Create a Primary Sidebar Template

Templates are the key to efficient, effective, and consistent course design with DesignPLUS. Begin by creating a primary template. The primary sidebar template will serve as the basis for all other templates and content in your course, so it's important to get it right. At a minimum, it should include the theme elements, page layout, and content components that should appear on almost every page. You can then use the primary template to generate more specialized sidebar and module builder templates.

  Instructions

1. Start by creating a new Canvas page.
2. Add the content and design elements that should be repeated on all or most pages, including:
   1. The selected theme for all theme elements or the specific theme for each element if you plan to mix and match themes.
   2. Banner title (styled as you would like it to appear in all content). Leave the default text in the Prefix 1 and Prefix 2 fields if you are creating a template for use with the Multi-Tool module builder.  Module builder will replace these values with your selected module prefix (e.g., Module, Lesson, Week, Topic, etc.) and module number when generating the modules for your course.
   3. Page headings for each level with placeholder text illustrating the capitalization rule for that level and styled as you would like them to appear in all content.
   4. Boilerplate content or placeholder text prompts.
3. Don't include elements that will only appear on one or a handful of pages in the primary template. For example, if you only plan to include a banner image on the course home page or on module introduction pages, leave it out of the primary template. You can add the banner when you create those pages or create a specialized template that includes a banner image.

4. Give your primary template a name like [Template] Primary or something similar.