Week #4 - Accessibility
LMS Evaluation Introduction
![Person checking off a list](/uploads/5/9/5/6/59564357/1385748.jpg?360)
Welcome to the 4th week of evaluations between the capabilities of Desire2Learn and Blackboard. This week five tools were examined within each system. These tools included:
- Modify Dropbox assignments with differentiated release conditions
- Modify quiz with differentiated release conditions
- Providing alternative learning materials by upload Youtube video with close caption
- Using an accessible HTML template
- LMS reviews by accessibility organizations
D2L LMS Evaluation
Tool #1 Modify Dropbox Assignments with Differentiated Release Conditions
In D2L, you are able to alter the deadlines associated with Dropbox assignments. This is helpful if you have students with disabilities that may require extra time as an accommodation or students that may have other issues that require the deadline to be extended. This is very simple to do you go into Assessment and Dropbox and find the appropriate dropbox and click on the down arrow and select edit. Click on the Restrictions tab and in the "Special Access" area (at the bottom of the page) click on "Add Users to Special Access". This will bring you into the "Special Access" area where you can adjust the due dates and end dates for the assignment. In addition, you can select the students that are giving the additional time. After you save this screen, you will be brought back into the "Restrictions" tab and you will see the chosen student and their new due dates. There are screen shots below to demonstrate this sequence. In summary, the overall findings of the Modify Dropbox Assignment with Differentiated Release Conditions:
- Strength: You have the ability to accommodate students' needs for extension for various reasons very easily.
- Weakness: I could not find any.
Tool #2 Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
In D2L, you are able to alter the deadlines and completion time with Quizzes. This is helpful if you have students with disabilities that may require extra time as an accommodation or students that may have other issues that require the deadline to be extended or extra time to be given. This is very simple to do you go into Assessment and Quizzes and find the appropriate quiz and click on the down arrow and select edit. Click on the Restrictions tab and in the "Special Access" area (at the bottom of the page) click on "Add Users to Special Access". This was bring you into the "Special Access" area where you can adjust the due dates, end dates, amount of time for completion, grace period, and late submissions for the quiz. In addition, you can select the students that are giving the additional time. After you save this screen, you will be brought back into the "Restrictions" tab and you will see the chosen student and their new due dates. There is a video below to walk you through this process. Please note the names of the students have been blocked out to protect their privacy. In summary, the overall findings of the Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions:
- Strength: You have the ability to accommodate students' needs for extension for various reasons very easily.
- Weakness: I could not find any.
Tool #3 Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Upload Youtube Videos with Closed Caption
You can upload videos into D2L from Youtube. This is a great way to provide alternative learning material with closed caption. The use of such videos can serve a dual purpose. You can engage students through different videos that express that different perspectives as well as provide closed captioning to those who may need such assistance. In D2L you can create a new module where your video can be uploaded by creating a new file. You can enter a title into the HTML Editor and a description. Then by clicking on "insert stuff" you can enter the embed code from the Youtube video. Next, you need to check for a secure URL or modify this on your own. You click insert and publish. It is always helpful to use your demo student capability to verify that the video is working properly. In summary, the ability to provide alternative learning materials by uploading youtube videos into D2L:
- Strengths: Allows you to introduce outside materials to engage students.
- Weaknesses: I did not find any.
Tool #4 Using an Accessible HTML Template
The ability to make your web content accessibe to students with disabilities is very critical nowadays. It is recommended by w3C to create HTML topics for course content when feasible. D2L offers several templates to use, which contain cascading style sheets (CSS) to help format the HTML files. D2L offers a link to such templates. The link is
https://pilot.wright.edu/shared/documentation/10/Instructor/learningenvironment/accessibility/accessible_html_templates.htm and you can download the zip file from there to your computer. In D2L, you can click on Course Admin and then Manage Files where you can upload the zip file. From here you can unzip the file and cut and paste the SampleContentTopic.htm file into the TemplateFiles subfolder. You should rename the folder so you know what folder you will need to access in the future. Below you will see a screenshot of an example of using such a template to create a document. In summary the features of making accessibility through HTML files,
https://pilot.wright.edu/shared/documentation/10/Instructor/learningenvironment/accessibility/accessible_html_templates.htm and you can download the zip file from there to your computer. In D2L, you can click on Course Admin and then Manage Files where you can upload the zip file. From here you can unzip the file and cut and paste the SampleContentTopic.htm file into the TemplateFiles subfolder. You should rename the folder so you know what folder you will need to access in the future. Below you will see a screenshot of an example of using such a template to create a document. In summary the features of making accessibility through HTML files,
- Strengths: Materials can be made accessible to students with disabilities
- Weaknesses: The process is a bit clunky until you have gone through it a few.
