Cidi Labs

One of the biggest challenges in online learning isn't delivering content, it's creating opportunities for students to interact with it. Canvas pages sometimes become places where students simply scroll, read, and move on. In our recent webinar, Active Learning, Built into Canvas, we show how small, low-stakes interactions can shift learning from passive consumption to active participation. Watch the replay to see how DesignPLUS builds interactive, accessible learning experiences directly inside Canvas, while minimizing instructor workload and keeping students focused on learning. See real examples, practical strategies, and AI-powered tools that help scale engagement across courses. https://hubs.la/Q04jlV480

Research continues to show that course design has a direct impact on learner engagement, cognitive load, accessibility, and student success. Small design decisions, like navigation structure, consistency, visual hierarchy, interaction patterns, can shape how students experience a course. The challenge is that many educators and instructional teams are expected to create effective digital learning experiences without formal design or UX training, all while balancing scalability, accessibility, and time constraints. At Cidi Labs, we’ve spent years exploring learning science, accessibility, and practical Canvas course design, most recently through our Design Matters series. One thing is clear: better course experiences don’t necessarily require more complexity. They require more intentionality. That’s what we’ll cover in our next webinar, hosted by our partner Instructure: Design Matters: Key Lessons for Better Canvas Courses. We’ll share some of the most impactful lessons and real-world examples from the series, along with practical ways you can create engaging, accessible, and effective Canvas courses - without needing coding or advanced technical skills. Join us: https://hubs.la/Q04jgtpj0 #CanvasLMS

We’ve all opened a Canvas page that immediately made us want to just close the tab and quietly back away. Maybe it’s multi-colored text. Maybe it’s a dozen different font sizes. Maybe it’s “Click Here” repeated 27 times. Or maybe it’s a table looking like a webpage layout from 2004. The reality is that small design choices can have a big impact on readability, accessibility, and how confidently students navigate a course. So we have to ask: What’s the Canvas design mistake that makes you cringe the most? (Vote in the poll below or leave a comment if there's something else particularly egregious we've missed.)

Students don’t learn by scrolling. They learn when they’re asked to think, practice, apply, and reflect. That’s why even small interactive moments inside a Canvas course can have a meaningful impact on engagement and understanding. Fill-in-the-Blank activities are one simple way to support active learning directly within course content, without adding grading pressure or disrupting workflow. Here’s a quick example of what that can look like with DesignPLUS:

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). It's a reminder that accessibility is ultimately about people. And accessible design benefits everyone, not just users with disabilities. Clear organization, readable content, keyboard navigation, captions, alt text, consistent layouts, reduced friction… These improvements create better digital experiences across the board. The best accessibility work happens when accessibility becomes part of the course design process from the beginning, not something added later under pressure. Accessibility has been part of the Cidi Labs DNA from the beginning, rooted in the instructional design and accessibility work that inspired our tools in the first place. We’re proud to support institutions working to make accessibility more sustainable and scalable inside Canvas. What accessibility practices have made the biggest impact at your institution? #GAAD #Accessibility

What does active learning really look like in Canvas? We launched a new Interactive Resources Gallery with practical examples of interactive learning activities built inside Canvas with DesignPLUS. You’ll find ideas and examples for: - Low-stakes practice - Self-assessment - Active recall - Student engagement - Accessible interaction From sorting activities and flashcards to quick knowledge checks and more, these examples can help you move beyond static content and create active learning experiences. Explore the gallery: https://hubs.la/Q04h8X0P0 #CanvasLMS

It’ll be here before you know it… (64 days to be exact 🙂) Cidi Labs is already preparing for InstructureCon 2026 in Louisville, and we have some exciting things planned for Booth #84! Expect: ✨ Live Canvas Canvas course transformations ✨ “Best in Show” course experiences ✨ Practical accessibility strategies ✨ A major new DesignPLUS reveal We can’t wait to connect with the Canvas community again this summer. Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q04g__zc0 #InstructureCon2026

What does it take to scale Canvas course quality across an institution? In our webinar with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), “Scaling Course Quality in Canvas: From Research to Impact,” we discussed: • Research on student perceptions of course quality and learning experience • Real examples from OLC professional development courses built with Cidi Labs DesignPLUS • Common challenges institutions face when supporting course quality initiatives • How Cidi Labs tools help manage and scale course quality workflows directly inside Canvas Thank you to OLC for partnering with us on this conversation! Watch the webinar replay here: https://bit.ly/4fpgUFz

Looking for simple ways to make your Canvas courses more interactive? The DesignPLUS Match Items tool makes it easy to create pairing and memory-style learning activities directly inside Canvas. Students can actively practice concepts, receive immediate feedback, and build confidence through low-stakes interaction. And it's all without adding grading pressure or requiring extra tools. See it in action here ↓ #CanvasLMS

We’re excited to be a Silver Sponsor at the Lincoln Legacy Teaching and Learning Community (LLTLC) Conference 2026 next week! Visit Cidi Labs at Booth #111 and let's talk about how to scale Canvas course design, streamline accessibility efforts, and build engaging learning experiences inside Canvas. 📅 May 18–19, 2026 Hope to see you there! #CanvasLMS