The Importance of Digital Accessibility

In today’s digital world, access to online information, services, and tools is essential for work, education, and daily life. However, not everyone experiences content in the same way. Digital accessibility ensures that people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments, can navigate, understand, and interact with digital content effectively.

What Is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility refers to designing websites, applications, and digital content in a way that accommodates all users, regardless of ability. This includes providing alternative text for images, captions for videos, keyboard-friendly navigation, screen reader compatibility, and more. 

Why Is Digital Accessibility Important?

1. Inclusivity and Equal Access – The internet should be usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Accessibility ensures that no one is left behind.

2. Legal Compliance – Many countries have laws requiring digital accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act.

3. Improved User Experience – Accessible design benefits all users, including those using mobile devices, voice assistants, or low-bandwidth connections.

4. Business and Ethical Advantages – Companies that prioritize accessibility can reach a broader audience, improve customer satisfaction, and demonstrate social responsibility.

How to Improve Digital Accessibility

You can take several steps to make your course and documents more accessible:

Make Courses More Accessible

Use Alternative Text (Alt Text) – Provide descriptive alt text for images so screen readers can convey their content to visually impaired users.

Provide Captions and Transcripts – Add captions to videos and provide transcripts for audio content to support users with hearing impairments.

Maintain Sufficient Color Contrast – Use high-contrast color combinations to help users with visual impairments or color blindness.

Use Descriptive Links – Instead of vague terms like “Click here,” use descriptive text such as “Download the accessibility guide.”

Make Documents More Accessible

Use Headings and Styles Properly – Structure documents with headings (H1, H2, etc.) to improve navigation for screen readers.

Use Clear Fonts and Sizing – Choose readable fonts and ensure text size is adjustable.

Add Alternative Text for Images – Provide descriptions for images in documents.

Ensure Table Accessibility – Use proper table headers and avoid complex layouts that may confuse screen readers.

Use the Ally Course Accessibility Report

Click on the Ally Course Accessibility Report in Canvas to see your course accessibility score. This tool not only shows you your course score, but ways to improve it. The goal is 90%.

By incorporating these accessibility practices, we can create a more inclusive digital environment that benefits everyone. Have more questions? Feel free to reach out to eLearning at elearning@pgcc.edu or search Cornerstone for accessibility webinars.

 Steps to Preparing Your Canvas Course (with a sprinkle of fun!)

As educators, we know that a well-constructed Canvas course can set the tone for an engaging and productive semester. Whether you're a veteran instructor or prepping for your first class, this guide will help you craft an accessible and polished course in no time. And because faculty meetings and syllabi can sometimes feel... less than thrilling, we've added a touch of levity to the course-building process!

________________________________________

1. Copy & Build: Make Life Easier!

Pro Tip: Work smarter, not harder.

Why reinvent the wheel when you can copy content from a master or previous semester course? Check out the Import Content Knowledge Article to get started. Who knows, the 20 minutes you save could be your ticket to a second cup of coffee—or finally tackling that pesky Rubik’s cube that’s on your desk.

________________________________________

2. Revise Your Syllabus: The Backbone of Your Course

Pro Tip: The syllabus is your contract and a student guide to learning.

Grab the latest syllabus template from the course's Syllabus page, fill it out, and upload it. Want to keep it interesting? Add a personal touch, like your favorite book recommendation or a fun fact about yourself. For example, "Your instructor speaks 3 languages!”

________________________________________

3. Adjust Due Dates: Keep It Current

Pro Tip: Avoid the “Oops! That was last year’s date” email.

Use the Update Due Dates Knowledge Article to align all assignments and exams with the current semester calendar. Students appreciate a syllabus that doesn’t require detective work.

________________________________________

4. Update the Instructor Info Page: Include Your Smiling Face

Pro Tip: Students love knowing who is on the other side of the computer.

Head to the Instructor Page of your course and add your contact info, office hours, a photo and maybe even a quirky hobby. "I’m a social studies teacher who has traveled to 48 of the 50 states!”

________________________________________

5. Validate Links: Save Your Sanity

Pro Tip: Broken links = frustration for everyone.

Use the Link Validator on the course’s Settings page to ensure that all the embedded links work properly. One click now can save you from a flood of emails later!

________________________________________

6. Assess Accessibility: Learning for Everyone

Pro Tip: Small tweaks, big impact.

