Optimizing Canvas Modules & Instruction with AI
Presented by Dane Jacobson
EdTech Coach, Yuma Union High School District
Assisted by Adam Camarena & Katherine Lloyd
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
Session Goals
Structuring Modules Effectively in Canvas
  • Organizing course content in a clear, logical, and student-friendly way.
  • Using consistent module structures to reduce confusion.
  • Ensuring students can easily navigate and access materials without needing extra clarification.
Leveraging AI to Digitize or Revamp Instruction
  • Transforming text-heavy assignments into structured, visually clear instructional pages.
  • Using AI to generate formatted HTML that enhances readability and student engagement.
  • Saving time while improving course design with automated formatting and organization.
Why This Matters
The Reality: Many Assignments Haven't Been Updated Since COVID
  • Quick fixes were made for digital learning.
  • Now, we need intentional structure for clarity and engagement.
Mindset-Shift: Canvas should be thought of as a student tool, not a teacher tool.
  • Courses should be designed for student usability and navigation, not as a dumping ground.
  • If students struggle to find materials, it can often be a design issue, not a student issue.
  • A well-structured Canvas course leads to better engagement, less confusion, and improved learning outcomes.
Common Issues in Canvas
Challenges for Students & Teachers:
  • Messy, unstructured, or non-existent modules
  • Long walls of text in assignments or lack of instructions
  • Navigational inconsistency
How We Fix It:
  • Consistent module structures
  • Formatted instructional pages
  • Layouts for better clarity
Structuring Modules for Student Learning
Creating Clear, Organized Canvas Modules
Avoid:
  • Unclear headers or lack of structure.
  • Inconsistent naming of assignments.
  • The need for extra teacher clarification.
Incorporate:
  • Standards or units as module headers for clarity.
  • A consistent naming convention: [Unit # or SLO #] [Assignment Type]: [Title]
  • Materials in a logical, student-friendly flow.
AI-Generated Layouts for Clarity
Using AI to Improve Instructional Page Design
Before:
  • A page with no instructions, just links to a slide or document.
  • A text-heavy, unstructured page that is overwhelming for students.
After (AI-Formatted):
  • Clear section headers for structure.
  • Customizable sections for more instructional detail.
  • Optional embedded features to increase engagement.
AI-Powered Workflow & Hands-On Practice
Using AI to Format Canvas Content Efficiently
1
Upload or paste
Upload or paste an assignment into the VHS Canvas Page Builder (Beta).
2
AI formatting
AI automatically formats the content with improved structure, readability, and clarity.
3
Copy HTML
Copy the HTML output and paste it into the Canvas HTML Editor.
4
Preview
Switch back to Rich Content Editor to preview and make final tweaks.
5
Refine
Use follow-up prompting to revise the HTML output, including editing text or adding elements like embedded media or custom formatting.
6
Save reference code
Save your HTML code in a Google Doc as reference code to use in the free version of ChatGPT for future formatting requests.
Collaborative Work Time
Now it's your turn: Choose one or more tasks to work on.
1. Format an instructional page
Use the Custom GPT to create new Canvas content.
2. Structure a "module skeleton"
Set up module headers and structures without adding assignment details.
3. Rename and organize
Rename and organize existing modules to improve clarity and consistency.
4. Refine with follow-up prompting
Use follow-up prompting to refine your AI-generated HTML output.
Questions & Support

Any questions?

Be sure to schedule a 1:1 with me in the future!

Keep an eye out for the VHS EdTech Report #2.