Welcome to the eLearning Blog. Here you will find articles, information about Canvas, and resources for faculty, staff and students at Prince George's Community College. We hope you enjoy the blog and we welcome your feedback.
Dear readers,
Learning happens everywhere, through videos, documents, discussion boards, and online tools. But for learning to be truly inclusive, all students must be able to access and engage with digital content. That’s where digital accessibility comes in.
Digital accessibility means designing and creating online
content so that it can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities.
This includes students who use screen readers, need captions for audio, rely on
keyboard navigation, have low vision, color blindness, and more.
Digital accessibility isn’t just a requirement, it’s good practice.
Accessibility is a shared responsibility. Faculty and staff all
play a role.
Every action, like using headings in a document or adding
captions to a video, add up to meaningful change.
You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference.
Start with these simple steps:
At its heart, digital accessibility is about equity and
respect. It’s about designing content that doesn’t assume one “typical” reader
but instead recognizes the diversity of how people learn and engage.
When we make accessibility part of our everyday processes and communication, we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully.
To learn more and find resources, visit the PGCC Digital Accessibility website.
For example:
How to Setup Checkpoints in Canvas:
This new feature will help students engage and create a more
meaningful discussion. In short, Discussion
Board Checkpoints = Less procrastination, more conversation. So go ahead, give
them a try. Your students (and your grading sanity) might thank you.
Fall Back Into Teaching with the Updated Faculty Resources Page
It's
that time again. You're updating modules, changing due dates, and trying to
remember where that Canvas support link went. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, the
newly updated Faculty Resources Page has you covered.
Instead
of searching through endless emails or various bookmarked links, head straight
to the newly updated Faculty Resources
Page, your one-stop shop for all things PGCC teaching and learning.
The updated Faculty Resources Page is packed with essential tools and
support for your teaching, including:
Teaching Resources
●
Canvas
resources
●
Library
resources
●
Simple
Syllabus webinar
●
Links to
vendor webinars
●
Videos
Term Resources
●
Canvas
checklist
●
Employee
handbook
●
How to
import course content
● How to update due dates
Administrative Resources
●
Academic
calendar
● TLSS Contact List
● Troubleshooting contacts
● Common ticket requests and
more!
Whether you’re setting up your first course or your
fiftieth, this resource is designed to streamline your workflow and help you to
start off strong.
To
access the Faculty Resources Page:
Let’s be honest, updating the course syllabus isn’t fun, but what if updating and sharing your syllabus was not only easier, but better for your students and the college? That’s exactly what Simple Syllabus can do! Simple Syllabus streamlines the syllabus process, making it easier to build, update, and share your syllabus, while improving accessibility and consistency.
Simple Syllabus is a cloud-based tool that works within Canvas to make creating, updating, and distributing the syllabus easier and more efficient. Rather than uploading a static Word or PDF document, Simple Syllabus provides a template that auto-populates institutional information and allows you to focus on the unique elements of your course. The clean layout and mobile-friendly format make it easier for students to find the information they need when they need it. And when you need to make changes, just edit and students see the latest version in real time.
Simple Syllabus is now available in the Canvas course shell of credit summer courses.
Hopefully you’ll agree that Simple Syllabus is a win for you, your students and the college.
Need help? Webinars will be held in late April and May. These webinars will be recorded so you can watch them at your convenience. To learn more, go to the Simple Syllabus website. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to eLearning at elearning@pgcc.edu
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.
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.
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.
You can take several steps to make your course and documents 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.”
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.
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.
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!
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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.
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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!”
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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.
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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!”
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
