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Get Started with DesignPLUS
Design Tools to Upgrade to DesignPLUS
On August 1, Design Tools will upgrade to DesignPLUS in Canvas. This amazing upgrade allows for users to create accessible and engaging content.
This upgrade comes with a redesigned user-friendly interface, more pre-built template content, and more options for customizing the look and feel of course content.
Explore the resources below to learn more about how you can reimagine your course content with this new tool.
Video: Introducing the New DesignPLUS Sidebar
Important Things to Know About the Upgrade
To access the DesignPLUS sidebar before it is automatically implemented on August 1, you must use a keyboard shortcut and follow the steps below:
- Go to any page in your course and click Edit
- Once the Rich Content Editor Opens, use the following keyboard shortcut (depending on what type of computer you are using)
- When prompted to reload the page with the new sidebar, select Okay
Keyboard Shortcuts for Switching from Design Tools to DesignPLUS:
| PC Keyboard Shortcut | MAC Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Alt + Shift + V | Option + Shift + V |
If DesignPLUS does not automatically launch after you reload the page, use the following keyboard shortcut to manually launch the sidebar:
Keyboard Shortcuts for Manually Launching the Sidebar After Switching:
| PC Keyboard Shortcut | MAC Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Alt + Shift + D | Option + Shift + D |
Once you launch the sidebar for the first time, be sure to edit the user settings.
Doing so will allow you to open the sidebar automatically and turn on the lovely full set of DesignPLUS tools.
To edit your user settings, click the "More Options" kebab at the top right of the sidebar and select User Settings.
Select these settings:
- Automatically Launch Sidebar
- Show Launch button
- Enable all Advanced Tools (suggested)
- Enable Beta Tools (optional)
Page-by-Page
If you have created any content — a page, discussion, or assignment that provides you with the Canvas Rich Content Editor — in the legacy version and reuse it in DesignPLUS, you need to upgrade it. Upgrading allows back-end Cidi Labs code to resolve any differences in how content displays between the two versions.
In the bottom right corner, you will see a message to use the Upgrade tool. Click the yellow-background button and in the next screen, click the gray-background button to allow the back-end resolution.
Course-wide Upgrade
You may use the Course Upgrade tool, found in the Canvas course navigation Settings tool. It will review the whole course and alert you which type of items need to be individually upgraded. Then you can upgrade those items — in the example below, the next steps would be to click the green-background Review Items button.
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DesignPLUS Training Resources
Self-paced Canvas course
Getting Started With DesignPLUS
This course, created by instructional designers at the CTL, has information on everything you need to get started using DesignPLUS, including:
- How to start using the sidebar before the August 1st update
- Using templated content
- Upgrading Design Tools content
- Navigating the sidebar to build new material
CidiLabs Resource
DesignPLUS User Guide
The DesignPLUS User Guide by CidiLabs is an Excellent resource for getting to know the sidebar. This resource has videos, walkthroughs, and step by step instructions for all aspects of the sidebar. Select a link below to access some incredible resources, and get started using DesignPLUS!