Using the CARL Editor

1

Editor basics

The CARL editor is where you review, revise, organize, and prepare your lesson after it has been generated. You can make simple text edits directly, then use more advanced controls when you need to change layout or structure.

For most edits, start small: update text first, then adjust section structure only when the template needs more space or a different layout.

Edit contentClick inside text areas to update wording, instructions, learning goals, examples, and student-facing language.

Protect structureLocked template sections help keep the page clean while you are editing lesson content.

Adjust layoutUnlock sections only when you need to move, resize, or change the structure of the lesson page.

Area	What it is for	Best first action
Main editing area	The lesson canvas where your pages, sections, text, and content blocks appear.	Read through the generated lesson and make simple text edits first.
Editor toolbar	The formatting tools that appear when you select or edit text.	Use it for bold, italic, headings, lists, links, colour, and math formatting.
Section controls	Controls for moving, unlocking, restructuring, or restoring sections.	Use only when you need to adjust the layout, not just the wording.
Restore template layout	A reset option for sections that get messy after layout changes.	Use it when a section is misaligned, cramped, or hard to fix manually.

Beta note Some editor behaviours are still being refined, especially deeper layout editing. Save before making larger structural changes, and use Reset to Template Default if a section gets difficult to clean up.

2

Why lesson templates are locked

CARL lesson templates are locked by default to protect the structure of the page. This helps prevent accidental dragging, resizing, or layout changes while you are focused on editing the lesson content.

Locked does not mean uneditable. In most cases, you can still click into text areas, revise wording, update examples, and adjust lesson content without unlocking the section.

Locked section	What you can usually still do	What unlock is for
Text content	Edit wording, rewrite instructions, adjust goals, revise examples, and update teacher notes.	Not usually needed.
Lists	Edit list text, add lines where supported, remove lines where supported, and change wording.	Only needed if you are changing the section structure.
Layout structure	Protected from accidental movement or major layout changes.	Needed when moving, resizing, or restructuring a section.

Best default Keep the template locked while making normal wording edits. Unlock only when you need to change the section itself.

3

Unlock a section with right-click

When you need to move a section, resize it, or change the structure, right-click the section or block and choose Unlock. Once a section is unlocked, more layout controls become available.

1Right-click the section, block, or layout area you want to change.

2Choose Unlock from the menu.

3Make the layout change you need, such as moving, resizing, or adjusting section structure.

4Review the section after the change to make sure spacing, headings, and content still look clean.

5Save your lesson before making more structural changes.

Unlock carefully Unlock is useful, but it also makes it easier to accidentally shift a layout. Unlock one section at a time, check the result, then save if it looks right.

Use unlock when...	Do not bother unlocking when...
You need to move a section up or down.	You only need to rewrite text in a paragraph or bullet.
You need to resize or restructure a layout area.	You only need to bold, italicize, or change a heading.
You need to fix a layout that is not fitting the content.	You only need to add or remove a supported list line.

4

Use the editor toolbar

Use the toolbar for regular text editing and formatting. Click into a text field, select the text you want to change, then choose the formatting option you need.

Screen recording showing text formatting in the CARL editor

Click to enlarge

Select text in the editor, then use the toolbar to format it.

Toolbar option	Use it for	Example
Bold, italic, underline	Adding emphasis to key words, directions, or vocabulary.	Bold the main task students need to complete.
Headings	Creating clear section titles or subheadings inside a text area.	Use a heading for Materials, Activity, or Reflection.
Bullets and numbers	Breaking instructions into readable steps or short lists.	Turn a long paragraph into a student-friendly checklist.
Text colour and size	Small visual adjustments when a section needs better emphasis.	Use sparingly so printed or downloaded pages stay readable.
Subscript and superscript	Science formulas, exponents, and notation.	CO₂ or x².
Math	Adding formulas and equations in supported text fields.	Use the math option for equations students need to read clearly.

Practical tip Formatting should support readability, not decorate everything. For student-facing pages, clear headings, short lists, and consistent emphasis usually work better than lots of colour changes.

5

Move sections carefully

You can move sections when the lesson flow needs to change. For example, you may want a vocabulary section earlier, move a reflection closer to the end, or rearrange activity steps after reviewing the generated plan.

Because sections are part of the page layout, movement is safer after you unlock only the section you are changing.

1Save your current lesson before making larger layout changes.

2Right-click the section you want to move and choose Unlock.

3Use the section move controls to place it where it fits best in the lesson flow.

4Check the section above and below it to make sure spacing and headings still make sense.

5Save again once the order looks right.

Good to know If moving a section makes the layout feel cramped or misaligned, do not spend too long fighting it manually. Use the reset option in Section 7 to restore the template layout.

Move sections when...	Leave sections alone when...
The lesson sequence would make more sense in a different order.	The section order is fine and only the wording needs revision.
A support section needs to appear before an activity.	You are only trying to fix a typo or shorten instructions.
A reflection, check-in, or assessment belongs later in the lesson.	The layout is already working and the change is mostly cosmetic.

6

Edit section structure

Section structure is the layout of the page: where the text areas, columns, lists, image spaces, and content blocks sit. Change structure when the lesson needs a different layout, not when it only needs better wording.

Screen recording showing adding and removing lines in the CARL editor

Click to enlarge

For simple list edits, use supported add/remove line controls instead of changing the whole section layout.

Need	Best action	Why
More list items	Use the supported add line option where available.	This keeps the existing section structure intact.
Less text	Edit or shorten the text directly.	This is usually safer than changing the layout.
A new image area	Add a section, choose an image-friendly layout from Blocks → Layouts, then use Media to insert the image.	Blocks create the image space, Media adds the image.
A new organizer or table	Add a section or select an existing slot, then add a Block.	Blocks are designed for smaller pieces inside an existing page.
A very different section design	Unlock the section, make the structural change, then review the layout carefully.	Structural edits can affect spacing and flow.

Simple rule Edit text directly. Use Blocks for smaller additions. Unlock only when you need to change the structure of the section itself.

7

Reset a section to the template default

If a section gets messy after moving, resizing, or changing the layout, use the reset option to restore that section back to the template default. This is usually faster than trying to manually repair every spacing or alignment issue.

Click to enlarge

Use the restore option when a section has become misaligned, cramped, or hard to fix manually.

1Select the section that needs to be fixed.

2Look for the restore or reset option for the template layout.

3Choose the restore option to return the section to its original template structure.

4Review the restored section and re-add only the edits you still need.

5Save once the section looks clean again.

Before resetting Resetting can remove structural changes you made to that section. If you added important content, copy it first or be ready to re-add it after the reset.

8

Quick reference

Use this quick reference when you are not sure whether to edit text, use the toolbar, add a block, unlock a section, or reset the template layout.

What you want to do	Best option	Why
Change wording	Click into the text and edit directly.	No unlock needed for normal content changes.
Format text	Use the editor toolbar.	This keeps the section structure intact.
Add an image space	Use Blocks → Layouts, then Media.	Blocks create the space, Media adds the image.
Add a table, organizer, or question area	Select a slot and add a Block.	Blocks are for smaller additions inside existing pages.
Move a section	Right-click, unlock, move carefully, then save.	Movement is structural, so unlock is usually needed.
Fix a messy section	Use Reset to Template Default.	It is faster and safer than manually rebuilding a broken layout.