DE Guideline 3 (DEG3): Design and Layout
DE Guideline 3 (DEG3): Design and Layout
Embedded Files
DEG3 focuses on 'Design and Layout,' which plays a vital role in ensuring students can easily navigate and engage with the course content. This guideline emphasizes clear organization, consistent structure, and accessible design that supports all learners. A well-designed course helps students stay focused, reduces cognitive overload, and promotes a smoother learning experience. Here, you'll find strategies to create a visually clean, logically organized, and user-friendly course environment that supports success from the first click.
DEG 3 Sub-Guidelines
DEG 3 Sub-Guidelines
Examples & Insights
Examples & Insights
3.1
The course is well paced, organized and easy to navigate
Recommended: Create a course map to help you plan, organize, and pace the course.
Layout is logical, consistent, and uncluttered. Students can easily progress through a logical sequence and pace.
A structure for each module (i.e., week, unit, lesson, or topic) provides organization and consistency.
All assignments/assessments are submitted by students through the appropriate tools in Canvas. All assignments/assessments include due dates and grading policy (e.g. point possible, pass/fail).
Information is divided and organized into manageable sections or "chunks."
💡 Tip
Consider including the following in your module:
A short introduction to the module
List of the module-level learning objectives
Detailed descriptions of the learning materials to review
Activities and assignments/assessments to complete
Synchronous (live) session dates and times, if applicable.
Recommended: Go to the CTL Vault to use a Chaminade Online Canvas course template or schedule an appointment with the CTL to create a custom template for your program.
3.2
Instructions are written clearly and unambiguously.
Clear instructions help students to function in the online environment without having to repeatedly ask for clarification.
Instructions can be communicated in many different forms in an online course. For example: orientations, introductions, announcements, guidelines, Q&A, and rubrics.
📌 Examples
Module Overview
This week, you will:
Read the assigned chapter and watch the lecture video
Complete the self-check quiz
Submit your group's presentation outline.
Canvas Page Description
Each link below corresponds to a weekly module. Click on the module name to access all learning materials, including videos, readings, and assignments. Complete the items in order unless otherwise noted.
Assignment with Rubric
This assignment will be graded based on clarity of argument (30%), use of supporting evidence (30%), organization (20%), and grammar/formatting (20%). See full rubric below for point breakdown.
3.3
Text is easily readable.
Recommended: sans-serif, 12 pt or larger font used.
Ensure text can be zoomed.
Ensure enough contrast between text and background.
Utilize white space for better readability in reducing the amount of text seen at once.
📌 Examples & 💡 Tips
Example of sans-serif fonts: Arial, Calibri, Verdana, or Open Sans.
Zoom friendly formatting: Avoid using text in images whenever possible. Use plain text so students can easily zoom in or use screen readers without losing quality or meaning.
Sufficient color contrast: Use dark text (e.g., black or navy) on a white or off-white background. You can use free tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker to test contrast accessibility.
Avoid All-caps and italics for long passages. Instead use bold for emphasis in long passages.
Font color consistency: Avoid using a variety of mixed font colors to create emphasis. Instead, use bold to highlight key points. This ensures better readability and accessibility for all learners.
3.4
If tables are used, simple tables are used to display information.
Ensure all tables have a title and description.
Ensure table header rows and columns are assigned.
Avoid using merge-cells or complex tables.
💡 Tip
Note: Tables should not be used for page layout or formatting purposes. Use them only to present data or information that belongs in a row-and-column structure.
3.5
The course materials are accessible to meet the needs of diverse learners. Some best practices include:
All videos are captioned, or text transcripts are available.
All text (on webpages, documents, PDFs, images, etc.) is readable by a screen reader.
Alt tags, captions, and transcripts are provided for all non-text content.
All text, graphics, and images do not use color as the only means of conveying meaning.
All text with titles, headings, and styles are formatted for accessible reading.
Avoid ashing or blinking text.
Use descriptive hyperlinks - Avoid “Click here.” Instead, identify the destination in the text. (e.g., Chaminade University is a great school.)
🛠️ How-To
Resources for adding captions to videos:
How to create descriptive links:
Identify the destination of the link by using meaningful and descriptive text. For example, if you're linking to Chaminade University’s website, use the actual name in the sentence, such as:
“Chaminade University is a great school.”
In this case, the words “Chaminade University” should be the hyperlink.
3.6
All links, files, videos, and URLs are active and working.
Ensure that all links do not provide an error message, and ensure that each link takes students to the desired location.
💡 Tip
It might feel tedious, but checking your links each semester is a smart habit. You never know when a website’s address might change or a resource disappears. A quick link check now can save your students a lot of confusion later!
3.7
Manage Course Navigation links
Unused Canvas tools are hidden from the Course Navigation menu.
Reorder Course Navigation links.
🛠️ How-To
Hide your course navigation tools:
Click on 'Settings'
At the top of the Settings page, click on the “Navigation” tab
Drag Items to Hide Them.
In the list, you'll see two sections:
Top section = visible to students
Bottom section = hidden from students
Drag any tools or links you don’t want students to use into the bottom section.
OR you can click on the menu tool on the right (3 dots) > click on 'X Disable'
Click Save.
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