Re: Accessibility problems with Blackboard?

----- Original Message -----
From: Charles McCathieNevile <charles@w3.org>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 18:30:33 -0500 (EST)
To: Denise Wood <denise_wood@operamail.com>
Subject: Re: Accessibility problems with Blackboard?

> Except that their definition of accessibility is "does it have a text-only
> interface" - there is nothing mentioned about whether there is support for
> authors to create content that is accessible, or whether anything more
> sophisticated than a text-only interface (for example the use of text
> equivalents for functions and images provided) is available.
> But a good resource anyway to start from.

Charles

Your comment about the definition of accessibility only referring to the option of a text-only interface does not apply to all of the reviews at this site. If you look at the review of WebCT 3.7 for example, you will see this description under the title accessibility:
WebCT has optimized accessibility for the following assistive technologies: Screen reader software: JAWS 4; Browser: Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2; Operating system: Windows 2000. Both Chat and Whiteboard are navigable by keyboard. New color scheme provides high contrast between background and foreground elements. The high contrast color scheme can be the default or overridden by users. Invisible navigation links can be used by screen readers.   

My point was that the review of Blackboard was weak - not containing the detail of some of the other reviews listed on the site. Your observation re the lack of detail about accessibility features certainly applies to the review of Blackboard.

Having said that there are still many accessibility features not mentioned even in the WebCT review. I intend emailing the author (Bruce Landon) and suggesting the Blackboard review be updated. I will also raise the concern that there is lack of consistency in the review of accessibility features and that there is a need to address at least the priority 1 level checkpoints in such a review.

You are right Charles - it is a good start and worth encouraging the author to develop further. 


  

> 
> Cheers
> 
> Charles
> 
> On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Denise Wood  wrote:
> 
>   For those of you who have expressed interest in information comparing
>   different e-learning platforms I have come across another relevant site:
>   http://www.c2t2.ca/landonline/evalapps.asp
> 
>   The structure used for the reviews is very comprehensive and there is a
>   comprehensive review of WebCT 3.7 but the review on Blackboard is lacking
>   in detail. Also appears to be an older version of Blackboard that has
>   been reviewed. Several other e-learning platforms are reviewed at this
>   site and well worth checking out and bookmarking to check for regular
>   updates of the reviews.
> 
>   Sincerely
> 
>   Denise
> 
> 
> 

    

Dr Denise L Wood

Lecturer: Professional Development (online teaching and learning)
and EASI online instructor 
University of South Australia
CE Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Ph:  (61 8) 8302 2167
Fax: (61 8) 8302 2363 
Mob: (0413 648 260)

Email:