accessible structures: towards a more inclusive use of virtual learning environments wilma...
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Accessible structures: towards a more inclusive use of Virtual Learning environments
Wilma Alexander, Information Services
The Background
• Online opportunities to level the playing field - usability and accessibility
• Studies have improved our understanding, but studies specific to teaching and learning still rare
• User purpose and motivation crucial, so commercial and web-based studies should be approached with care.
• Lots of work done on technical access, use of VLE, but little or nothing on organising content inside a VLE.
Phase 1 - Vista• 4 extended walkthrough interviews provided 79
distinct statements which were categorised:• 15 Likes and 61 Dislikes • Categorisation: navigation, display, content
availability, other, or outwith scope. • Some statements where placed in more than
one category where appropriate.• Dislikes further categorised as severity of
impact on the student (Low, Medium, High) • Where possible mitigation measures identified.
25%
54%
41% DisplayNavigationOut of scope
Dislikes
Totals > 100% as some items in multiple categories
Issues
19%
22%
33%
7%
7%
11%
Getting into courseStructure of materials inside courseNavigating content / menusNavigating dis-cussionsToo many clicks neededLack of info on how to do tasks
Some surprises
All students interviewed ignored the left hand navigation links: didn't know what they were, some tools were unused but the links were still there.
"... left hand navigation not really used. I don’t know what they all are so ignore them..."
Spell it out
Even our "obvious” labelling may not be so obvious:
"The 'Course materials’ label means lecture slides but sometimes also means tutorial handouts."
Of course its obvious!
…hadn’t noticed breadcrumb trail items at top of most screens, had no idea about using Home link or MyWebCT tab to navigate around course / courses. So user as logging out and re-entering every time they got “stuck” with a window and couldn’t find a way back to another part of the course…
Confusions
• Relationship between menu items and content links on page
• Nested folders• Breadcrumb trails unnoticed• Links sometimes open new window,
sometimes don't• Links do open new window but window is
unnoticed
More confusions
Week by week vs. Themes
All course readings vs this weeks readings
Content vs. activities
Scrolling vs clicking
Tabs vs windows
Phase 2
• Designed course with real content • Simple clear structure• Two options for content structure• 5 students, structured walkthrough• Observer, recording, coded responses.
The Learn9 focus
Text
Week 1 content – long scrollable list
Week 2 content – screen space required
Text
Phase 2
Phase 2 so far (1)
Navigation issues • Menu, Tabs unnoticed• Breadcrumbs unnoticed• When is a link not a link?• Don’t mind scrolling, dislike too much “nesting”• Users don’t customise or personalise
Solution a: Information and guidance to staff.
Solution b: Additional information / support for students.
Phase 2 so far (2)
Content Organisation issues• Don’t know what to find where
Solution: Clearer labelling for folders, items
Clearer labelling for Left hand menu• Don’t mind scrolling, dislike too much “nesting”
Solution: Organise content systematically
Want things to be organised similarly across courses
Solution: School templates, staff guidelines• Want
Phase 2 so far (3)
Technical issues (outside project scope)
Learning Modules and migrations
Solution: move to folders
PDF files and some OS/browser combinations
Solution: Always set to open in new window
Identifying Links as links
Solution a: Change institutional default template
Solution b: Guidelines for staff
Phase 2 so far (4)
Other issues• Reading and resources lists• Must be sorted, flagged as essential versus
optional• Alternative format information and strategies in
place• Growing range of assistive software, mobile
devices etc: need for more inclusive design from the start.
Thanks to colleagues:
Jessie Paterson, Teaching Fellow, RDSVM (School of Divinity)
Bruce Darby, Student Disability Services
With assistance from the Blackboard Accessibility Awards 2011
Thank-you!
Some useful links:•JISC TechDis www.techdis.ac.uk/•WebAIM webaim.org •Bb Accessibility Group collaborate.athenpro.org/group/bb/