Use the Ally Course Accessibility Report to identify areas where accessibility improvements are needed. A little extra effort here ensures that all students, regardless of ability, can succeed in your course. Bonus points if you discover an easy way to improve document readability with a new font or format!

________________________________________

7. Configure Zoom & Panopto: Tech-Savvy Made Easy

Pro Tip: A tech mishap is one "Can you hear me now?" away.

Hybrid and remote instructors, make sure Zoom and Panopto are ready to go. Schedule lectures and create a home for recordings in advance—your future self (and your students) will thank you. Review the Schedule Zoom Knowledge Article for a walkthrough.

________________________________________

8. Review Canvas Notification Settings: Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Pro Tip: Stay connected without feeling overwhelmed.

Take a moment to adjust your notification preferences in Canvas. Keep the important stuff at the forefront. This way you are notified when your students need you.

________________________________________

9. Publish Courses On-time: 4 is the Magic Number

Pro Tip: Unpublished courses are like locked doors.

Imagine this: Your students log in to Canvas, excited to see what the course has in store, only to find... nothing. Don’t leave them hanging! Publish your course on time. All Canvas courses must be published for student access no later than 4 calendar days prior to the course’s advertised start date. 

Now that your Canvas course is ready, take a step back and give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve not only prepared a functional course but also created an environment that invites curiosity, clarity, and connection. Let the semester begin!

Do you need help or have questions? Reach out to eLearning at elearning@pgcc.edu to schedule an appointment or use the Drop-In Support dates available in December and January.

 The Benefits of Creating Videos with Panopto  

Have you tried creating videos with Panopto? You haven’t! Then you’re missing out. Creating videos with Panopto is easy!  You can insert quiz questions to keep students engaged. These quiz questions can be auto-graded and captured by the Canvas gradebook. You can also see analytics to see if students are watching the video. Now you can finally answer the question, are my students watching the video?  Read more about Panopto below and consider attending the Panopto workshop on S.E.E.D. Day on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 to try it for yourself.    

Easily Create Videos   

Panopto allows you to easily create videos, screencasts, and presentations. It allows for easy recording and editing, enabling you to create different content based on your learning objectives.  

Enhanced Engagement  

With Panopto you can create and incorporate quizzes directly into videos, creating active engagement. This interactivity transforms passive viewing into an immersive learning experience. 

Accessibility  

Another feature of Panopto is its robust search capabilities and table of contents which make it effortless for learners to locate specific topics or sections within videos, saving time and enhancing efficiency. The system also creates closed captioning, making your videos more accessible. 

Analytics and Assessment  

Panopto also provides valuable insights into student engagement and performance through detailed analytics dashboards. Instructors can track metrics such as viewing duration, and quiz results. Furthermore, Panopto is integrated with Canvas so quiz grades are captured in the gradebook.   

 

Panopto is a powerful tool in online education, offering many benefits for you and your students. From flexible content creation to enhanced engagement, accessibility, and analytics. Panopto empowers you to create and deliver a dynamic and impactful learning experience.  

 

Are you ready to try? Click on the Panopto tab in Canvas and start creating! Or attend the Panopto workshop during S.E.E.D. Day on October 15. See you there! 

Canvas Tips

 Welcome back to another school year. As you get started, I hope you find some time to learn something new. The fact that you’re reading this means you already have. Yeah You! Did you know there are so many cool tools in Canvas? In this short article, I’m going to point out a few.  

 Announcement Tip

Announcements can be added to the Home Page

o   In a course, click on Settings on the bottom of the Navigation bar. Under Course Details scroll down, under Description click on Show recent announcements on Course home page. Then put in the number you want displayed, then Save.

 Communication Tips

To easily send an email to all students, on the Home Page, click on New Analytics, then click on the envelope to message all students. Or you can modify the grade, making the range from 0 – 50% and it will only email those students. How cool!

 Module Tips

Require students to at least click on content before moving forward

o   Click on the 3 dots next to the Module Heading, then click on Edit, then click on Requirements. Require that students View the page or even mark As Read. This will create a checklist for students.

o   Teachers can then view Student Progress by following these steps.

§  Select the Modules link in the Course Navigation Menu.

§  Click the View Progress button in the upper right corner.

§  Choose a student to view

§  View Module Progress. What?!

 Grading Tips

Automatically drop the lowest grade for every student

o   Go to Assignments, then click on the 3 dots in the Assignment Heading, then click on Edit. Then enter the number of low scores to ignore for each student, then Save.

