Streamlining Course Content

Streamlining Course Content in Canvas:

A well-organized Canvas site benefits all learners. When students encounter long, disorganized file lists or outdated content, it increases cognitive load and can present barriers for students using screen readers or assistive technologies.

This section provides guidance on reviewing and streamlining course content to improve both accessibility and usability.
 

Why Streamline?

Removing clutter from your Canvas course:

• Makes it easier for students to find the materials they need
• Reduces confusion caused by outdated or duplicate files
• Improves navigation for screen reader users
• Helps maintain version control and avoids accidental reuse of outdated content

Tips for Streamlining Content:

• Delete or Archive Duplicates
  • Remove old versions of readings, lecture slides, or assignments.
  • Use clear naming conventions (e.g., “Lecture Slides – Week 2” instead of “Final_v3_upload”).
• Remove Unused Files
  • If a file is not linked anywhere in the course (e.g., Modules, Assignments, or Pages), consider deleting it.
• Replace Inaccessible Files
  • Eliminate scanned PDFs or image-only content when accessible versions exist. See our web page on Using PDF's in Courses. 
  • Replace with accessible Microsoft 365 apps documents, accessible HTML documents, accessible Google documents, or if absolutely necessary accessible PDF's.
  • Consider creating content natively in Canvas with the Rich Text Editor. Use the built in Accessibility Checker in Canvas and the Canvas Ally tool to check the content for accessibility. 
• Label Content Clearly
  • Use meaningful titles for files (e.g., “Syllabus Spring 2025” instead of “document1.pdf”).
  • Avoid uploading multiple files with similar names that might confuse students.

Process:

• Use the tool TidyUp which is built right into Canvas!
• CidiLabs TidyUp is a tool that makes it simple and easy for instructors to clean their Canvas course. TidyUp scans the Canvas course for unused pages and unlinked files and removes them from the course.
• Rutgers has an enterprise license.  Please access TidyUp through Rutgers Canvas by enabling it in the course navigation. 
• Note: TidyUp does not identify files that are being used in Question Banks 
  
  OR

Manually review documents based on file name or date and delete unused or unwanted files or add them to an Archive folder within Canvas. If the file is brought from the Archive file into a course, then it will need to be made accessible.
 

Learn more about using PDF's and best practices!