Instructors, there are a few things to keep in mind when designing your Canvas courses to make sure they're mobile-friendly.
This article covers:
Front-Load Important Content
Make sure the important information (on a Page, Assignment, Quiz, Discussion board, etc.) is presented first so students have to scroll less.
Avoid Large Header Images
Try to incorporate images, if necessary, further down the page. In general, we recommend avoiding unnecessarily large images and files throughout the course because these files slow loading on mobile devices.
Avoid Using Tables for Layout of Content
Large tables that display content, like a course schedule, can be difficult to view and navigate on a mobile device. Instead, use Modules or Pages to present content in a weekly, monthly or topic format.
'Chunk' Your Content
Typically, students will consume course content on their mobile devices only for a short period (think 5-10 minutes). Try "chunking," i.e., separating your content over several short pages and using a table of contents for easy access to the content.
Design for Touch
On mobile devices, the primary mode of interaction is usually via a touchscreen. Items on a page that require an action (click, touch, tap, etc.) should be large enough or have enough space between them to avoid accidental "clicks."?
Canvas offers a mobile app for students, Canvas Student App, to access their courses rather than through a mobile-friendly website and a separate Canvas Teacher App for instructors. Instructors can use either app.
Note: Course content can appear differently in the mobile app than on a desktop. For example, the following Canvas features are not supported currently by the mobile app:
- Collaborations
- Peer Reviews
- Outcomes
Students often bypass the Home page on the mobile app, navigating directly to specific menu items. To help them stay focused and avoid unnecessary clicks, it's important to disable any menu items they don't need access to.
For assistance with designing your course in Canvas, please contact Instructional Technology through OIT Support.