DesignPLUS sidebar.
Find and select the tile/button labeled "Theme."
Expand the content panel and ensure the theme type is set to "Basic."
Add a banner title with the indicated button.
Expand the style panel and select one of the various legacy styles!

Your design does not have to stop there. Explore the "Add New Elements" tab on the DesignPLUS sidebar and add other elements like callouts, tabs, accordions, buttons, tooltips, etc! Get creative with it but remember to keep it accessible by checking the Accessibility/Usability tab!

For more information, please visit DesignPLUS Building Basic Pages.

Building Home Pages

Every course should start with a visually appealing and attention grabbing home page!

Select the "Add New Elements" tab from the DesignPLUS sidebar.
Find and select the tile/button labeled "Theme."
Expand the content panel and ensure the theme type is set to "Front Page."
Add a banner title, banner image, and navigation/link grid with the indicated buttons.
Expand the style panel and select one of the various legacy styles!

Don't stop there! You can add a module list, your user details (contact information), shortcuts, etc. to add some more fun to your course's home page.

For more information, please visit DesignPLUS Building Home Pages.

Integrating Content

Already have course content but got to DesignPLUS late? That's okay, DesignPLUS makes it easy to convert your current content so you can still design and style your Canvas pages.

Select an element from the rich contnet editor and open the DesignPLUS sidebar.
Select an element from the "Add New Elements" to add it to your course.
Edit the element in the panel labeled "Style."

You can also organize or rearrange your content by:

Highlighting a chunk of content from the rich content editor and selecting "Content Block" from the "Add New Elements" tab of the DesignPLUS sidebar.
Select the "More Options" tab, and select the list item labeled "Arrange Content."
If using keyboard only, use the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to move the element blocks up and down, or if using a mouse, you can drag and drop the element blocks up or down.

For more information, please visit DesignPLUS Integrating Content.

Styling Content

Already have content but it's not styled? You can create interactive and fun elements in your course with only a few buttons. To style content:

Select an element from the rich content editor and open the DesignPLUS sidebar.
Select the "Edit Current Element" tab.
Expand the panel labeled "style." Use the styles in this panel to make your content more visually appealing and fun!

For more information, please visit DesignPLUS Styling Plain Content.

Help and Tutorials

CidiLabs and your institution, Taft College, provide support contacts, tutorials, user guides, and more for you to use to learn more about DesignPLUS and how to use it. You can find these resources in the "Help/Tutorials" tab in the DesignPLUS sidebar. The tutorials that are available to you are interactive and can help you style your course content.

For more information, please visit Help and Tutorials.