Designing Task-Centred Learning with Merrill’s Principles
How to design a module that starts with a real-world task and moves through activation, demonstration, application and integration, with a Canvas walkthrough.
Don’t be blinded by technology. Let it enhance learning.
Practical guides, frameworks and free courses for people who design online learning, with plenty of Canvas along the way.
Latest articles
All articles
Gagné vs Merrill: Comparing Two Instructional Design Models
A clear comparison of Gagné's nine events and Merrill's First Principles of Instruction: where they overlap, where they differ, and how to use both…
Introduction to Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction
A short introduction to Merrill’s five First Principles of Instruction, with practical ideas for applying them to a Canvas module.
Build Repeatable Canvas Pages With the Content Builder
The Content Builder takes the formatting effort out of the Canvas RCE. Here is how to use it to build recognisable page structures you…
Using the PrettyJaded Quiz Builder With Canvas Quizzes and Item Banks
What the PrettyJaded quiz builder is for, where quizzes belong in good course design, and how to get reviewed questions into Canvas quizzes and…
Plan for Student Note-Taking in Canvas Before Term Starts
Instructure has announced Notebook, built-in note-taking for learners in Canvas. Here is how to check it, shape your pages around it and keep notes…
Three Canvas Changes to Check Before Marking This Autumn
Three small changes in the latest Canvas notes touch your autumn routine: excusing group submissions, a crossed-out eye icon and a backup reminder. Here…
Free courses
All courses
Build Canvas Quizzes with the Quiz Builder
A free one-week course. Turn your questions into a file you can import into Canvas New Quizzes or an item bank, with a badge…
Build Canvas Pages with the Content Builder
A free one-week course. Build a clear, tidy Canvas page from ready-made components, choose how it looks, and paste it into Canvas, with a…
Creating Engaging Canvas Courses
A free four-week course on structuring, sequencing and pacing online weeks with PANDA, Merrill, Gagné, Bloom, Salmon, the Engagement Cycle, personalisation and accessibility.
Where I can help
- Virtual learning environments. Years of experience with different VLE installations and configurations.
- e-Learning methodologies. Course design that gets the most from your content.
- Strategy and design. Think strategy first for a better learning platform.