Tool #5 LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
D2L takes accessibility issues and meeting the standards very seriously. They actually have space on the website dedicated to these issues. In addition, it states they that meet with various special interests groups, instructors, and students regarding these issues. Therefore, D2L appears to be highly regarded in leading the charge to make their products and content accessible to student with disabilities. In summary, the overall findings of the reviews of D2L in regards to accessibility:
- Strength: Students, instructors, and special interest groups are actively involved with D2L in this area.
- Weakness: None.
Blackboard Evaluation
Tool #1 Modify SafeAssignments with Differentiated Release Conditions
In Blackboard, you have the ability to modify SafeAssignments through adaptive release. I did not have this tool on the trial version so I can comment any further on the functionality. However, I did find on Comprehensive Tools List (2016), which is the Blackboard help site for Vanderbilt University, a description of the adaptive release tool.
The website states "Adaptive Release allows an instructor to set conditions that must be met before an item will appear to a user. Rules may be set that restrict items based on dates, the review status of other items in the course, and/or grades or attempts registered in a Grade Center column. In addition, items may be set to appear only to certain users and/or groups." In summary, I found modifying SafeAssignments can be done but I am unable to comment on this further than this.
The website states "Adaptive Release allows an instructor to set conditions that must be met before an item will appear to a user. Rules may be set that restrict items based on dates, the review status of other items in the course, and/or grades or attempts registered in a Grade Center column. In addition, items may be set to appear only to certain users and/or groups." In summary, I found modifying SafeAssignments can be done but I am unable to comment on this further than this.
Tool #2 Modify Quiz with Differentiated Release Conditions
In Blackboard, you have the ability to modify a Quiz through adaptive release. I did not have this tool on the trial version so I can comment any further on the functionality. However, I did find on Comprehensive Tools List (2016), which is the Blackboard help site for Vanderbilt University, a description of the adaptive release tool.
The website states "Adaptive Release allows an instructor to set conditions that must be met before an item will appear to a user. Rules may be set that restrict items based on dates, the review status of other items in the course, and/or grades or attempts registered in a Grade Center column. In addition, items may be set to appear only to certain users and/or groups." In summary, I found modifying a Quiz can be done but I am unable to comment on this further than this.
The website states "Adaptive Release allows an instructor to set conditions that must be met before an item will appear to a user. Rules may be set that restrict items based on dates, the review status of other items in the course, and/or grades or attempts registered in a Grade Center column. In addition, items may be set to appear only to certain users and/or groups." In summary, I found modifying a Quiz can be done but I am unable to comment on this further than this.
Tool #3 Providing Alternative Learning Materials by Upload Youtube Videos with Closed Caption
You can upload videos into Blackboard from Youtube. This is a great way to provide alternative learning material with closed caption. The use of such videos can serve a dual purpose. You can engage students through different videos that express that different perspectives as well as provide closed captioning to those who may need such assistance. In Blackboard, you can create a new content and select Youtube videos under the mashups headings. You can either search for the Youtube video here. If you prefer you can click on video link and upload the video directly from your computer. It is always helpful to use your student preview capability to verify that the video is working properly. In summary, the ability to provide alternative learning materials by uploading Youtube videos into Blackboard:
- Strengths: Allows you to introduce outside materials to engage students.
- Weaknesses: I did not see a direct upload from Youtube. You either have to save the video and upload it directly or search for the video.
Tool #4 Using an Accessible HTML Template
The ability to make your web content accessibility to students with disabilities is very critical nowadays. It is recommended by w3C to create HTML topics for course content when feasible. I could not find any help about this in Blackboard resources or on external websites. I do believe it is possible since on the edit screen there is a button for html and a button for CSS. Therefore, I can not comment further on thus ability in Blackboard. I was disappointed that such information was not readily available from Blackboard.
Tool #5 LMS Reviews by Accessibility Organizations
Blackboard takes accessibility issues and meeting the standards very seriously. They actually have space on the website dedicated to these issues. Therefore, Blackboard appears to be highly regarded in leading the charge to make their products and content accessible to student with disabilities. In summary, the overall findings of the reviews of Blackboard in regards to accessibility:
- Strength: College and Instructors are actively involved with Blackboard in this area.
- Weakness: No information about specific products or functionality on Blackboard was readily available.
LMS Weekly Recommendation
Based on the tools that were evaluated this week, I would say that most features were accessible in D2L. I found more helpful tips and links about D2L. I could not find most of these features in Blackboard this week. Therefore, this week's winner would be D2L.
References
Comprehensive Tools Lists (2016). Comprehensive Tool Lists. Retrieved from https://vanderbilt.edu/blackboard/on-demand-resources/blackboard-tools-information/