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Self-Paced Canvas Course

Career development course designed in Canvas LMS using DesignPlus, featuring interactive H5P learning checks, embedded video content, and scaffolded modules intentionally structured to support and meet the course’s learning objectives.

Overview

Goal

Do a full analysis of the existing course, suggest and implement improvement to help the stakeholder achieve the strategic and learning objectives.

Tools

Canvas, DesignPlus, H5P, Lumi, Camtasia, Canva

Background

The problem that the University of Delaware Career Center staff has identified with the existing course is that students do not find it engaging or user-friendly. As a result, they lack motivation to use the online resources, which are available 24/7 at their fingertips and are designed to prepare them for their careers after graduation, with carefully customized content developed by the Career Center staff. The biggest concern voiced by students during focus groups and in submitted questionnaires is that they associate the non-credit, standalone course with a for-credit course, leading them to feel they should only engage with it for the sake of earning credit, rather than for their own benefit. This perception contributed to their lack of motivation.

Design Process

The course redesign followed a structured, five-step process aligned with the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate), emphasizing preparation, coordination, and technological proficiency. The practical implementation involved a thorough review of existing content, analysis of course data, and incorporation of stakeholder feedback. Key priority areas were identified and addressed through a detailed implementation plan. Iterative feedback from Career Center staff guided the refinement of content and design.

Results

To increase usability and participation, the project applied adult learning principles (Andragogy), Information Processing Theory, and design psychology. The course module is restructured to present content in digestible, logically organized sections, with a focus on intuitive navigation, effective memory retention, and user-friendly design.

Below are examples of my before-and-after work, showcasing learning materials improvements.

Example 1: Structure

Before: The Home page featured a simple navigation menu but felt cluttered.After: The updated Home page provides learners with a clear overview of each module, including quick links to the main topics covered, making navigation more intuitive and user-friendly.

Example 2: Accessibility

Before: Graphics containing important data were created with third-party tools and embedded into the LMS, but they were not readable by screen readers, making the content inaccessible.After: By using HTML snippets, the content was made fully accessible to all learners, ensuring compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Example 3: Engagement

Before: Pages lacked interactive elements to maintain student focus.After: Quick learning checks, cards, and callouts were added to make the content more engaging and to present information in manageable, chunked segments.