Rich Content Editor Update (Coming Soon)

Canvas Tutorials Rich Content Editor Update (Coming Soon)

Getting Started Module

Overview

The rich content editor is getting an update soon. This option will be course level feature option in production after the January 18, 2020 update Links to an external site.. On May 15, 2020 the new rich content editor will be turned for ALL Canvas courses. Review the tabbed menu below to learn more. 

New Feature Overview

107 - New RCE Links to an external site. from Instructure Community Links to an external site. on Vimeo Links to an external site..

Below are the improvements that will be available in the new rich content editor.  

  • Watch the video, Rich Content Editor: Interface Enhancements (2020-01-18 Screencast) Links to an external site., for details the upcoming changes. 
  • Right Side Content Selector Bar - This bar persistently used 1/3 of the page. The solution provides the right side content selector only when the user selects an option that requires it.
  • Images and Files - The updated RCE provides options to make it easier to add, embed or link to images and files. It auto-scales images with content so that your content is responsive on smaller screens. Students have the option to download images and files after previewing them, instead of auto-downloading everything they click on.
  • Window Size - The RCE window size auto-sizes to content while creating and after publishing.
  • Icons and Organization - The RCE toolbar is consolidated to make it more consistent with other editing tools that most users are accustomed to using.
  • App consolidation - All integrated apps will be located in one menu. This will include the Commons favorite option. Finding and important Commons content just got a lot easier. Currently, this option is available under the V icon in the toolbar. See Using the Canvas Commons page for details on the Canvas Commons. 

Important Notes

After the  January 18, 2020 update Links to an external site., the new rich content editor will be enabled in the Faculty Commons and Canvas Student Training courses so faculty and students can check out the new editor if desired. To join one of these course sites, click the Help icon in the global menu and select the course to enroll. Note: Faculty will only see the Faculty Commons site and students will only see the Canvas Training Course. 

Once this option is released to production, instructors will be enable the new rich content editor in course settings page from the feature option tab.  

Please note the following: 

  • Once enabled, this option will replace the current rich content editor in all locations except the new quiz tool. 
  • End of life for the current editor will occur in the June 2020 release. Lake Land College plans to enable the new editor for ALL courses on May 15, 2020.
  • This update will be occurring in conjunction with the new assignment workflows update. 
  • Please note this timeline is subject to change.

If you would like to provide feedback, please login to the Canvas Community assignment workflow focus group to provide your feedback. Please note the rich content editor update is part of bigger update to the assignment page on both faculty and student side. Please note if this is the first time you are logging into the Canvas Community, you must activate your Canvas Community account. Please review the following guides on how to login to the Canvas Community and setup your Canvas Community profile.

Preview

Below is a general overview of the changes. In this example a page is being edited but the options will be the same when editing announcements, assignments, quizzes, discussion topics & posts. When the rich content editor displays, users will see following toolbar options. Review the numbered items below. 

rich content editor edit screen

  1. Enter a title for the page. 
  2. (Instructors Only) Click the rocket icon to load Design Tools options. See Design Tools Overview for details on using Design Tools. 
  3. Text Size - Allows you to increase the text size of selected text. 
  4. Paragraph &  Heading Options - Allows you to format selected text as paragraph or header.  This is important for accessibility.  See Accessibility Guidelines. 
  5. Text Formatting - Select B to bold selected text, I to italicize selected text, or U to underline selected text. 
  6. Text Color - Changes color of selected text. You can now use a color picker to locate a color not included color selection options. 
  7. Text Background color - Changes the background color of selected text. You can now use a color picker to locate a color not included color selection options. 
  8. Sub/Super script options - Create a sub or super script of selected text. 
  9. Alignment options - This option allows you to change the alignment of selected text. 
  10. List options - This option allows you to format selected text as bullet or numbered list. 
  11. Indent/Outdent options - Place the cursor at the beginning of text line to indent the text. Once text is indented, you can toggle back to outdent. 
  12. Text direction options - Text by default displays left to right. This a toggle to  change  text display to right to left. 
  13. Link options - This option allows you to create a link with selected text. The options include course or external links. 
  14. Image options - This option allows you to embed a course image or upload a new image to embed. 
  15. Record/Upload Media options - This option allows you to record or upload video/ audio  media. The Upload/Record Media option allows you to upload media or record webcam video. Items created this way do not count against the file quota in the file section of the course. Other options include Course and My Media. These options allow you to access media that is already uploaded to course or personal files. Media uploaded directly to files will count against the file quote in the file section of the course. These option are not recommended.  Use Studio instead. See number 20 below.  
  16. Document options - This option allows you to create a link with selected text to a course or personal file or upload a new file. 
  17. Clear formatting - Use this option to remove formatting from selected text in the editor.  
  18. Table options - This option allows you to insert a table in the editor. 
  19. Insert Math Equation - This option allows you to insert an equation in the editor. 
  20. LTI Tools - This option will display a dialog box with all integrated tools where you can embed content in the editor. You can use the dialog box search feature to quickly locate the desired LTI tool. LTI Options include:
    • Graph builder - Create and embed a graph in your post. 
    • YouTube - Use the search feature to locate a video from YouTube to embed. 
    • (Instructors Only) Commons Favorites - Content (images, documents, video, or audio) you have marked as favorite in the Canvas Commons will display when selecting this option. See Using the Canvas Commons. 
    • TedEd - Use the search feature to locate a video from TedEd to embed. 
    • Vimeo - Use the search feature to locate a video from Vimeo to embed. 
    • Films on Demand - Use the search to locate a video of interest. You filter your results to refine your search. Select the desired embed option. 
    • Upload/Embed Image - This option is part of the Design Tools integration and  allows you to upload an image and crop the image before you upload and embed the image in on the page.  See Using the Design Tools Image Uploader. 
    • Studio - This option allows you to access your Studio account to add a video or you can record a video to embed. You can choose to allow people to comment on your video. 
  21. Keyboard shortcuts - Click the view the rich content editor keyboard shortcuts. 
  22. Accessibility checker - This will check your  post for accessibility and make suggestions to make your content more accessible. See How to Make Your Course More Accessible for more details on how to improve the accessibility of your course. 
  23. Word count - Will display the word count of your reply. 
  24. HTML View - Switch to  HTML View.  See HTML Primer for more details. 
  25. Editor window resize option - Click to drag the editor window to be bigger. 
  26. (Instructors Only) Edit Options - Instructors can choose to allow students to edit a page. 
  27. (Instructors Only) Student To Do List option - Check the box to apply a date to the page. The page will then display in the students' To Do lists on the global dashboard. 

Student Guides

Note: These guides are maintained by the Canvas Documentation Team and are available on the Canvas Community site Links to an external site.. Some of the information in these guides may not apply to the Lake Land College instance of Canvas. If you have a question about any features mentioned in these guides, please review the Getting Help page for details on who to contact at Lake Land College.

Instructor Guides

Note: These guides are maintained by the Canvas Documentation Team and are available on the Canvas Community site Links to an external site.. Some of the information in these guides may not apply to the Lake Land College instance of Canvas. If you have a question about any features mentioned in these guides, please review the Getting Help page for details on who to contact at Lake Land College.