WHERe’S My Stuff? (version 2.0)

1. WHERe’S My Stuff?(version 2.0) Are your students content with your content? Sherry Lindquist and Karen Znajda Northland Community and Technical College (click on our pictures to hear our commentary) Presentation, transcript, and all resources available at http://accessibledesign.wikispaces.com

2. sherry.lindquist@northlandcollege.edu karen.znajda@northlandcollege.edu What is our challenge? • To design intuitive modules with accessible content using basic design principles. During the session, we hope to: • Encourage greater use of the Desire2Learn Community • Shift content focus from Handout Central to Learning Environment Using the WHERe’S My Stuff model: Widgets, Homepages, Editing tools, Release and Reporting tools, and Something Special. • Experiment and share with colleagues

3. Join the Desire2Learn Community • Enroll at https://community.desire2learn.com/enroll.asp • Explore Community Updates, Documentation, and My Community Courses • Community updates—news and past conferences • Documentation—excellent “tools” handouts in PDF on left side of screen • My Community Courses—customized based on your enrollment

4. Widgets What are they? • Customized boxes for text, links, embedded video, graphics Where are they? • Under “Edit Course” in the tools list, create homepage first! How can I use them? • As Quick Links on the course home page • For resources or special notices

5. Widgets: Resources Resources • Desire2Learn Community Documentation: Desire2Learn Homepages and Navigation Bars User's Guide (pages 7-9, and remember to create a new personal home page to place your widget!) • CNET Downloads--Audacity 1.2.6 (a free voice recorder/editor for podcasts or short messages to include in “News”, try the beta version 1.3 for automatic MP3 exports)

6. Homepages: “Above the Fold” Our goal is to minimize scrolling whenever possible! Check permissions, create before adding widgets Experiment with best placement, right side works well Resources • Desire2Learn Community Documentation: Desire2Learn Homepages and Navigation Bars User's Guide (see pages 3-7, and remember to create a new home page if you want a place for your widgets later)

7. Editing Tools Editing in broad sense Design decisions related to creating/presenting content for best accessibility Tools we use • Desire2Learn tools, Microsoft® Word 2010, Adobe® Acrobat 9 Professional, SoftChalk® Desire2Learn Tools—ask yourself: • When and for how long will students access material? • Will all student access content at same time? • Will all students access the same content?

8. Desire2Learn Tools • Consider horizontal versus vertical module/topic listing • Consider collapsing content within topics—see example

9. Desire2Learn Tools • Use customized calendars to focus attention

10. Desire2Learn Tools • Use date availability/release conditions to avoid overwhelming students (could also be used in gradebook and quiz areas) • Use headings available in the “advanced” tab of HTML editor and “alt-tag” options to mark graphics as content-related or decorative • Embedding versus linking—we suggest embedding video whenever possible, one less click, and a more immediate way of grabbing attention

11. Other Editing Tools Microsoft® Word 2007/2010 • Explore accessibility tools including “Styles” options, tables of contents, indices, and captions for graphics and hyperlinks, then convert to PDF before uploading (students can save documents to their drives easily with PDF) Adobe® Acrobat Professional 9 • Documents created in Word 2007 can be converted to PDF, students with the professional version can access the “Read Out Loud” feature

12. Other Editing Tools SoftChalk® • Easy-to-use HTML creator/editor, low cost • 30-day free trial, can use whatever you create • Multiple prompts for accessibility • Learning games for enrichment or as graded assignments • Can be customized for institutional “branding”

13. Resources • Desire2Learn Community Documentation: Desire2Learn HTML Editor User Guide, Desire2Learn Creating Accessible Course Content User Guide (see pages 2-3 for organization, pages 4-5 for web content standards) • Microsoft® Office: Using Styles in Word 2007 • Adobe® Acrobat: Accessibility Training Resources (for basic background, then check out Links and Resources) • SoftChalk® Lesson Builder: Download 30-day Trialwith User’s Guide and D2L Integration Guide

14. Release Conditions and Reporting Tools Release Conditions Release conditions and availability under “restrictions” tab when editing content • Use to control number of modules/topics • Use to release additional material (remedial or enhanced) Reporting Tools (Statistics and Feedback) • How are students accessing content? How satisfied are they?

15. Reporting Tools: Statistics/Feedback Statistics viewed by content item or by user • Track when key content is opened, time spent not as important • Option to e-mail students who have not accessed content under “content” tab Feedback (students click on comment balloon) • Comment balloon offers anonymous or signed ratings (1-5 stars) • Free response box also available • Option to reply by e-mail for students not opting for anonymous—see example next slide Note: Statistics and Feedback can be exported for analysis

16. Sample statistics, click “users” for individual data Sample feedback, click ratings to see individual ratings and comments

17. Resources • Desire2Learn Community Documentation: Desire2Learn Release Conditions User Guide (see pages 1-7), Desire2Learn Creating Accessible Course Content User Guide (see page 4) • Desire2Learn Community Documentation: Desire2Learn Content User Guide (see pages 36-38 for viewing content reports and content feedback)

18. Something Special YouTube—a few of our favorites as links to save space Physical Assessment--Part 1 Cruising the Caribbean with the Z's IM Remix Evolution of Dance How to Paint the Mona Lisa with MS Paint One Year in 40 Seconds • Consider using some “fun” ones as conditional releases for high scores on major assignments, invite student suggestions.

19. Something Special Articulate • Expensive ($1100 with “Engage” add on) but nice • Create PowerPoint-based “movies” with narration and interactive features including self-tests • Can be packaged for e-mail or CD delivery as well as Desire2Learn • Good way to review key elements of lecture SitePal or Voki • Create a talking animation for announcements, low monthly fee (under $10) or free with Voki • Select character, clothing, scenes—more options with SitePal

20. Other Resources • ToonDoo (a free "comic book" creator, useful for welcome and course tours) • Animoto (free and fee site to bundle existing photos into animations with sound clips) • How to Podcast with Audacity(step-by-step directions on creating podcasts using Audacity's free software) • Google Gadgets(add fun and educational gadgets in your widgets, view with caution, some “R-rated” material)

21. Data to Ponder (For details, please check the handout) • Sherry found the number of students viewing key content (i.e. syllabus and course schedule) steadily increased with changes in widgets and content presentation, between 2005-2009. There was also a corresponding decrease in the number of students failing the course, although that can’t be correlated at this point. • Karen found that students overwhelmingly preferred content displayed vertically, and they also wanted to see all the grade items from the beginning of the semester. Students also reported satisfaction with the ease of accessing content, with over 98% stating they felt the content was easy to access. • BOTH of us get far fewer frantic calls and e-mails, our primary goal to begin with, so we’re happy with the results!

22. Don’t be shy. • Come on up and show us what you’ve been doing!

23. Contact Us Sherry Lindquist • sherry.lindquist@northlandcollege.edu Karen Znajda • karen.znajda@northlandcollege.edu • Or write to us at Northland Community and Technical College, 2022 Central Avenue NE, East Grand Forks, MN 56721