This section developed by WebAIM http://www.webaim.org

Though eCollege and WebCT have similarities, there are distinct differences between the two course management systems. Previous information about accessibility techniques for content pages is very applicable for instructors using WebCT. WebCT also provides control over the following:

• Navigation
• Table of Contents
• Frame/Page Titles
• Whiteboard and Chat Tools (and accessible options)
• Quizzes
• Timed Responses

Navigation

Provide information and orientation cues whenever possible to assist those who are not accessing visual information.

Example:
It is helpful to provide a short list of hyperlinks at the top of a page allowing the user to quickly jump to other points within that same page. This acts as a short table of contents and allows the learner to form cognitive "slots" to aid learning.

Strategies:

1. Within the "Course Settings" function, there is an option to edit the course menu. Instructors may use this option to remove any course menu links that will not be used. The instructor may also prioritize links and place frequently used links at the top of the list and copy important links from the navigation bar to the home page.
2. Changing the current window or popping up a new window can be very disorienting to users who cannot see that this has happened. When linking directly to another web page or URL from a content page, warn users when a new window will be opened. (Note: As an accessibility feature, WebCT provides a "close" button when a new window has been opened.)
3. Provide an "orientation" or "accessibility information" page outlining the general layout of a site, linked from the home page. Describe page layout, site structure and site navigation tools, highlighting features that may assist students with disabilities.

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Table of Contents

The default setting for WebCT Content Modules is "hidden", and reduces the number of open frames in the WebCT window. This is an important consideration for some adaptive technologies. In WebCT, by default, when a student opens a document from a Content Module, the Table of Contents will close and only the new document will be open in the WebCT window.

There is also an option in WebCT to keep the Table of Contents open when a document is opened. In this case, when a document is opened from a Content Module, it splits the WebCT window into two separate frames: the Table of Contents appears in the left frame and the document appears in the right frame. Because multiple frames are less accessible to some adaptive technologies, it is recommended that the WebCT Content Module setting be changed to the Default setting in order to reduce the number of open frames.

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Frames/Page Titles

Frames may be problematic for students using screen reader technology. Even with the most recent versions, the complex frame structure may cause difficulties.

Tips:

1. Title all pages accurately, to assist with navigation.
2. A site index linked directly to the course Homepage will act as an alternative navigation system for users who have difficulty navigating through a framed environment.

Advise students that the course menu in the left side frame can be hidden if preferred.

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Whiteboard and Chat Tools (and accessible options)

WebCT has worked to make the Chat and Whiteboard tools accessible by providing an accessible interface to navigate chat applet starting and navigation. If necessary, alternate chat and whiteboard tools outside the WebCT course with additional accessibility provisions may be incorporated into the course environment. Recommended options include:

http://chat.naken.cc/
http://www.ldrc.ca/community/chat/
http://snow.utoronto.ca/cgi/achat/main.cgi

Tips:

1. Advise users of potential barriers to accessibility in an "orientation" or "accessibility information" page.
2. Use alternatives, such as using email, in order to include all students.

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Quizzes

The multiple choice, matching, and true-false quizzes may present access difficulties for some users.

Tips:

1. Provide learners with introductory information and ungraded practice exam to orient them to the functionality of the quizzes.
2. To ensure access for all users, it is recommended that non-interactive text versions of the self tests be developed as an alternative.

From "WebCT Course Design and Accessibility"
http://www.webct.com/service/viewcontentframe?contentID=1790151

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Timed Responses

Provide a means for requesting additional time whenever a timed response is required. This is common for tools like the Chat Room, (where a student is expected to respond to a question posed by the Instructor), or the WebCT Quiz feature (where a Quiz may only available to students from 9am to 10am).

There are two steps required when working with timed responses. First, alert students that a timed response is required. It would be helpful to include this information in the Orientation Document that we discussed earlier, but it should also appear with the timed response element (with a Quiz, or on a Chat Room page.) Second, provide sufficient time for the student to indicate that more time is required. Your timed response element cannot expire without allowing sufficient time for a student to notify you that they require additional time.

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About Image "Alt" text

WebCT does not provide an automatic way of inserting Alt text, which allows instructors to give a description of images. This limitation can be overcome by using the "alt" attribute to describe the function of all images for people who do not access visual elements. An "alt" text equivalent describes the function or characteristics of the graphic content. A good test to determine if a text equivalent is useful is to imagine reading the document aloud over the telephone. How would you describe an image to make it comprehensible to the listener? All HTML documents that you upload to the WebCT File Manager should include "alt" text for all images.

Example:

<img src="california.gif" alt="Map of California">

1. WebCT will automatically generate "alt" text for any icons added to Course Home Page or Tool Pages. The "alt" text is generated based on the text entered in the "title" field for the icon.
2. Display text links as well as image icons to ensure all users' preferences are met.
3. Designers will be prompted for a "Title" and a "Description" when images are being added to the Image Database. The "alt" text for the image will be generated based on the text entered in the "Title" field, and the description will appear in a table following the image in the database.
4. HTML documents that you upload to the WebCT File Manager should include "alt" text for all significant images. Insignificant images should include an empty "alt" attribute.

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Long Descriptions

It is helpful to summarize the information in text form when "alt" text does not adequately convey the function or role of an image presented in the WebCT course content. Additional supporting text may be included within content pages in the WebCT path, or may be uploaded as a separate file and linked to the page. Hyperlinks to these longer descriptions often use a single letter "[D]" as the link text. This convention is known as a "d-link" with "d" standing for "description" or "definition."

Example:

The D-link would link to a separate page that displays the following longer description:

As part of the "Information Highway," the Internet provides the following tools:

• E-mail
• World Wide Web
• Telnet
• FTP

From "WebCT Course Design and Accessibility"
http://www.webct.com/service/viewcontentframe?contentID=1790151

http://www.webaim.org/techniques/keyboard/

Flash accessibility
http://www.markme.com/accessibility/archives/005515.cfm

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