Beyond the Basics: Adding Hyperlinks and Embedding Videos in the Rich Content Editor (RCE)

The Rich Content Editor (RCE) in Canvas is a handy tool for creating and formatting course content and is available within various Canvas features, including Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, Quizzes, and the Syllabus. With the RCE, faculty can embed videos, upload files, and insert external resources, all while keeping the interface user-friendly and accessible. This tool is key to creating a learning environment where course materials are easily available, informative, educational and visually appealing.

To move beyond the basics when using the RCE this month, let’s focus on two helpful features that you may not have used – inserting hyperlinks and embedding videos.

View the Rich Content Editor

To access the RCE, select any of the areas mentioned previously. The RCE opens by default when creating or editing an announcement, assignment, discussion or page. You can type text or copy and paste information from other sources here, and use formatting tools to add or modify it. To enhance engagement and provide supplementary information, incorporating hyperlinks and embedding videos is recommended.

Click on the ellipses, indicated by the arrow, to access additional tools and features that may not be immediately visible in the toolbar.

Adding Hyperlinks

1. Highlight the Text: Select the text that you want to turn into a hyperlink. This could be a word, phrase, or sentence.
2. Insert Link:
   • Click on the icon in the toolbar (it looks like a chain link).
   • A dialog box will appear.
     • External Links
       • Choose External Links for links that are not within the course in Canvas
       • Enter the URL: In the dialog box, paste the URL of the external website you want to link to. Make sure the URL is correct and starts with http:// or https://.
     • Internal Links
       • Choose Internal Links for links to items or files that are within the Canvas course.
       • Select the item from the menu on the right side of your screen.

3. Save: Click Done or Insert Link to create the hyperlink. The selected text will now be underlined and clickable.
4. Save Changes: Finally, make sure to save your changes to the page, assignment, discussion, or quiz.

Embedding a Video

1. Find the Video: Locate the video you want to embed. If it’s a YouTube video, go to YouTube and find the video.
   • Click on the Share button below the video and then select Embed.
   • Copy the Embed Code: A box will appear with the embed code. Click on Copy to copy the entire code.

2. In the Rich Content Editor in Canvas, click on the Embed Image/Media icon (it looks like a cloud with an arrow).

3. A dialog box will appear.
4. Paste the Embed Code: Paste the copied embed code into the dialog box that appears.
5. Save Changes: Click Save or Save & Publish to save your changes. The video should now be embedded and viewable directly within the Canvas page.

Try these features and let us know how they work for you. Canvas has many capabilities; share with us anything you’d like to do more quickly or efficiently, and we’ll explore if Canvas can simplify it for you. If you have something that works really well for you that you would like to share, let us know. We would love to feature your idea in a future article. We look forward to hearing from you at OnlineLearningStaff@alliant.edu.