Small but Powerful Moves

Hyperlinks

Of these three options, which is the most usable?

Why Hyperlinking Meaningful Text Matters + The Powerful Move

Why it matters: At the most basic level, hyperlinked meaningful text tells the user exactly what they can expect to be taken to when clicking a link without relying on any additional factors. It's clear, and it makes sense.

The same reasoning applies to deeper accessibility best practices, particularly when it comes to people using a screen reader. When a screen reader interacts with a full URL like example number one above, it reads the entire URL. Imagine hearing that entire Google Docs URL read out loud to you. That's the experience for screen reader users.

For example number two, imagine having multiple "Click here" links on a single page. Every time the words "Click here" are read out loud, the user doesn't have any contextual information about where they can expect to be taken when clicking that link. That's why hyperlinked meaningful text is the way to go.

The move: For 2026-2027 (or preferably, forever), whenever you are sharing a hyperlink, embed it in meaningful text. Don't use "click here" or full URLs. This creates a better experience for everyone.

Alternative Text

Which of these Alt Text experiences do you prefer?

Click each button below to listen to image examples.

Image 1

Listen to Image 1

Screenshot of the myCI portal with the Google Meet button highlighted.

Image 2

Listen to Image 2

Why Alt Text Matters + The Powerful Move

Why it matters: As you can hear above, if someone is using an assistive technology like a screen reader and comes across an image with no useful alt text, they are completely missing that part of your content and it's relevance to the other content. Providing that textual description that's invisible to most, ensures and equitable experience for your entire audience.

The move: Whenever you are sharing an image, whether it's in an email, a Canvas page, etc., add alt text.

Helpful Links for Alt Text

Chunking Blocks of Text

Which text option reads better?

Click an option below to expand the section.

Option 1

Disclaimer: Importing a course more than once can overwrite existing content. If you import content into a course, make edits, and then re-import content from the original course, the newly imported material may replace or override your current content. Course copy is designed for reusing materials such as settings, syllabi, assignments, modules, files, pages, discussions, quizzes, and question banks. Some content types cannot be copied. Open New Course. From your Canvas Dashboard, select the course that you want to import content into. Screenshot of a course card on the Canvas dashboard. Open Settings. In the course navigation, click Settings. Screenshot of part of the course menu with Settings emphasized by a colored box. Import Course Content. Click Import Course Content within the Settings area. Screenshot of the Canvas Settings menu options located either on the right side or at the bottom of the page. Select Import Content Options. Under Content Type, select Copy a Canvas Course from the dropdown menu. For Search for a Course, type in the name of the course that you want to take content from. Include completed courses can remain checked. Select All content if you are planning to copy over your entire course. If you only want to copy certain assignments, quizzes, files, pages, and modules, then click on Select specific content. (Further steps on how to select specific content are below.) Check Adjust events and due dates. For Date adjustment, select Remove dates. This will prevent all content from showing up as past due or unavailable. Finally, once all options have been selected, click Import, and the process will begin. Selecting Specific Content. If you have chosen to Select Specific Content, you will be prompted with a Waiting for Selection queue. Click on the Select Content button and a new menu will appear. Screenshot of the Current Jobs section of the Import Content page where you Select Content. Within the Select Content menu, check any boxes with content you want to import. You can also click on the arrow to the left of the checkbox to expand it to select only specific files within that section. When you are done, click the Select Content button. Screenshot of the Select Content window, all items are unchecked by default. Check the boxes for the specific items you wish to import. Completed with Issues. After clicking Import, you will see a progress bar under Current Jobs. You may notice a Running indicator to the left. When the import is finished, the Running indicator will change to Completed. However, aCompleted status shown in orange indicates the import contains errors. To view the specific error(s), click the issues link to the left so you know what to address; most of these issues are missing links that didn’t transfer over during the import. You will need to relink them to the current course so your students can access the material.

Option 2

Course copy is designed for reusing materials such as settings, syllabi, assignments, modules, files, pages, discussions, quizzes, and question banks. Some content types cannot be copied.

Open New Course

From your Canvas Dashboard, select the course that you want to import content into.

Screenshot of a course card on the Canvas dashboard

Open Settings

In the course navigation, click Settings.

Screenshot of part of the course menu with Settings emphasized by a colored box

Import Course Content

Click Import Course Content within the Settings area.

Screenshot of the Canvas Settings menu options located either on the right side or at the bottom of the page.

Select Import Content Options

Under Content Type, select Copy a Canvas Course from the dropdown menu.
For Search for a Course, type in the name of the course that you want to take content from. Include completed courses can remain checked.
Select All content if you are planning to copy over your entire course. If you only want to copy certain assignments, quizzes, files, pages, and modules, then click on Select specific content. (Further steps on how to select specific content are below.)
Check Adjust events and due dates.
For Date adjustment, select Remove dates. This will prevent all content from showing up as past due or unavailable.

Finally, once all options have been selected, click Import, and the process will begin.

Selecting Specific Content

If you have chosen to Select Specific Content, you will be prompted with a Waiting for Selection queue. Click on the Select Content button and a new menu will appear.

Screenshot of the Current Jobs section of the Import Content page where you Select Content

Within the Select Content menu, check any boxes with content you want to import. You can also click on the arrow to the left of the checkbox to expand it to select only specific files within that section. When you are done, click the Select Content button.

Screenshot of the Select Content window, all items are unchecked by default. Check the boxes for the specific items you wish to import.

Completed with Issues

After clicking Import, you will see a progress bar under Current Jobs. You may notice a Running indicator to the left

Screenshot of the Current Jobs section of the Import Content page showing the progress bar after import process begins.

When the import is finished, the Running indicator will change to Completed. However, aCompleted status shown in orange indicates the import contains errors. To view the specific error(s), click the issues link to the left so you know what to address; most of these issues are missing links that didn’t transfer over during the import. You will need to relink them to the current course so your students can access the material.

Screenshot of import issues such as missing links that need to updated in new course

Why Chunking Blocks of Text Matters + The Powerful Move

Why it matters: Large blocks of text without appropriate text formatting (headings, lists, etc.) don't read well for a number of reasons. One, they're visually overwhelming. Paragraph breaks help visually break up text as well as differentiate new or next ideas.

Proper formatting also not only helps break up large blocks of text but provides organization and structure to the text being read. Headings give context to information while numbered and bulleted lists can help clearly identify important ideas or steps.

The power move: Whenever you are sharing a lot of text, break it into chunks and use proper formatting like headings and lists where relevant.

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