Using the Creator+ features of Brightspace Editor

The Creator+ package extends the Brightspace Editor with additional features to help you create more dynamic customized content. In addition to all the basic Brightspace Editor features, these Creator+ features make it easier for non-technical users to customize content to meet their needs. The Brightspace Editor Insert Element and Practices support using the HTML file language attribute to build content in the language of your learners. The language setting you set appears in content as well as on buttons to expand content, viewing solutions and scores on Practices, and ARIA labels. To use the language attribute in content, ensure the d2l.Tools.Content.ApplyPageLangAttribute is set.

Insert Element

The Creator+ Insert Element tool allows content creators to add dynamic components with a user-friendly authoring experience that does not require HTML coding knowledge or experience.

Administrators in organizations who have purchased the Creator+ add-on can turn on the Insert Element features as follows:

  1. In Admin Tools, click Tools.

  2. Scroll down the tool list to find Insert Element.

  3. Click the Availability toggle to switch it to On.

Note: There are no permissions required to use Insert Element; however, access to all Creator+ tools is controlled with the d2l.Tools.CreatorPlus.IsEnabled configuration variable.

To use the Insert Element features

  1. In the Content tool, create a new content topic or open an existing content topic.

  2. Click the Other Insert Options overflow menu in the Brightspace Editor.

  3. Select Insert Element from the menu.

    The Insert Element option on the Other Insert Options menu.

    Figure: The Insert Element option on the Other Insert Options menu.

  4. Select the element you want to create from the available list:

    • Accordion

    • Tabs

    • Click and reveal

    • Callout

    • Timeline

    • Stylized quote

    • Flip cards

  5. Complete the required fields to configure the element.

  6. Click Preview, and when you are satisfied with the element, click Insert.

To edit an inserted element

  1. In the Brightspace editor, select the element you have added.

  2. Click Edit using the icon at the top of the element to open the editing interface. You can also move the object up or down to change the order or delete the object from this panel.
    Note: If your element object is the top object on the page, the edit panel appears at the bottom of the object.

Note: You can edit some aspects of the elements using the code editor; however, it is not possible to directly edit inserted elements outside the edit workflow in the WYSIWYG interface. You must launch the Insert Element edit workflow.

Using Insert Element with templates

It is possible that Insert Element can conflict with existing styling of a page if the HTML topic has a previously applied stylesheet. To mitigate this, when you are using an unrecognized style sheet on the page, the Insert Element tool is disabled to prevent accidental conflicts that could impact your existing topic. This impact does not extend to Practice objects, which can continue to be used.

Alert message when attempting to use Insert Element with a conflicting style sheet

Figure:Alert message when attempting to use Insert Element with a conflicting style sheet

Insert Practices

Creator+ Insert Practices empowers you to create formative and interactive learning activities to let learners test their comprehension and get immediate feedback on their understanding of a topic outside of a formal assessment.

Important: Sandboxed courses do not render Practices.

To turn on the Practice feature:

  1. From your Organization home page, click Admin Tools.

  2. Under Organization Related, click Organization Tools.

  3. Scroll down the Tool Availability list to find Practices.

  4. Click the Availability toggle to ON

Note: There are no permissions required to use Practices; however, access to all Creator+ tools is controlled with the d2l.Tools.CreatorPlus.IsEnabled configuration variable.

After the Practices tool is turned on, Insert Practice appears in the Insert Other Options menu of the Brightspace Editor:

The location of the Insert Practice option under Insert Other Options button

Figure: The location of the Insert Practice option under Insert Other Options button.

Users can select a type of Practice from a menu, including:

  • Fill in the blanks - Drop-down selections or typed response

  • Multi-Select

  • Multiple Choice

  • Sequencing

  • Sorting

  • True or False

Each practice has its own workflow to complete the required information, and a preview accompanies the build so that course creators can observe how learners will experience the created practice. A preview accompanies the build so that course creators can observe how learners will experience the created practice.

Note: Practice scores are not saved or tracked; they are only intended to provide the learner with immediate feedback.

Add a Drop-down Fill in the Blanks practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the Brightspace Editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click Dropdown Fill in the Blank.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. Add your Question Text. To create a blank space, type the word 'blank' and a number inside double square brackets, for example, [[blank1]].

    An example of question text with blanks

    Figure: An example of question text with blanks.

  6. Click Update Blanks.

  7. Add the Correct Answer and at least one Incorrect Answer for each blank space. Use Add Incorrect Answer to add additional incorrect answers. To delete an answer, click the Trashcan icon.
    An example of correct and incorrect answers
    Figure: An example of correct and incorrect answers.

  8. In the How will this practice be scored? field, choose one of the following options:

    • All or Nothing (default)

    • Correct Selections

    A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface. You can check answers by clicking the corresponding button.

