Quotes from the students' nominations
Leslie truly sets you up for success within her classes. This is one of the most organized Canvas pages I have personally ever used in my time not just here at UMC, but any school I have ever attended in my educational career. Every assignment, reading, quiz, and objective is sorted into its own category within its own tab—and there are not just tabs holding these together, but also a simple to-do list that Leslie updates weekly to reflect that week's components. Leslie believes in a simple, organized layout for ease of her students so nobody misses any opportunities and truly gets every last drop of knowledge out of this class.
Recipient Q&A
What are you most proud of in your Canvas course site?
I am most proud of the continuous evolution of my Canvas course site. Each semester, I gather student feedback and use it to improve the course, making the site responsive to students' needs and focused on their success. I am also proud of the organization and preparation that go into the course before the semester begins. Students consistently report that the clear course structure and expectations help them feel prepared and confident from the very start.
What is one lesson you learned while building or using your course site that might help other instructors who want to improve their use of Canvas?
The biggest lesson I've learned is the importance of clarity and consistency. Students appreciate a course that is easy to navigate, so a simple Home Page with clearly organized links to resources such as Class Information, Notes, Prep Work, and Labs helps them quickly find what they need. Consistent organization and predictable timing also reduce confusion and help students stay on track. Based on student feedback, one of the most valuable features of my Canvas course is the weekly ""To-Do"" page, which organizes assignments, due dates, and relevant links in one place. While it takes extra time to create, it keeps both me and my students organized throughout the semester.
How have you noticed your Canvas site supporting student success? What does student success look like in your course?
Ultimately, I view student success as meaningful learning and growth for each individual student. My course is designed to challenge students while providing the support they need to succeed. Canvas supports this goal by serving as a hub for active learning through video demonstrations, quizzes with immediate feedback, and interactive learning resources. I intentionally present course content in a variety of formats to meet the diverse learning preferences and needs of my students. In addition to written materials, I incorporate videos, visual aids, images, and links to relevant media and external resources that reinforce key concepts and provide real-world applications. By presenting material in multiple ways, students have greater flexibility in how they engage with the content and can revisit resources as needed to strengthen their understanding. The organization of my Canvas course also promotes student success by providing clear expectations, consistent navigation, and timely feedback through assignment comments and an up-to-date gradebook. These features help students monitor their progress, stay engaged, and take ownership of their learning.
When building this course site, what was your process?
My Canvas course site is continuously evolving based on student feedback, making the design process highly student-centered. Each year, I refine the course with a focus on clear navigation, accessibility, and organization so students can easily find the resources they need. When building the site, I strive to balance providing high-quality learning materials in a variety of formats with avoiding information overload. Every design decision is made with the student experience in mind, creating a course that is engaging, supportive, and easy to navigate.
Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge that you collaborated with or who helped you on your course site?
I have learned a great deal about Canvas best practices and effective course design from Dr. Margot Rudstrom, Senior Lecturer of Agricultural Business. I would also like to thank Debi Race and the entire Information Technology Services team for their continued support, expertise, and willingness to help whenever questions arise.
What were some of the benefits (or challenges) of using DesignPlus to build your Canvas course? What suggestions do you have for others to get started?
When I first began using DesignPlus, I was a little intimidated by the number of available features and options. However, I found online video tutorials to be extremely helpful in learning the platform. One of the greatest benefits of DesignPlus has been its accessibility features to easily and quickly assess your site for accessibility issues. For instructors just getting started, I recommend beginning with the templates rather than trying to build everything from scratch. They provide an excellent foundation and make the learning process much less overwhelming while helping create a polished course site.