Create a Canvas Course Homepage with DesignPLUS
Note: make sure to switch to the DesignPLUS toolbar if you have not yet already.
Figuring out how to design and create a course homepage can be challenging. Whether you are starting from scratch or customizing a previously imported homepage, DesignPLUS can get your homepage looking exactly how you would like.
For additional information, be sure to check out the other resources listed in the Additional Resources section found at the bottom of this page.
Add a Theme
DesignPLUS has several aesthetic templates that you can add to your course homepage for a quick start.
Click Edit on your course homepage
If you are starting from a blank Canvas course, there may not be an Edit button. You will need to create a homepage:
- Navigate to Pages
- Click + Page
- Give the page a title (i.e. "Home")
Launch DesignPLUS by clicking the Rocket Ship icon in the top-right corner
Navigate to the Add New Elements tab and select the Theme tool
Select Front Page as the theme type
Expand the Style > USU > Legacy Themes dropdown
Select a desired theme
You can hover over each option to see an example of what each theme looks like, and then select one. Once you have selected a theme, you can also choose to "Add to Favorites" to easily access it in a different course.
Change Course Number and Title
After selecting a theme, the generic template information will need to be updated. Sometimes, trying to edit the information directly through the Canvas content editor can cause unsuspected issues. Below are the steps on how to properly update the course number and title of the homepage using the features in DesignPLUS.
Select the Banner Title tool in DesignPLUS
Under the Content dropdown, update the necessary information.
It is most common to use Prefix 1 (Department code: ENGL), Prefix 2 (Course number: 2010), and Title (Course name: Intermediate Writing). It is not necessary to fill out all of the fields.
Customizing the Banner Image
You can further customize your course homepage by changing the banner image to something more relevant to the course you are teaching.
While editing the page, click on the banner image
To confirm that you have selected the image, there will be popout that says Image Options.
Click the Upload / Embed Image icon in the toolbar
Select the image source
When selecting an image to use, we recommend using one that is landscape-oriented (horizontal, not vertical).
- Computer: Upload an image from the files on your computer.
- Canvas: Upload an image that you have previously uploaded to your Canvas course.
- Unsplash.com: Search images in this free stock photo library.
- Pexels.com: Search images in this free stock photo library.
- Public URL: Paste the URL of the image source that is publicly available on the Internet.
Navigate to the Crop Image tab
Expand the Image Ratio dropdown and select 10:3
If the crop preview doesn't appear, repeat steps 4 and 5.
We recommend a ratio of 10:3 because it fits neatly on the homepage and doesn't take too much space, leaving room for your students to more quickly find necessary links and other information.
Adjust the image as necessary
We recommend that you fit as much of the image into the highlighted portion of the editor as possible. You can easily adjust it by clicking and dragging each of the corners to expand the box to the edges of the image. Everything outside of the highlighted section will be cut out as you proceed to the next step.
Click Crop Image
Click Upload and Embed
Adding a Module List
If you want a list of modules available on the homepage, you need to build them out in the Modules tab first. (See the Canvas Modules Overview for more information.) Then, come back to these instructions.
Click in the Rich Content Editor where you want the module list to appear, then select the Module List tool in DesignPLUS
Select your desired settings
From here, you can:
- Select which modules you would like to be visible on the homepage [1]
- Customize the icon used next to each module [2]
- Select the module that will appear as active, or choose a date range for each module to be listed as active [3]
You may encounter an error that says "The Modules link must be visible in the course navigation for this tool to work for students." This error will always appear as a reminder to make sure that your Modules tab is visible to your students.
Additional customizations are available under the Style and Advanced dropdowns.
Customize Links on Homepage
When creating a homepage, a link grid will automatically populate with links to a “Start Here” page, the course Syllabus, the course Modules, and a “Resources” page. These can be customized to match links or pages available in your course.
If you are importing content from a previous course and would like to quickly update the module list information, see the following resources:
Select one of the links in the Rich Content Editor
Navigate to the "Edit Current Element" tab and then select the Link Grid tool
Customize the link grid as preferred
You can edit the Link Icon [1], customize the Link Name [2], edit the Link URL [3], or remove the link entirely [4].
Update the number of columns, if necessary
If you have deleted or added a link in the link grid, you will need to update the number of columns under Style. Make sure the number of "Items" matches the number of columns desired.
Adding Instructor and TA Information
Adding your contact information can make your homepage look professional and allow students quick access to your information.
Additional Resources
In addition to the instructions found on this page, there are several other helpful pages when it comes to editing and enabling your homepage: