Upcoming Events

In writing courses, we create space for students to engage in the writing process: generating ideas, drafting, sharing and considering feedback, revising, and reflecting. How can teachers use Canvas tools to emphasize process?

This hands-on workshop, a collaboration between IDEAS and the Writing Program, presents practical tips for using Canvas to support student-centered calendars, assignment hubs and rubrics, low-stakes writing, and feedback; participants will be invited to share additional ideas, too. We encourage you to request your fall 2026 Canvas course sites so that you can work on them directly during the workshop. Teachers will leave this workshop with practical strategies for using Canvas to support writing as a process.

Poor design can undermine even the most thought-provoking courses, leaving students distracted and less engaged. In this interactive, hands-on workshop, you will learn four simple design principles—contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity—that can instantly make your content more organized, polished, and engaging.

This workshop will address the following questions:

• How can contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity elevate the clarity and impact of visual communication?
• What common design mistakes can unintentionally distract or confuse students?
• How can these principles be applied across a range of instructional resources?

We will use Zoom Whiteboards to reflect on sample designs to see the principles in action. By the end of the workshop, you will leave with practical design strategies that you can apply to a range of visual materials, including Canvas pages, slide decks, handouts, and flyers.

A well-designed Canvas homepage is more than just a landing page, it is a launchpad for student learning. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore how thoughtful homepage design can enhance navigation, set clear expectations, and foster student engagement. Through practical examples and guided activities, attendees will learn how to structure their Canvas homepage to support diverse learners and improve course clarity.

This workshop will address the following questions:

• How to structure Canvas Homepage to promote clarity, engagement, and easy navigation?
• In what ways can Canvas tools (like buttons, images, and links) enhance homepage usability?
• What are common design pitfalls in Canvas Homepages and how can we avoid them?

Whether you are building a homepage from scratch or refining an existing one, this session will equip you with the tools, strategies, and confidence to make your Canvas homepage a powerful learning space.

Too often, Canvas courses turn into file dumps: endless lists of links, slides, and PDFs that kick students out of Canvas to learn, leaving them confused and frustrated. Canvas Pages changes that—allowing instructors to create accessible, easy-to-read learning content that stays in their course, tailored to their students, and all in one place. 

In this interactive, hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use Canvas Pages with graphic design and visual communication strategies to enhance the student experience.

This workshop will address the following questions:

• How can smart page design improve clarity and reduce cognitive load?
• What common design mistakes make content harder to read?
• How can Canvas features like embedded media, formatting options, and accessibility tools enhance page usability?

Whether you bring an existing resource to adapt or start fresh, you will leave the session with a clear and accessible Canvas Page that meets the needs of your students. 

A well-structured course not only keeps students on track, but also saves you from confusion and the need to repeat instructions. In this interactive, hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use Canvas Modules to create a course flow that is intuitive, organized, and streamlined for both you and your students.

This workshop will address the following questions:

• How can smart module design save time, lighten cognitive load, and create a smoother learning experience?
• What common module mistakes unintentionally confuse or frustrate students?
• How can Canvas features like locking and prerequisites help guide learners and boost engagement?

You will leave with strategies to structure module layouts that are easy to maintain and keep students focused on learning.