Canvas @ Yale has a WordPress integration that allows for a Course Blog to be linked in a Canvas course navigation menu and sync Canvas course rosters. This article will go over the basics of engaging with a WordPress Course Blog.
Table of Contents
This article will address the following information:
Accessing a Course Blog
If this is your first time accessing a WordPress Course Blog from Canvas, you will need to follow the directions below so that you are added to the blog correctly and granted the appropriate permissions.
- Log into Canvas @ Yale and navigate to your Canvas course with the Course Blog.
- In the left-hand Course Navigation, click on the "Course Blog" link.
- The WordPress Course Blog will open in a new tab.
- It may prompt you to log in with your school information. If this is the case, use your Yale NetID and password.
- You will be taken to the home page of the Course Blog. From here, you can start engaging with the blog.
Creating a New Post in a Course Blog
- When logged in to the WordPress Course Blog, you will see an admin bar across the top.
- If you don’t see the bar click "Login" under User Tools on the right hand menu.
- In the top admin bar hover over the “+New” button and select “Post” from the menu.
- Provide a Post title in the top text box.
- Add content in the main content area, including images, links, audio and video.
- Check out the Adding Media to a Post section below for more details.
- Under the "Categories" block to the right of the main content box, select the appropriate categories for the post, if applicable.
- Selecting the appropriate categories for a post helps to aggregate the posts for easier sorting and navigation.
- Once the post is ready, click the "Publish" button.
- If you want to view your post prior to publishing, click the "Preview" button.
Adding Media to a Post
A WordPress Course Blog post supports the ability to upload and embed media. The following options are available to you for adding media to a post.
Uploading / Adding Media Files
- On a post you are creating or editing, click the "Add Media" button above the main content area box.
- A pop-up box will open where you can select the "Add media" action in the left-hand menu, and click the "Upload files" tab.
- Either drag-and-drop your media into the area or click the "Select Files" button to search for your media file.
- Once the file is uploaded, you will automatically be taken the "Media Library" tab of the same pop-up box, where you can select the media you've uploaded.
- Once a media file is selected, you can set the "Alt Text" for the media file, as well as the "Title," "Caption," and "Description" as necessary.
- Be sure to cite the source for your media.
- Under the "Attachment Display Settings," choose the "Alignment" of the media of the post, as well as how you want the media linked on the post and what size you want it displayed at.
- When done, click the "Insert Into Post" button.
Adding an Image Link from a URL
- On a post you are creating or editing, click the "Add Media" button above the main content area box.
- A pop-up box will open where you can select the "Insert from URL" action in the left-hand menu.
- In the top box, paste the URL to an image from a site like Google Images, Wikimedia, etc.
- In the "Link Text" box, provide the text that you want to display in the post for users to click.
- When done, click the "Insert Into Post" button.
Embedding a Video
- On a post you are creating or editing, click the "Add Media" button above the main content area box.
- A pop-up box will open where you can select the "Insert Embed Code" action in the left-hand menu.
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Paste the embed code for your video into the box.
- Video hosting sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Panopto (Media Library) have a way to copy a video's embed code to use.
- When done, click the "Insert Into Post" button.
Commenting on a Post in a Course Blog
- In the Course Blog, click on the title of the post. Scroll to the bottom of the post and type your comment under the “Leave A Reply” text box.
- Once done writing, click the "Post Comment" button.
Changing Your WordPress Display Name
- When you first login to WordPress through the Course Blog integration on Canvas, your display name will be your NetID. In the top-right corner you will see “Howdy, [NetID]."
- Move your cursor over your NetID and click the “Edit Profile” menu item.
- Scroll down to the "Name" section, and add your First Name and Last Name in the text boxes.
- From the “Display Name Publicly As” drop down menu, select how you want your name displayed.
- When done, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Update Profile" button.
For more help, please contact [email protected].