Add Context to Links or Files

Providing instructional context for the links and files in your courses is as important as scaffolding in preparation for an important assignment or assessment. While how you add context depends on your course organization, this page will cover the recommended options.

Adding Context for a Link or File in Canvas

Pinning Services in myCI Guide

Steps for Adding Context for a Link or File…

1. Sign in to myCI and click CI Learn to open Canvas
2. From the Canvas Dashboard, select the course you’d like to work on and click on the course card to open it.
3. Navigate to the content area where the link or file is shared with students.

By Adding a Text Header to a Module

1. Click the plus (+) sign within that module and select “Text Header” from the dropdown menu
2. Enter brief explanatory text in the “Header” field
3. Click “Add Item”
4. The text header will appear at the bottom, click the left side of it and drag it to the correct location within the module. Be sure that it is published so it’s visible to your students.

By Fixing the name of a Link or File

1. From within the module, click the three stacked dots on the right side of the item
2. Click “Edit”
3. Revise the Title, and click “Update”.
   *Repeat these steps for each file or URL in the module

By Creating a Content Page

Embedding videos on a page is especially helpful for ShareStream or YouTube videos when a captioning accommodation is required so hyperlinked text to the closed-captioned version can be added directly below each video. (e.g., Let’s Talk About Intellectual Disabilities with Loretta Claiborne Ted Talk with captions)

1. Click the plus (+) sign within that module and select “Page” from the dropdown menu
2. Click “Create Page” from the list displayed in the Add Item dialogue box
3. Enter the name in the “Page Name” field of the Add Item dialogue box
4. Click “Add item” (to close the dialogue box)
5. The Page placeholder will appear at the bottom of the module, click the name to open it
6. Once open, click “Edit” to begin adding content
7. Add Directions, resources, files, videos, and relevant guidance
   If copying and pasting text, be sure to remove text formatting to remove hidden formatting from outside sources.
8. When finished click “Save” (draft form/if not previously published) or “Save and Publish” if it’s complete