DIY Course Design Toolkit

When creating an online course site from scratch, use TLT Canvas Templates to get your course site up and running efficiently. These templates can be used as a framework for how to structure your course and what elements to include.

If your course is taught primarily face to face, and plan to use Canvas primarily for sharing resources to supplement in-person instruction, we recommend using the "Resource Sharing in Canvas for F2F Courses" template.

If your course is taught primarily online or hybrid, we recommend using the "TLT Course Template", which includes a more detailed, week-by-week module structure alongside additional student support resources.

Note: You will need an empty course site or a Sandbox to import the template content.

• Step 1: Log into Rutgers Canvas
• Step 2: Select Commons in the Red Global Navigation bar
• Step 3: Type "TLT" in the search field
• Step 4: Choose either "TLT Course Template" or "Template: Resource Sharing in Canvas for F2F Courses"
• Step 5: Import the selected template into your selected course site
• Step 6: Add your own content to course site
• Optional: Complete Feedback Form to help us improve the template

• Register for a TLT workshop
• Request an one-on-one consultation

The Canvas Example Course provides a view of a fully developed course that applies the TLT Course Template above.

Open Canvas Example Course

This checklist provides action items to prepare your online courses for launch. It consists of three phases, (1)Design; (2)Build; and (3)Launch, each with a series of tasks.

Open and Download Checklist

The Syllabus Template is an editable Word document that applies best practices for syllabi. Download the file and replace all content contained within square brackets [ ] with your information.

• Review and Download Syllabus Template
• Inclusion By Design: Survey Your Syllabus and Course Design Worksheet

The following resources will help you organize your course content to meet your learning objectives. Use these tools to ensure course alignment and to plan time spent on online learning activities.

• UCF Learning Objective Builder Tool - Application developed by University of Central Florida to write measurable learning objectives.
• Course Map - Download editable Word document that helps you map your online course to ensure alignment with all components.
• Planning Time Calculator - Download editable Excel file to calculate time on task for online students based on course credit hours. Also links to Course Workload Estimator developed by Rice University, to add to your overall assignment calculations.

Below are tips and strategies for effective online instruction and design. These resources range from technical to pedagogical strategies.

• 5 Tips: Student Engagement in Synchronous Sessions
• Sync vs. Async Online Teaching
• Intro to Online Teaching Part 1: Five Needs of Online Students
• Intro to Online Teaching Part 2: Three Components of a Successful Online Course

• 5 Tips: Before Finals
• Alternative Assessments

• Canvas Top 5 Time Savers
• Canvas Top 5 Coolest Things
• Intro to Canvas Part 1: Dashboard, Calendar, Inbox, Settings
• Intro to Canvas Part 2: Homepage, Syllabus, Modules
• Intro to Canvas Part 3: Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes
• Intro to Canvas Part 4: Gradebook, SpeedGrader, Groups
• PowToon Basics
• BigBlueButton in Canvas
• Intro to Online Teaching Part 3: Basic Canvas Tools
• Fostering Student Engagement Part 3: Canvas and Third-Party Tools
• Canvas Tools for Student Engagement

• 5 Tips: Collaborative Strategies
• Fostering Student Engagement Part 1: Authentic Assessments, Discovery Learning
• Fostering Student Engagement Part 2: Clear Directions, Prompt Feedback

• Creating Accessible Content

• 5 Tips: Reading Migration Exception Report