Department & Canvas Updates – Fall 2025
Welcome to the Fullerton College Distance Education News! We have a few updates for the Fall 2025 semester, so take a moment to review the entire page.
Online Learning Center Updates
The FC Online Learning Center in Room 518 is open for the Fall 2025 semester!
Distance Ed staff will be available in person to answer Canvas and online learning-related questions on Mondays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Virtual and appointment-based services are available outside of those hours.
DesignPLUS Sidebar Tips & Tools
Default Version & Legacy Version Sunset Reminder
The new version of the DesignPLUS Sidebar became the default in January 2025. The legacy version of the tools will no longer be available after December 31, 2025. (Don’t worry, your existing content will not break! Please review this Cidi Lab’s Knowledge Base article for more details on legacy content.)
If you haven’t completed the training, join the self-paced DesignPLUS Sidebar course to learn all about the new interface and how to upgrade your existing content. This course is also where the Distance Ed team provides updates on new tools/features as Cidi Labs releases them.
Template Pages
The FC Distance Education team has created a range of template pages that faculty can use in their courses. Some of the newest additions to this Template Gallery include an updated Student Resources page (with new Student Support Center locations), Undocumented Students Support student guide, interactive Module Wrap-Up pages, and student guides for the STEM/MESA Center and the Student Success Advocates program.
To add a template:
- Create a new Canvas page
- Edit the page and launch the DesignPLUS Sidebar using the blue rocket ship icon on the top right corner of your screen
- Place your cursor at the top of the page and select the Add New Elements tab in the Sidebar
- Select the Template Content tool
- Open the expanders to review the available templates
- Select the template page you would like to use
- Edit the template page as needed in the Rich Content Editor
- Save your page
Content Blocks
The Distance Education team has also created Content Blocks that faculty can use in their Canvas content. Some of the newest Content Blocks include a Module List to add to your home page, Course Communication expanders to add to your Syllabus or in an orientation module, a set of styled tabs that function like a PowerPoint or Google Slides, and a Syllabus Knowledge Quick Check.
To add a Content Block to your Canvas content:
- Edit your Page, Assignment, Discussion, etc., and launch the DesignPLUS Sidebar using the blue rocket ship icon on the top right corner of your screen
- Place your cursor where you would like the new Content Block to display in the Rich Content Editor and select the Add New Elements tab in the DesignPLUS Sidebar
- Select the Content Block tool
- Open the expanders to review the available Content Blocks
- Select the block you would like to use to add it to the Rich Content Editor
- Edit the Content Block as needed in the Rich Content Editor
- Save
Recertification & Online Course Survey Reminders
After obtaining initial online teaching certification through one of the options listed above, faculty must do the following every three years to remain certified:
- Online Course Survey
- Three hours of professional development focused on online teaching every three years. (Faculty are responsible for tracking their individual professional development, so ensure you have a system for doing this!)
- Professional development options may include:
- Fullerton College-sponsored professional development
- @One course(s)
- Third-party professional development that may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the DE Director and DEDR
Faculty will be notified when it is time to recertify and will be added to the OTC Recertification Canvas shell in order to complete recertification. 