DesignPLUS features are not affected by the introduction of the Canvas Block Editor
Instructure’s plans for a new Block Editor feature was originally introduced at InstructureCon in 2023 in the form of AI page creation features. In 2024, Instructure revealed a revised version called the Block Editor. First of all, we’re happy to see Instructure focused on making the content creation process easier, because everyone wins when students get better courses!
At this time, the Canvas Block Editor is a set of features that will make it easier for novice users to get some pages created in Canvas compared to doing so with the Rich Content Editor (RCE).
Instructure knows that there are a lot of users that will need more options and freedom when creating content in Canvas, and that’s why they will always continue to support the RCE. This means DesignPLUS will continue to be THE must-have set of add-on tools to truly enable users of varying skill levels to create beautiful, engaging, accessible content in Canvas. As a reminder of all that DesignPLUS does beyond Canvas, check out our whitepaper.
As an Instructure partner, we are working with them to explore opportunities to integrate with and/or add value on top of the Block Editor. Cidi Labs remains dedicated to our mission of providing clever, affordable tools for Canvas that solve important problems. We’re confident that our amazing team with deep domain (and Canvas!) expertise will continue to provide value for Canvas users everywhere, beyond what Canvas alone provides.
Instructure moved the Block Editor to open Beta in December 2024.
12-11-2024 Announcement from Instructure
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Canvas Block Editor be required?
No, the Block Editor will be a feature that institutions can toggle on and off and users can choose to use or not. Enabling the block editor will not affect the DesignPLUS Sidebar in any way. When enabled, users are simply provided with a block editor option when creating a new Page.
Will the Canvas Block Editor replace DesignPLUS?
No, the Canvas Block Editor will not replace the Rich Content Editor (RCE) in which DesignPLUS functions. Institutions will be able to use both simultaneously in a course. When creating a new page, users will be able to decide to use the Block Editor or the RCE to create the page.
The Block Editor is a simple solution to help novice users quickly generate styled pages. It does not and will not have the extensive features that DesignPLUS offers.
Can DesignPLUS integrate with Block Editor pages?
It is likely DesignPLUS will be able to integrate with Block Editor pages. One of the block options in the Block Editor is an "RCE block." This option adds a block into the design that has a Rich Content Editor in which we may be able to allow users to apply DesignPLUS features and styles. This will require further development and testing to confirm.
Update 12/23/24: Canvas has removed the "RCE block" option from the Block Editor. This means that DesignPLUS will not be able to integrate with Block Editor pages.
Where can the Block Editor be used?
The Block Editor will only work for new Pages in Canvas. It does not work for assignments, discussions, quizzes, announcements, or syllabi. It also does not work for existing pages built with the RCE. This means there will be many places in a course where DesignPLUS works but the Block Editor doesn't.
Content created in the Block Editor cannot be copy/pasted into the RCE to edit. It also cannot be imported as a template via the DesignPLUS sidebar. This is because Block Editor contents are not stored as HTML in the API.
The DesignPLUS QuickStart Wizard offers a way to quickly generate new styled content using DesignPLUS Templates and Content Blocks and is available everywhere the RCE is available. Explore the differences between the Block Editor and the DesignPLUS QuickStart Wizard.