Transcript + 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,

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Accessibility in BlackBoard
Learn
Anastasia Trekles, Ph.D.
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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
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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!
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The 10-second Accessibility Test
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Terrill Thompson’s 10 Second Web Accessibility Test
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2.
3.
4.
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
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Accessible University 2.0
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Accessibility Features of
BlackBoard

Very compatible with most
screen readers like JAWS (see
https://www.blackboard.com/
Platforms/Learn/Resources/A
ccessibility/AccessibilityResources.aspx)

But there are additional things
you can do to make your
course more accessible also
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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
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Complex images like graphs
should be described in more
detail as a download or Item
with text
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Use PDFs with “real” text

Some PDFs that are scanned
from another source are actually
images and cannot be read in a
screen reader
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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
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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/
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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/disabilit
y-services/
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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:
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http://www.pnc.edu/distance/testing-with-students-withdisabilities/
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http://www.pnc.edu/distance/learn-tutorials/
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LockDown Browser

LockDown Browser is great for
proctored environments but
consider whether you really
need LDB for online test-takers
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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
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Mobile BlackBoard Accessibility

An app for accessibility to BlackBoard through iPhone/iPad or Androidbased devices is available

Cost: $5.99 for unlimited use, or $1.99 for one year

Allows for:
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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)
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Accessibility Resources
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W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Helpful video accessibility checklist: https://www.howto.gov/socialmedia/video/508-compliant-video-guide/video-accessibility-checklist
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PDF accessibility: http://webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/
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Many other excellent articles on making various materials accessible:
http://webaim.org/articles/
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WAVE accessibility checker for websites and HTML:
http://wave.webaim.org
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More Accessibility Resources
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PNC: http://www.pnc.edu/distance/webaccessibility/
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Purdue Calumet (thanks to Pam Riesmeyer):
http://webs.purduecal.edu/webaccessibility/
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University of Washington DO-IT
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Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology
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AccessIT
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University of Wisconsin – Madison DoIT: Division of Information
Technology
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Penn State University: AccessAbility
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BlackBoard Resources

Using Blackboard with JAWS Screen Reader:
https://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Resources/Accessibility/JAWSDemo.aspx
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Creating accessible course content:
http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/documents/getting_started_with_accessible_co
ntent.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
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Thanks!
Reach us at:
[email protected]
Twitter
and Facebook: @PNCOLT
http://www.pnc.edu/distance for all
workshop notes, links, and training
needs