Accessibility in BlackBoard Learn

Accessibility in BlackBoard Learn Anastasia 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 • Use the Outline button on the WAVE toolbar to see if the web page has logical heading structure. • Again using the WAVE toolbar, check for Errors, Features, and Alerts. • Try tabbing through the page. • 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 ownvideos? 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-disabilities/ • 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: @PNCOLT • http://www.pnc.edu/distance for all workshop notes, links, and training needs

Accessibility in BlackBoard Learn