Text/Page Editor

The Brightspace Editor integrates with all D2L Brightspace Learning Environment tools that have HTML content creation capabilities. For example, the HTML Editor is available when editing discussion topics, create custom instructions for assignment folders, or create content topics.

1 Access the Brightspace Editor
2 Text Formatting
- 2.1 Strikethrough, Superscript, or Subscript text
- 2.2 Add Heading Styles
- 2.3 Font Colour
- 2.4 Change Text Alignment
- 2.5 Add a Bulleted or Numbered List
3 Additions in the Text Editor
- 3.1 Add Page Dividers
- 3.2 Add Emojis
- 3.3 Add Equations
- 3.4 Insert Code Snippets
- 3.5 Insert Symbols
4 Embed Multimedia
- 4.1 Insert an Image
- 4.2 Insert a Quicklink
- 4.3 Insert Media Library Video/Audio Files
- 4.4 Insert a File from a Computer

Access the Brightspace Editor

The Brightspace editor appears in multiple tools and content areas within a Brightspace course. Below are some examples of where instructors can access the editor:

Using an Page in the Content area
Adding instructions for an Assignment, Quiz, etc.
Adding a description for a file, link, video, etc.
Posting a Discussion topic or reply
Sending Emails from Classlist
Editing Widgets from the Course Homepage

HTML Text-Editor

Review the Page article for descriptions of each of the tools.

Text Formatting

Strikethrough, Superscript, or Subscript text

While bold, italic, and underline are easily accessible from the main toolbar, there are additional text format options available.

Highlight the text intended for format, then click the arrow next to Underline.
Sub-menu in Underline
Select strikethrough, superscript, or subscript from the drop-down menu.

Add Heading Styles

Use heading styles to structure text and make content more accessible for students using screen readers.

To add a heading style:

Click the format drop-down menu (set to Paragraph by default).
Format drop-down menu in Paragraph
Select a Heading style (H1, H2, H3, etc.) from the drop-down menu.

Font Colour

Text can be changed to any colour. Keep in mind to follow UDL and accessibility principles if changing text colour.

Highlight the text for formatting, then click the Select Colour button to open the Select a Colour window.
Select Colour button
Select a font colour or enter a hex value.
Click Save to finish

Change Text Alignment

Users are able to manipulate the alignment of the text based on their needs.

Place the cursor where to align the text, or highlight the text meant for formatting.
Click the alignment button.
Alignment button
Select an alignment option from the menu.
Drop-down menu within Alignment button

Add a Bulleted or Numbered List

The List tool allows for the creation of different lists. Users also have the ability to increase and decrease the indent on listed items to align them with other sections.

Place the cursor where needed to create a list, or highlight the text needed for formatting.
Click the Bulleted list button.
Bulleted list button
Select the Bulleted list or Numbered list from the drop-down menu. Can also increase or decrease the indent of listed items from this menu.
Drop-down menu within Bulleted list button

Additions in the Text Editor

Add Page Dividers

Page dividers can be a helpful tool to separate blocks of text or varying pieces of content.

Place the cursor where needed to add a divider.
Click the other insert options icon in the editor.
Other insert options icon
Select Divider from the drop-down menu.
Drop-down menu within the other insert options icon

Add Emojis

While some may not consider them “professional”, emojis and similar symbols add a small visual element to what could otherwise be a bland text block of content.

In the Brightspace editor, place the cursor where needed to insert an emoji.
Click the other insert options icon in the editor.
Other insert options icon
Select Emojis from the drop-down menu.
Drop-down menu within the other insert options icon
In the Emojis pop-up, select an emoji.
Search for emojis or sort by category

Add Equations

The Graphical Equation Editor enables users to insert mathematical equations within the Brightspace Editor. It supports the input of MathML, LaTeX, graphical, and chemistry equations.

