Title: Read Me First: How to Use this Canvas Template
Course: Canvas Course Template 1 > Section: Instructor Resource: Read Me First

Template 1 Overview

Sample Template 1 helps instructors create effective Canvas courses for various teaching methods, including online, hybrid, in-person, and synchronous online. It emphasizes easy navigation and student engagement with a user-friendly interface and a Quick Access Guide. The template balances traditional and modern teaching methods, making it ideal for courses that prioritize simplicity, adaptive learning, and clear design. It provides guidelines, design tips, and best practices for online teaching, accessible within the template.

We recommend reviewing the Canvas samples before downloading and importing them into your Canvas course. View each section below to explore the various tools and resources included in the sample. All components can be accessed in the Modules section of the Canvas Course Sample Templates.

Sample Preview Template 1: Green and Yellow

Key Elements

Sample Template 1 includes the following key page elements:

- A customizable title banner personalizes the course interface.
- Navigation buttons under the banner facilitate easy access to 'Start Here,' 'Syllabus,' 'Modules,' and 'Get Help.'
- The course description briefly introduces the course's objectives and content.
- Instructor contact information and office hours are essential for student communication and support.

Modules are arranged by week, ensuring an organized, sequential approach to the course. Each week includes a Weekly Overview, Discussion, Assignment, Quiz, and a Weekly Wrap-Up.

The Weekly Overview summarizes the week's content and lists tasks to complete before, during, and after the course. Learning materials are categorized based on readings, lectures, and videos. Discussions include the purpose, instructions, submission details, and grading criteria. Assignments feature descriptions clarifying their aim and relevance, detailed instructions, submission details, and grading criteria. Quizzes include descriptions, instructions, and submission details. The Weekly Wrap-Up recaps what was learned during the week and previews what is coming up next week.

NOTE: The 'T:' in the titles of pages and modules indicates items imported from the template. Feel free to remove the 'T:' as you develop your course. Remember, these templates are just starting points and are fully customizable to suit your teaching needs.

If you are new to using Canvas and are in the process of developing your course before the start of the term, please review the following 10 steps on Getting Your Canvas Course Ready for the Term.

Template Pilot

Thank you for your interest in partnering with UO Online for our Canvas template pilot.  The goal of this pilot is to evaluate the effectiveness of three different Canvas course templates. As a participant, your input will be crucial in determining which template works best for various course formats.

Want to be a part of this current pilot or a future pilot? Fill out the intake survey. For more details click on the Winter term drop-down tab.

More Information About The Fall 2024 Template Pilot

The Fall 2024 Canvas Template Pilot is currently underway.

In this pilot, instructors have been exploring and customizing templates independently. After an initial consultation to review objectives and select the best template for their course, each instructor imported the template into their Canvas shell to customize and use. While the pilot emphasizes instructor-led development, support is available for any questions or issues that arise.

I’ve collected feedback from the midterm survey and am in the process of reviewing the results to understand better how well the templates are working and to identify any challenges. Updates to the templates and resources will be reflected within the Winter Pilot. This feedback will help us make adjustments and ensure the templates are as effective as possible moving forward.

Thank you for your participation and for helping to improve our Canvas templates!

More Information About The Winter 2025 Template Pilot

This winter term pilot will mimic how faculty independently access, import, and customize the templates to meet their teaching and learning needs. During this phase, UO Online will collect feedback from faculty via a mid-term survey and an end-of-term survey, targeting instructors who have imported the templates. To participate in that pilot fill out this intake survey.

Your feedback is vital to the success of this pilot. We’ll gather insights mid-term and at the end of the term to understand how well the templates are working and identify any challenges. This feedback will likely be collected through surveys or discussions.

The template has been designed to make course content more accessible for students. While importing these templates is a move toward creating more accessible educational content at the University of Oregon, it is ultimately the responsibility of faculty to ensure their courses are accessible. This includes making ongoing adjustments and maintaining accessibility as a priority in course design.

Visit the Canvas Template webpage or more information.

Thank you for your participation and for contributing to the improvement of our Canvas templates!

Why Templates

UO Online developed these templates to enhance the quality and consistency of courses offered at the University of Oregon. By providing a structured and standardized approach to course design, these templates aim to support both students and instructors in achieving successful educational outcomes.

Benefits of Using Templates

Support for Instructors

Templates help instructors focus on content delivery instead of course setup, as emphasized in the Preparing to Teach Online Toolkit. This is especially beneficial for new instructors or those less familiar with online teaching tools. This toolkit highlights the benefits of using structured templates for creating organized and accessible courses. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) principles support this by underscoring the importance of a strong teaching presence to guide and facilitate student learning.

Equity and Accessibility

Templates promote accessible and equitable courses by integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. They provide multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression, ensuring all students can access and benefit from course materials. This structured approach supports diverse learning needs and reduces cognitive load, allowing students to focus on learning.

Reference: The Student Success Toolkit promotes inclusive course design and teaching practices to enhance academic success and address equity gaps, ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Efficiency in Course Development

Templates streamline the course development process, saving time and resources. They offer a starting point that can be customized, enabling instructors to quickly and effectively develop their courses while maintaining high standards.

Consistency and Quality

Templates ensure that all courses maintain a high standard of quality and structure. This consistency helps students navigate their courses more efficiently, reducing cognitive load and allowing them to concentrate on learning.

Reference: For further information on these principles and their importance, you can refer to the Equity in Student Achievement: Resources & Research page provided by Teaching Support and Innovation at the University of Oregon. This page outlines various strategies and resources that support quality course design and equitable student achievement.