Accessibility Question - How to copy and paste Math Type equationsinto Canvas?

[jysuresh]

I have many files in .docx or .doc that I would like to copy and paste to my Canvas pages.  Unfortunately, my equations that I have created with either MathType or Equations Editor on Word do not carry over.  Is there a way to copy equations from MathType on a Word document into Canvas easily?  This affects a lot of Math faculty who have painstakingly written notes on MathType and now are being told that we need to transfer it all into Canvas Pages for accessibility reasons.

[bob12 · Accepted solution]

Since you didn't mention MathType in Canvas, I'll assume you're only using MathType in Word, and don't have the MathType editor for Canvas. However, the first few steps are the same regardless, and assume you have MathType installed and integrated with Word.

1. Look for the Toggle TeX command on the MathType tab in Word:
   
2. You can convert the equations one at a time or all at once. I recommend one at a time. To convert them (toggle them to LaTeX) all at once, select the entire document -- Ctrl+A (Command+A on Mac). For our single-equation conversion, we'll select an equation then click the Toggle TeX button (if you prefer shortcut keys, it's Ctrl+\).
3. We've started with equation 4, so here's what that question looks like now:
   
4. If it's still selected, great. Just copy it. (If it's not selected, select everything between [but not including] $ signs, then copy it.)
5. In Canvas, open either the Canvas Equation Editor or MathType.
   1. Canvas Equation Editor. Open the editor and click the Switch View to Advanced link. Click inside the editing box and paste what you copied from Word. If you copied from Word with the $ signs included, delete them now. Verify the equation is correct, then click Insert Equation.
      
   2. MathType for Canvas. Open the editor and paste what you copied from Word. Verify the equation is correct and make any necessary changes either in the graphic editor or by hand. Click OK when you've verified the equation:
      
6. Repeat for the remaining questions:
   

[jysuresh]

This is fantastic!!

Thank you so much for these detailed instructions. It saves me a lot of

time and trouble.

Jyothi Suresh

Math Chair

Room 711A

On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 9:53 AM bob@wiris.com <instructure@jiveon.com>

[jshields3]

I figured out how to put an equation directly into a Canvas page, but it saves it as an image, which is not helpful for accessibility. Am I doing something wrong? I had heard on an online teaching webinar that it does save them as an image. I have to convert an in person class to online just for this current situation.

[bob12]

It will be an image yes, but both the Canvas Equation Editor and MathType create alt text to accompany the image when you create an equation. Take for example the equation I used in my original reply:

 

Here's the alt text from that equation image:

• Canvas EE: alt="LaTeX: \frac{{(x-5)}^2}4+\frac{{(y-8)}^2}{25}=2"
• MathType: alt="left parenthesis x minus 5 right parenthesis squared over 4 plus left parenthesis y minus 8 right parenthesis squared over 25 equals 2"

Clearly there's a difference. You decide which one is better for the students you're working with, but they both include alt text.

[James]

 @jshields3 ,

Bob's example clearly shows a difference. And if you don't like either one of those, you can go in to the HTML editor and change the alt tag yourself. Some might prefer an AsciiMath-ish representation like "(x-5)^2/4+(y-8)^2/25=2"

And tricky of Bob to make the right hand side a 2 instead of a 1. Makes the students think.

[bob12]

Good point about the HTML editor and manually changing the alt tag. I wouldn't want to have to do that for every equation, but the capability is there. For a one-off here and there, it's a good option to have.

[jshields3]

Creates the correct alt text??!! I had no idea this existed. Yay! Unfortunately, I am not seeing it as an app I have available, but I will be asking for it. I had to deal with HTML with Moodle. I did  not enjoy it and would prefer to not go down that road again. 

Thanks everyone!