The DesignPLUS Content Editor Sidebar

The DesignPLUS Content Editor Sidebar is a powerful Canvas plugin that helps you create highly engaging, organized, and accessible content without requiring any HTML or CSS experience.  You can launch the sidebar almost anywhere that you can access Canvas's Rich Content Editor. The sidebar makes it easy to build professional looking and engaging Canvas pages so that you won't feel overwhelmed by a blank canvas.  DesignPLUS can help transform a static forgettable course into engaging content students love. Watch this overview of the features of the DesignPLUS Content Editor Sidebar, then explore the related KB articles listed at the bottom of this page to learn how to utilize them as you develop or enhance your courses!

The DesignPLUS Sidebar is not a replacement for the Canvas rich content editor (RCE). Rather, it complements the RCE with advanced content, formatting, and design capabilities. Here are some of the things you can do with the Sidebar:

• Apply a theme to your content: A theme is a page layout with predefined text and heading styles, colors, graphic elements, etc. Applying the same theme to all of your course content can give it a professional, polished look.
  
  
• Add a banner image to any page: Select from several sample banners (including IU-themed banners) or add your own.
  
  
• Add a navigation menu to any page: Add set of links in a dedicated content block that jumps to a part of that page or another page. Each link can be modified once the navigation block is added.
  
  
• Add/rearrange content blocks: Quickly create or rearrange reusable blocks of text while maintaining your current template design (if applied).
  
  
• Copy existing content: Add content to a page from other sources, including from institutional templates, pages and templates from the current course, and your other courses.
  
  
• Create reusable templates: Create model pages, assignments, quizzes, discussions, and announcements to ensure a unified design across your entire course. Then, use the Cidi Labs Multi-Tool to generate module items based on your templates.
  
  
• Add accordions, expanders, or tabbed elements: Add interactive content that users can hide or show by clicking the title.
  
  
• Add module progress indicators: Select from several page footers that help students understand where they are within the course structure.
  
  
• Customize any HTML style: Use a graphical interface to customize any HTML style on the page. Select an element in the RCE to see the available style options for it.
  
  
• Check accessibility: Use the built-in accessibility checker to confirm the accessibility of headings, links, images, and color contrast.

Related articles

These articles will give you step-by-step instructions on different features of the DesignPLUS Content Editor Sidebar. Explore and learn!

• Advanced Styling and Design Techniques
  • Working with Language Accents
  • Adjusting Colors, Borders, and Display Spacing
  • Building Your Syllabus Page with DesignPLUS
  • Ensuring Accessibility of Content
• Conflicts between the Rich Content Editor and Cidi Design Tools
• The DesignPLUS Content Editor Sidebar
  • DesignPLUS Sidebar Display Choices
  • Managing User Settings
  • Accessing the Content Editor Sidebar
  • Add New Elements Tab - Categories
  • Navigating the DesignPLUS Sidebar
• DesignPLUS Multi-Tool
• Creating Content Pages with DesignPLUS
  • Adding Interactive Elements in Content
  • Creating Basic Content Pages with Themes
  • Editing Existing Content with DesignPLUS
  • Importing Existing Content with DesignPLUS Tools
  • Creative Lists and Links with DesignPLUS
  • Progress Indicators and Quick Checks
• DesignPLUS Upload/Embed Image Tool