Canvas LMS: Faster, Smarter Module Navigation
Research-driven usability testing + cognitive psychology applied to streamline Canvas navigation, improving efficiency and student satisfaction.
Industry
Education Tech
My Role
UX Researcher
Platform
Web
Timeline
Mar - Apr 2024 | 3.5 weeks
The Challenge: When Navigation Slows Down Learning
Canvas is one of the most widely used learning management systems in higher education. While powerful, its layered, text-heavy navigation forces students to backtrack repeatedly just to access course modules.
Instead of focusing on learning, students waste time clicking, scrolling, and guessing, especially during exams or study sessions.
The deeper issue was cognitive overload - students had to remember module names, scan long lists, and constantly reorient themselves. This mismatch between interface design and user mental models led to frustration and disengagement.
"How might we make module navigation in Canvas faster, more intuitive, and less cognitively demanding for students?"
Research & Discovery: Finding the “Why” Behind Student Frustration
I began with a pre-usability study involving 4 students - two familiar with Canvas and two first-time users.
All participants struggled with the same issues:
Constant backtracking to module lists
Cognitive strain from memorizing module titles
Interrupted flow before even starting coursework
To uncover why this was happening, I reframed findings using cognitive psychology principles:
Working Memory & Cognitive Load: Long scrolling taxed short-term memory.
Mental Models: Students expected a “folder-like” structure.
Attention & Visual Perception: Text-heavy lists caused inattentional blindness.
Motivation: Frustration reduced engagement and focus.
💡 Insight: Canvas wasn’t just slow - it was mentally demanding. The interface didn’t align with how students think or organize learning tasks.
Design Direction: Simplify, Don’t Add More
The research pointed to one clear direction: persistent, centralized access.
I proposed a Quick-Access Module Menu that:
Stays visible at all times on the left sidebar
Enables one-click switching between modules
Offers hover previews for faster scanning
This wasn’t about new features - it was about removing friction and aligning with students’ natural mental model of “folders and shortcuts.”
Final Design: The Quick-Access Module Menu
The Quick-Access Module Menu achieved three goals:
Reduced cognitive load: No more scrolling or memorizing.
Aligned with mental models: Folder-like navigation matched user expectations.
Improved flow: Students switched modules without breaking concentration.
Usability Testing: Measuring Real Impact
To measure impact, I ran a within-subjects usability test with 8 students (a mix of experienced and first-time users). Each participant tested both the current Canvas system and the Quick-Access Module Menu, with randomized tasks to reduce bias.
Scenario:
Imagine you’re watching lecture videos in Module 3: Human Cognition. Midway through, the professor references a concept in Module 2: Human Perception. You pause the video and quickly switch to Module 2 to review before resuming Module 3.
Tasks given to participants:
Navigate to Module 3: Human Cognition.
Imagine you are watching the class videos in Module 3.
Pause and switch to Module 2: Human Perception.
Locate and open the class videos in Module 2.
This scenario simulated a common real-world frustration: switching between modules while studying.
Metrics collected:
Task completion time (seconds).
Post-test satisfaction survey.
Results:
Current System: Avg. 20.39s
Quick-Access Menu: Avg. 10.01s
Improvement: ~10.38s faster (≈ 50% improvement, statistically significant).
Participants consistently described the new menu as “faster,” “more organized,” and “less overwhelming.”
Results: 50% Faster Navigation
Current System: Avg. 20.39s
Quick-Access Menu: Avg. 10.01s
Improvement: ~10.38s faster (≈ 50% improvement, statistically significant).
Participants consistently described the new menu as “faster,” “more organized,” and “less overwhelming.”
Participant | Current System | Quick-Access Module Menu |
|---|---|---|
1 | 17.13 | 8.02 |
2 | 22.48 | 11.21 |
3 | 14.76 | 6.89 |
4 | 28.32 | 14.57 |
5 | 19.87 | 9.24 |
6 | 12.91 | 5.98 |
7 | 31.45 | 16.78 |
8 | 16.24 | 7.39 |
Impact & Reflection
✅ Reduced navigation time by ~50%.
✅ Lowered cognitive strain with consistent, visible navigation.
✅ Improved satisfaction and motivation for both new and experienced users.
What I learned:
Applying psychology to interface design can directly improve usability.
Even small interaction changes can meaningfully impact learning outcomes.
Including both new and experienced users in testing broadened my insights.
If I were to take this project further, I would:
Scale testing to larger, more diverse student groups.
Explore integrations with bookmarks and global search.
Conduct long-term studies on how smoother navigation impacts retention and learning flow.