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Accessibility in BlackBoard LearnAnastasia Trekles, Ph.D.

+What is Accessibility?

Refers to the concept and practice of making electronic documents (websites, PDFs, etc) usable by all, including persons with disabilities

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not hard to keep accessibility in mind while developing your online materials

+The Importance of Accessibility

Not everyone uses computers and the Internet in the same way, but everyone CAN use these tools successfully

Assistive technology can help people with visual, mobility, and other sensory, cognitive, or physical disabilities use technology effectively

Strategies that we employ in our online development can also make a user’s experience that much better

Consider that there are many disabilities we cannot even see!

+The 10-second Accessibility Test Terrill Thompson’s 10 Second Web Accessibility Test

1. Use the Outline button on the WAVE toolbar to see if the web page has logical heading structure.

2. Again using the WAVE toolbar, check for Errors, Features, and Alerts.

3. Try tabbing through the page.

4. If the page includes video content, try playing a video to see if it's captioned.

W3C-WAI Demo site

Accessible University 2.0

+Accessibility Features of BlackBoard Very compatible with most

screen readers like JAWS (see https://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Resources/Accessibility/Accessibility-Resources.aspx)

But there are additional things you can do to make your course more accessible also

+Name your Pictures

When uploading and inserting a picture, be sure that is has a Description and Title

This should be a simple title of no more that one or two sentences, or a summary phrase

Complex images like graphs should be described in more detail as a download or Item with text

+Use PDFs with “real” text

Some PDFs that are scanned from another source are actually images and cannot be read in a screen reader

Make sure your PDF files are actual text and tagged as well as possible

Use Styles (Headings, Paragraph, etc.) in Word if converting Word to PDF

See http://webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/

See http://webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/converting for converting from Word

+Use Captioned Videos or Transcripts

Captions can do wonders for many students in understanding a video, not just the deaf

Automatic YouTube captions are not ideal – use your own or a transcript wherever possible

Lecture notes and transcripts should be able to take the place of the video if you use them

Making your own videos? Seehttp://www.techsmith.com/tutorial-camtasia-8.html

Useful tips on caption and transcript development: http://webaim.org/techniques/captions/

+Contact Publishers

When you use publisher-created content, there may or may not be a guarantee of accessibility

When in doubt, consult with the publisher directly about any concerns or student issues

Also don’t hesitate to contact the Disability Services Coordinator - http://www.pnc.edu/sa/disability-services/

+Be Flexible

Be willing to be flexible when students have accessibility issues

Be willing to provide alternative content, more time on tests, or even alternative assignments when necessary

Again, contacting the OLT or Disability Services will help!

+Making Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Testing and giving extra time Currently must make a copy of the exam and set Adaptive

Release Next fall there will be a special exemptions option so no

more test copies!

Learn more: http://www.pnc.edu/distance/testing-with-students-with-disa

bilities/

http://www.pnc.edu/distance/learn-tutorials/

+LockDown Browser

LockDown Browser is great for proctored environments but consider whether you really need LDB for online test-takers

NEW: You can add some features to make LDB more accessible – see the Advanced Settings in LDB Course Tool

Tip: do NOT Lock Browser on completion with new settings for online test-takers

+Mobile BlackBoard Accessibility

An app for accessibility to BlackBoard through iPhone/iPad or Android-based devices is available

Cost: $5.99 for unlimited use, or $1.99 for one year

Allows for: Checking (but not giving) grades Posting Announcements Reviewing and replying to discussion posts, blogs, and journals Viewing and posting course content and learning materials (can accept

attachments via DropBox) Taking mobile-friendly tests (requires the use of Mobile-Compatible Test

assessment type)

+Accessibility Resources

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Helpful video accessibility checklist: https://www.howto.gov/social-media/video/508-compliant-video-guide/video-accessibility-checklist

PDF accessibility: http://webaim.org/techniques/acrobat /

Many other excellent articles on making various materials accessible: http://webaim.org/articles/

WAVE accessibility checker for websites and HTML: http://wave.webaim.org

+More Accessibility Resources

PNC: http://www.pnc.edu/distance/webaccessibility/

Purdue Calumet (thanks to Pam Riesmeyer): http://webs.purduecal.edu/webaccessibility/

University of Washington DO-IT Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology

AccessIT

University of Wisconsin – Madison DoIT: Division of Information Technology

Penn State University: AccessAbility

+BlackBoard Resources

Using Blackboard with JAWS Screen Reader: https://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Resources/Accessibility/JAWS-Demo.aspx

Creating accessible course content: http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/documents/getting_started_with_accessible_content.pdf

Complete screen reader tutorial for use with BlackBoard: http://support.courses.maine.edu/faculty-staff-support/screen-reader-tutorial

Study on comparing the top LMS systems (2013): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3486333/csun2013/lms_compared_paper_2013.html

+Thanks!

Reach us at: pncolt@pnc.edu Twitter and Facebook: @PNCOLThttp://www.pnc.edu/distance for all workshop notes, links, and training needs