In Speedgrader,

o   Use the Speech Recognition button to have Canvas type your comments.

o   Use the Comment Generator to record common feedback to use later.

o   Click on the Gear icon to hide names when grading

Support Tips

Canvas 24/7 support for faculty & students

o   Click on the Help button on the bottom of the Navigation bar, in the new window, scroll down until you see Email, Call or Chat.

24/7 support sends an AskPGCC ticket to eLearning

o   Follow the steps above, then click on Email, then Send to School Specific Canvas Support. This creates an AskPGCC ticket that goes to eLearning.

Canvas webinars & training

o   Click on the Help Button, then click on Training Services Portal 3 times! After the first time, scroll down and you’ll see Training Services Portal below the gray box, click it for the 2^nd time. Then Training Services Portal – Enter Here will appear, click for the 3^rd time. (I didn’t create it 😊) Then click on Authorize. Here you will find Courses, Webinars & a Live Training Calendar. Access them using the tabs at the top of the page.

 These are just a few of the amazing tools in Canvas. If you want to know more, attend one of the live Training Sessions mentioned above or feel free to reach out to me, Deborah Bowles. I hope this was helpful and take care!

 

 Improving Accessibility: It Benefits Everyone 

Accessibility is a word that is being used a lot lately, but do we know what it means and how to improve accessibility in online courses? In this article, we’ll define accessibility and look at how we can improve accessibility.  Accessibility refers to the design and implementation of systems, and content to ensure equitable access for everyone. What does this look like? It could mean that documents have headers so they can be read by screenreaders. Or videos have closed-captioning or an attached transcript, so people don’t always have to listen to the recording. It’s about making content accessible in a variety of ways. So how is this beneficial for students? 

 

Accommodates Various Learning Styles 

Accessibility not only benefits students with disabilities but also caters to diverse learning styles. Incorporating multiple modalities in teaching materials, such as providing transcripts for audio content or providing captions for videos, allows students to choose the format that best suits their learning preferences. This flexibility enhances the overall educational experience, fostering a more engaging and inclusive learning environment. 

 

Promotes Diversity and Inclusion 

Accessibility in higher education promotes diversity and inclusion. It sends a powerful message that all students, regardless of their abilities, are welcome and valued. A diverse student body enhances the overall learning experience by exposing everyone to different perspectives, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. 

 

Includes Digital Accessibility 

Digital technology plays a pivotal role in education. From online courses to digital learning platforms, colleges and universities are increasingly relying on technology to deliver educational content. Ensuring digital accessibility is crucial to accommodate students with diverse needs. This involves designing courses, documents, and other digital resources in a way that allows users to navigate and comprehend the content. 

 

Examples of Digital Accessibility  

When making content accessible, remember the acronym SILT. This stands for Structure, Images/Media, Links and Tables. So, what does this look like in practice? 

Structure – When writing a document, make sure to use the headings feature. This does more than just make the font bigger; it tags the words so a screen reader can skip from heading to heading. When making a list, use the bullets feature or the numbering feature in Word to tag the items, so a screen reader will read the items as a list.  

 

Images/Media – There should be alt tags with pictures. Videos should have closed captioning or an attached transcript.  

 

Links – A screen reader reads what is there, so the link should be meaningful, such as, read this article from the National Center on Disaility and Access to Education  to learn how to make documents more accessible. 

 

Tables – Make sure tables have properly identified headings. This allows the screen reader to identify a table and read the content correctly. 

Check Accessibility in Canvas 

In Canvas, you can click on the Ally Course Accessibility Report tab on the left Navigation Bar. This report will show you the Ally Accessibility Score for your course and how to improve it. Find more information about this by reading the Ask PGCC Ally Accessibility Article. 

 

Accessibility is not just a legal requirement but a fundamental principle that underpins the values of inclusivity, equal opportunity, and diversity. By prioritizing accessibility, we can create an environment where every student can fully engage in the learning process, fostering a culture of academic excellence. 

 

Did you know that Canvas has a built-in Screen Reader? Simply click on the Immersive Reader tab in the upper right hand corner.  

 

Did you know that Canvas has alternative ways for students to read the text? When students click to download a document, they can chose from a variety of alternative formats. See below.  

 

 

Still have questions or what to learn more? Send an email to eLearning at elearning@pgcc.edu