Access the text-editor to create an equation in.
Click the other insert options icon in the editor.
Other insert options icon
Click the Equation icon to see the equation options.
Drop-down menu within other insert options icon
From the Equation drop-down list, select which kind of equation to insert.
Equation sub-menu accessed by clicking Equation
In the Insert Equation window, enter the equation using keyboard characters and the cursor to select symbols from the tabs.
Various mathematical and scientific options for creating equations
Click Insert.
Click Save or Publish or Update to save the work. The options will vary depending on which tool being used within the Text Editor.

Insert Code Snippets

With coding knowledge, users can spice up their content with various learning objects and content-structuring not normally supported by the basic Brightspace text-editor.

Access the Brightspace Editor and place the text cursor in the spot where needed to create a code snippet.
Click the Other Insert Options icon in the editor toolbar.
Other insert options icon
Select Insert Code from the drop-down menu.
Drop-down menu within other insert options icon
Once select Insert Code from the menu, a source code editor will open in place of the text editor.
Insert code window view
Adjust the display settings:
1. Select a coding language from the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner.
2. Click on the bullet icon to enable or disable line numbering.
3. Toggle between dark mode and light mode using the moon/sun icon.
Enter the code the same way as in a source code editor.
Click on the code snippet to edit it after it has been inserted into the text editor
Click the checkmark to save and insert the snippet into the HTML Editor.

Insert Symbols

Symbols include special characters such as currency, Latin, arrows, and more.

In the Brightspace editor, place the cursor where needed want to insert a symbol.
Click the other insert options icon in the editor
Other insert options icon
Select Symbols from the drop-down menu.
Drop down menu within other insert options icon
In the Special Character pop-up, select the symbol to be inserted.
Special characters can be searched for or sorted by category

Embed Multimedia

Insert an Image

Images can be a great way to break up text in a content space, as well as providing visual aid to learning material. Ensure alternative text is added if the image isn’t decorative.

Access the Brightspace Editor to add the image.
Move the cursor to the location in the Brightspace Editor textbox where the images will be placed.
Click the Insert Image button in the Editor toolbar
Insert image button
Choose the image location:
- If the image is on the computer, select the My Computer button. Choose the file from the computer and drag and drop it on the designated area, or click Upload to select the image from the computer, then click the selected image and click Add.
- If the image is located on the web, select URL. Enter or paste the web address for the image, then click Add.
- If the image is located within the course, select the Course Offering Files. Choose the file from the course files, then click Add.
Once clicked Add, the system will prompt to add an alternative text for the image selected. To ensure that the image is accessible to all users, enter a short description of it in the Alternative Text field or check the ‘This image is decorative’ box if it is a decorative image.
Select OK.
Click Save or Publish or Update to save the work.

Insert a Quicklink

Quicklinks are direct links to existing files or activities in the Brightspace course that can be inserted anywhere the Brightspace Editor appears (descriptions, announcements, discussion forums, etc.). For example, an instructor could insert Quicklinks into a module description to link to assessments (Assignments, Quizzes, etc.) that students can complete for that particular week/module. Quicklinks can enhance course navigation and help make course files/activities easier for students to find.

Note: It is recommended to use the Quicklink tool instead of copying and pasting a URL link. Quicklinks will continue to work if the content is exported or copied to another course.

Access the Brightspace Editor to add the Quicklink.
Select the location for the link within the Brightspace editor textbox.
Click the Insert Quicklink icon on the Editor toolbar.
Insert Quicklink icon
A pop-up window will open with two categories: Course Materials and Third Party.
Insert Quicklink menu
Select the course item intended for insert into the HTML Editor.
The pop-up window will close and a URL will be generated.
Continue to edit content in the Brightspace Editor.
Click Save or Publish or Update to save the work. The options will vary depending on which tool being used within the editor.

Insert Media Library Video/Audio Files

The Media Library can be accessed from the cog icon next to one’s profile in the top right hand corner of Brightspace. Video and audio files can be uploaded there and then linked through the HTML Editor via the steps below. See more about the Media Library here: Media Library