Category: Canvas

DesignPLUS for Canvas

DesignPlus Flex Workshop Recordings

DesignPLUS is a user-friendly Canvas plug-in that helps you build polished, engaging, and accessible courses efficiently. DesignPLUS is licensed for all faculty at MiraCosta College using Canvas.

DesignPLUS includes four primary tools:

  • Sidebar – a suite of rich content editor tools that help you create organized, accessible, engaging, and visually polished content in Canvas with ease.
  • QuickStart Wizard – design tools available when you are editing new content in Canvas (a new page, assignment, discussion, etc) to quickly add visual design elements or adopt existing templates.
  • Cidi Labs Multi-Tool – a time-saving tool that lets you quickly set up an engaging home page and create accessible templates for reuse across Canvas. It also can help you quickly build repeatable, consistent module structures. You can also adjust due dates and delay announcements using this tool.
  • Upload/Embed Image Tool – a tool that enables you to discover, add, edit, and place course images in Canvas

DesignPLUS Sidebar

When you are editing Canvas content, select the sidebar icon at top right to launch the Sidebar tool, which will then appear on the right. The Sidebar tool includes many enhancements to the Rich Content Editor in Canvas, enabling you to easily add a variety of attractive and engaging content elements.

Getting Started with the Sidebar

Learn more about the DesignPLUS Sidebar (Tap to open a list of resources).

Sidebar Basics

Sidebar Resources and Guide

Sidebar Training Videos

How do I build a basic page?

How do I build a home page?

DesignPlus Accessibility Tools

DesignPlus Accessibility and Usability Tools Overview

DesignPlus User Guide Canvas Course

DesignPLUS QuickStart Wizard

The QuickStart Wizard button appears when you open a new page, assignment, or syllabus for editing. Activating the Wizard gives you access to templates for the entire page, or pre-defined content blocks of different types to help you customize the page.

Getting Started with the QuickStart Wizard

Cidi Labs Multi-Tool

The Cidi Labs Multi-Tool shows up in the left course navigation menu of your Canvas course. You will be asked to authorize Cidi Labs to access your Canvas account. Once the Multi-Tool is set up, you can select from a variety of tools to help rapidly develop and update your courses. Watch the Multi-Tool orientation video to learn more about what it can do for you.

Getting Started with the Multi-tool

To learn more, see Multi-Tool FAQs.

DesignPLUS Upload/Embed Image Tool

This tool enables you to manage course images directly in Canvas. Upload, crop, resize, and embed images anywhere in your course, or quickly add free, high-quality images from Pexels and Unsplash. To access the Upload/Embed Image (U/EI) tool, go to apps through the Rich Content Editor (RCE). The first time you access the tool, you will be asked to authorize Cidilabs to access Canvas so this tool is available for you. Watch the Upload/Embed Image orientation video to learn how this tool works.

Getting Started with the Upload/Embed Image Tool

To learn more, see Benefits of using the Upload/Embed Tool or Adding the Upload/Embed (U/EI) Tool to the Rich Content Editor (RCE)

Additional DesignPLUS Support

DesignPLUS Customer Support: support@cidilabs.com

DesignPLUS Knowledge Base and FAQs

DesignPLUS User Guide

DesignPLUS Library of Designs and Templates

For support or training, contact instructional designer, Nadia Khan: nkhan@miracosta.edu

Turnitin’s LTI 1.1 integration was disabled at the end of the Fall 2025 semester

[The following message was sent to faculty 10/13/2025 who were identified as to have used Turnitin LTI 1.1 within Canvas]

You’re receiving this message as a MiraCosta instructor who has used the Turnitin 1.1 LTI in spring, summer, and or fall 2025. Turnitin 1.1 is an older version of the Turnitin tools and it appears that Turnitin is removing support for it. While it works at this time, Turnitin has removed the documentation for it. We hope it remains viable through the fall term, but we plan to disable it over winter break. We advise that you update your use of Turnitin going forward.

Your two options are:

·         Turnitin 1.3 LTI – if you wish to continue using Turnitin similarly to how you have been, for plagiarism detection and grading/feedback, this is recommended.

·         Turnitin Plagiarism Framework – this option enables you to use Turniitn for plagiarism detection but use the Canvas grading/feedback tools

The links above will provide more detail and links to Turnitin guides. If you have further questions about which Turnitin tools best fit your approach to assessment, and/or about how to make the switch, please reach out to instructional designer Nadia Khan for support.

Accessibility Support Workshops and Training

The Online Ed team in collaboration with MiraCosta College’s Access Specialist bring the 2025-26 Accessibility Support Workshop series focusing on Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. Recordings from this series are below.

Fall 2025

Spring 2026

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