Cidi Labs: Create a syllabus using the Cidi Labs content blocks

With the Cidi Labs Design Tools, you can create a syllabus from scratch using content blocks that have been built using the Bellevue College syllabus template. This option allows you to customize the sections of the syllabus you bring in and to easily change the order of those sections. (Note, the option to customize and rearrange syllabus content blocks is also available when you import the entire syllabus template as well.)


Important Tip: Remember that the content in any two or more versions of your syllabus should match.

preset syllabus blocks in Cidi Labs

  1. Open a blank syllabus page in the rich content editor. If there is existing content on the page, delete it so you can start from scratch.
edit button on the syllabus screen in Canvas

2. Launch the Design Tools interface by clicking on the rocket icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, or by using the short-cut keys Option-Shif-D on a Mac or Alt-Shift-D on a PC.

design tools launch icon

3. Choose the “+ content block” option in the Design Tools editor. A list of available content blocks will pop up.

available syllabus content blocks

3. Add desired content blocks by clicking on them. As you add them, you’ll see the list of content blocks in the “add/rearrange syllabus blocks” section of the Design Tools editor. You can rearrange the order of the blocks by dragging a chosen content block into its desired location in this part of the editor.

add/rearrange syllabus blocks section of the Design Tools editor

4. Click on the “add the institutional policies” option.

add the institutional policies option in the Design Tool editor

5. Choose to add the institutional policies.

add the Bellevue College Policies block option in the Design Tools editor

6. Save your syllabus.

Update the syllabus button at the bottom of the syllabus page in edit mode.

  1. Click the edit button from your syllabus page to open the rich content editor.
edit button on the syllabus screen in Canvas

2. Launch the Design Tools interface by clicking on the rocket icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, or by using the short-cut keys Option-Shif-D on a Mac or Alt-Shift-D on a PC.

design tools launch icon

3. Click on “create/edit syllabus content in the Design Tools editor list.

create/edit syllabus content link in the design tools editor

4. Click on “Choose a theme.”

Choose a theme option in the Create/Edit syllabus content menu

5. Hover over the themes to see a pop-up representation of the theme. Choose a theme by clicking on it.

syllabus theme pop-up shows the theme style

6. Click on “customize banner text.”

Customize Banner Text link in the Create/Edit content menu.

7. Add your desired banner text into the text fields and deleted any unwanted text.

text fields in the banner text editor are unit name, unit number, content title, content subtitle, and description

8. Click on “choose a banner image.”

Choose a banner image option in the Create/edit syllabus menu

9. Choose a banner from the shown options or from your course files.

Banner image options in the Choose a banner image interface.

10. Save your changes by clicking “update syllabus” at the bottom of the screen.

Update the syllabus button at the bottom of the syllabus page in edit mode.

Last Updated October 4, 2021