"Send To" is great when you're collaborating with colleagues. You can send an assignment, quiz, page, or module directly to another instructor in your institution's Canvas environment. It's a quick way to share something without adding it to your course.
Use this when you want to send content (like an assignment, page, quiz, etc.) to another Canvas user.
How it works:
Navigate to the item (e.g., an assignment) in your course.
Click the three dots (•••) next to the item.
Select "Send To" from the dropdown menu.
In the pop-up, start typing the name or email of the instructor you're sending it to.
Select the person from the list.
Click Send.
What happens next:
The recipient will find the content under "Shared Content" in their Account > Shared Content area.
They can preview it and choose to import it into one of their courses.
Good to know:
This does not send student data—only the structure/content.
You can send to multiple people at once.
This video from Old Dominion University shows you how you can share individual elements of your course (Modules, Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, etc.) with individual users without adding them to your specific course.
"Copy To" is useful for your workflow or module. If you're teaching multiple sections or prepping for a future semester, you can copy content from one course to another. This helps maintain consistency and saves time recreating materials.
Use this when you want to copy content from your current course into another course you teach.
How it works:
Navigate to the item you want to copy.
Click the three dots (•••) next to it.
Select "Copy To".
In the pop-up, start typing the destination course name.
Optionally, choose a specific module in that course to place the item.
Click Copy.
What happens next:
Canvas will copy the item into the target course.
Depending on what you copied, it may land in Modules, Assignments, or Pages, depending on where it was originally located.
Good to know:
This is great for reusing content across sections or future terms.
Dates and settings may need to be adjusted after copying.
This video from Old Dominion University shows you how to copy content (Modules, Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, etc.) from one of your courses (Sandbox course) into another course you can access (Live course).
When using the Rich Content Editor in Canvas, aim for a clear structure with proper headings, consistent formatting, and accessible media. Use descriptive links, alt text for images, and captions for videos to enhance usability and accessibility for all learners.
Use Headings for Structure
Apply proper heading styles (e.g., Heading 2, Heading 3) for screen readers and scannability. Don’t just bold larger text.
Keep It Clean and Consistent
Use clear, consistent formatting. Avoid unnecessary colors or fonts that can distract or reduce accessibility.
Add Alternative Text to Images
Always add alt text to images for accessibility, unless the image is decorative.
Use Descriptive Links
Instead of “Click here,” use meaningful text like “View the Week 1 Overview.”
Preview Before Publishing
Use the "Student View" to ensure formatting and media display properly on different devices.
Keep Media Accessible
Add captions or transcripts to videos.
Avoid auto-playing audio or video.
Use Canvas Studio or YouTube’s captioning tools if needed.
Use Pages as Learning Hubs
Instead of cramming content into assignments or discussions, use Pages to organize videos, readings, and instructions in a visually inviting format.
The Rich Content Editor is available when you're editing Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions, and more. It lets you format text, insert links, images, media, and even code snippets.
To use it:
Go to the item you want to edit (like a Page).
Click "Edit" to open the Rich Content Editor.
Use the toolbar to:
Format text (headings, bold, bullet lists)
Insert links, images, videos, and documents
Embed media (via the plug icon or toolbar buttons)
Access the HTML editor if needed (</> icon)
Ways to embed:
Images: Click the image icon, upload from your computer, or select from course files.
Videos:
Use the plug icon > "Apps" to embed YouTube, Vimeo, or Studio videos.
Or use the media icon to upload a video file directly.
Studio: If your institution uses Canvas Studio, you can record or select a video and insert it seamlessly with interactive options.
Embed Code: Use the HTML editor (</>) to paste embed code from outside tools (e.g., Padlet, H5P, Flip).