Use Headings in the Canvas
Headings are crucial for structuring digital content, improving accessibility for users with disabilities, ensuring functionality with screen readers, and improving scanning, navigation, search engine optimization.
Content hierarchy structure:
- Heading 1 is your title - In Canvas, any title box handles H1 for you.
- Heading 2 is used for main sections of paragraph text - manually change from paragraph style to Heading 2.
- Heading 3 is used for sub-sections within main sections.
- Heading 4 is used for sub-sub-sections within sub-sections.
It is important to keep your content organized. Well-organized content helps users to orient themselves and to navigate effectively. Also, organized content ensures screen readers deliver the content accurately.
- Open the Page, Discussion board, Assignment, Quiz, Announcement, or anywhere in Canvas you are using the Rich Content Editor.
- Highlight the text you wish to have as the header text.
- From the toolbar in the rich content editor, click on the down arrow located next to “paragraph” on the second row of the toolbar, then select Heading 2.
- For pages that have sub-section titles, use Heading 3 and if you have further organization use Heading 4.
Step 1
Open the Page, Discussion board, Assignment, Quiz, Announcement, or anywhere in Canvas you are using the Rich Content Editor.
Step 2
Highlight the text you wish to have as the header text.
Step 3
From the toolbar in the rich content editor, click on the down arrow located next to “paragraph” on the second row of the toolbar, then select Heading 2.
Step 4
For pages that have sub-section titles, use Heading 3.
Canvas Headings FAQ
How does using Headings help people with disabilities?
Users who need assistive technology, such as a screen reader, will inform the user about the organization of the document. Neurodivergent users will also benefit from the visual organization.
Is there a law about having accessible documents?
Yes, section 508 of Title III in the Americans with Disabilities act requires any digital documents that are available to the public should comply with guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.
Do Headings help readers who do not have any disabilities?
Users often scan web pages to decide which sections to read. Lack of headings makes this process much harder, potentially causing visitors to skip sections of your document.