Canvas Exercises: (Part 1 of 2)

Create a Module

Modules are one way to organize content within Canvas. Essentially, they’re containers for pages, quizzes, and other course elements. Follow the steps below to create your own module.

Adding a Sample Page to a Module in Canvas.

 

  • Visit the Pamplin Engage Practice Course and select Modules on the left hand sidebar. 

  • Click on the +Module button in the upper right. Title the module with your first and last name.

  • Next, click the + button on your module to add a new element. A pop-up window will appear. From the drop-down menu, select Page, click [New Page], and in the text box after Page Name, type in “Sample Page - [Your Last Name]" ie. "Sample Page - Clark." 





Editing a Page and Embedding an Image

How to insert and upload an image in Canvas.

 

  • You should now see that the Sample Page is nested under your Module. Click on the title of the page to open the page, and hit Edit in the top right.

  • If you’ve ever posted in a discussion board on Canvas, this should look very familiar. There are several different types of media you can embed here—videos, iframes, links, etc.—but we’re going to embed an image of your favorite animal. Go to the Insert tab > Image > Upload Image.

  • There are a couple of different options for this step. If you already happen to have an image of your favorite animal saved on your computer, you may drag and drop that file to the area under the Computer tab. If you need to search for an image of your favorite animal, click the Unsplash tab. Then, search for an animal and click on the thumbnail of an image that appeals to you.

  • With either your Computer image uploaded or your Unsplash thumbnail selected, scroll down to Attributes. You will see a section labeled Alt Text, which is a way of describing the image to individuals with visual impairments. Go ahead and add a concise description of the image that’s fewer than 125 words, such as "hound dog smiling at the camera." For more information about alt text, check out this webpage Links to an external site.. Make sure "Decorative Image" is unchecked, and that under Display Options, Embed Image is selected. When you’re ready, hit the Submit button.

    Searching for Dog on Unsplash Writing in Alt Text for Unsplash Dog

Adding alt text to an image of a dog in Canvas.

 

  • Note: If you insert an image from Unsplash, you may find that it already has alt text associated with it. To check, hit Submit without manually entering any alt text. Then click on the image and select Image Options. A sidebar on the right should appear and you will see Alt Text toward the top. If the alt text sufficiently describes the image, you may use it as is. If the description is too vague, like "dog's face" in this example (right), change the text as you see fit. 

  • Back in the page editor, you may resize the image by clicking and dragging the corners of the picture. Then, Center-Align the image by going to Format > Align > Center. Click Save & Publish.