  9. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  10. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  11. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  12. To edit the Practice, select the Dropdown Fill in the Blank practice and select Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Add a Multi-Select practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the Brightspace Editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click Multi-Select practice.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. Add your Question Text. To add an image to your question, click Add Image > Choose File; navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey any information needed to complete the question.

    3. Click Save.

  6. Add Answers. Use the Add Answer link to add more answers. To delete an answer, click the Trashcan icon. If needed, add an image to your answer by clicking Add Image > Choose File. Then navigate to the image on your computer and select it.

    1. Add Alternative text to an image to provide information for those with visual impairments by entering it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey information.

    3. Click Save.

  7. Select all correct answers.
    An example of selected correct answers for the Multi-Select practice
    Figure: An example of selected correct answers for the Multi-Select practice.

  8. To randomize the answer order, select Randomize answer order.

  9. In the field How will this practice be scored?, choose one of the following options:

    • All or Nothing (default)

    • Right Minus Wrong Selection

      A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface. You can check answers by clicking the corresponding button.

  10. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  11. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  12. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  13. To edit the Practice, select Multi-Select practice and click Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Add a Multiple Choice practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click Multiple Choice practice.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. Add your Question Text. To add an image to your question, click Add Image > Choose File; then navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey any information needed to complete the question.

    3. Click Save.

  6. Add Answers. Click the Add Answer link to add additional answers. To delete an answer, click the Trashcan icon. To add an image to your answer, click Add Image > Choose File. Then navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey any information needed to convey the answer.

    3. Click Save.

  7. Select the correct answer. You can select only one correct answer for each question.
    An example of a selected correct answer for the Multiple Choice practice
    Figure: An example of a selected correct answer for the Multiple Choice practice.

  8. To randomize the answer order, select Randomize answer order.
    A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface. You can check answers by clicking the corresponding button.

  9. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  10. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  11. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  12. To edit the Practice, select Multiple Choice practice and click Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Add a Sorting Practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click Sorting.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. To indicate the total number of items in each category, click the Display Item Count per Category check box.

  6. For each category, add a Category Label. Additionally, you have the following options:

    • There are four categories by default.

    • Use the arrow buttons to re-arrange the order of categories.

    • To delete a category, click the Trashcan icon.

  7. To add an image to a category, click Add Image > Choose File; then navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey any information required to understand the category.

    3. Click Save.

  8. To add sortable items to a category, click the Category box and then enter the name of the item. Additionally, you have the following options:

    • Each category has one sortable item by default.

    • To delete a sortable item, click the Trashcan icon.

    • To add additional sortable items to the category, click Add Sortable Item.

  9. To add an image to a sortable item, Click Add Image > Choose File; then navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey information.

    3. Click Save.

      A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface.

  10. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  11. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  12. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  13. To edit the Practice, select the Sorting practice and click Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Add a Sequencing Practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the Brightspace Editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click Sequencing.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. To have the sequence numbered, click the Display Numeric Sequence check box.

  6. Add a Sequence Step and Sequenceable Item for each Sequence Step. Additionally, you have the following options:

    • There are four Sequence Steps by default.

    • To delete a Sequence Step, click the Trashcan icon.

    • To add additional Sequence Steps, click Add Sequence Step.

  7. To add an image to a Sequence Step or Sequenceable Item, click Add Image > Choose File. Then navigate to the image location and select it.

    1. To provide information for those with visual impairments, enter it into the Alternative Text field.

    2. Click the This Image is Decorative check box if the image does not convey information.

    3. Click Save.
      A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface.

  8. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  9. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  10. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  11. To edit the Practice, select the Sequencing practice and click Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Add a True or False practice

  1. In the Content tool, click to open Brightspace Editor in a new or existing content topic.

  2. From the Brightspace Editor navbar, click Insert Other Options > Insert Practice.

  3. Click True or False.

  4. Add a Title, Short Description, and Instructions.

    Note: The Short Description field is visible only to Content Editors when editing the Content Topic.

  5. In the Question Text field, add your statement.

  6. In Answers, select if each part of the statement is true or false.
    An example of the false statement for the True or False practice

    Figure: An example of the false statement for the True or False practice.

    A preview of the practice appears to the right of the interface.

  7. To view the practice as a user would see it, click Preview.

  8. Click Insert once you have completed the practice.

  9. Click the X button to close the Practice interface.

  10. To edit the Practice, select the True or False practice and click Edit. You can also use this panel to delete or move the practice.

Edit a Practice

  1. In the Brightspace Editor, while editing a Content HTML page, select the practice you have added.

  2. Click Edit using the icon at the top of the element to open the editing interface. You can also move the object up or down to change the order or delete the object from this panel.

    Note: You can edit some aspects of the elements using the code editor; however, it is not possible to directly edit inserted elements outside the edit workflow in the WYSIWYG interface. You must launch the Insert Element edit workflow.