Effective course design can transform the learning experience—making courses more engaging, easier to navigate, and more accessible for all students. Join us to explore research-based practices and practical tools that empower educators and designers to elevate course design in Canvas.

Course design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating learning environments that actively support student success. Research shows that when courses are organized clearly, foster instructor presence, and minimize barriers to learning, students are more engaged, more successful, and more likely to persist. But how can institutions translate these research-backed insights into everyday practice—without overwhelming already busy educators and designers?

This session will explore three pillars of effective course design:
1. Content Organization – helping learners find what they need, when they need it.
2. Instructor Presence – weaving connection and guidance into the course structure.
3. Accessibility and Usability – ensuring that content is inclusive, navigable, and free of unnecessary obstacles.

Within each pillar, participants will discover three ready-to-use tips that they can immediately apply in their own Canvas courses. These practical strategies will help educators and instructional designers create learning environments that are not only clearer and more consistent, but also more engaging, accessible, and impactful for students.

Along the way, the session will highlight how Cidi Labs tools make it easier—and even enjoyable—to put these best practices into action. From pre-built design elements that elevate course design, to tools that simplify accessibility checks, to features that help scale consistency across an institution, participants will see how clever, affordable solutions can bring research-informed design within everyone’s reach.

*Key Takeaways*
By attending this session, participants will:
- Understand the three research-backed pillars of effective course design and why they matter for student engagement and success.
- Gain nine practical, ready-to-use tips they can apply right away to make their courses clearer, more accessible, and more connected.
- Learn how Cidi Labs tools empower educators and designers to simplify and scale effective practices in Canvas—without adding unsustainable workload.
- Be inspired to reimagine course design as a collaborative, achievable, and even enjoyable part of the teaching and learning process.

With research as the foundation and practical application as the focus, this session equips participants with both the why and the how to move the needle on course quality and accessibility in Canvas.

Kenneth Larsen

Chief Instructional Designer & Co-Founder at Cidi Labs

Kenneth Larsen is Co-Founder and Vice President of Instructional Design Innovation for Cidi Labs.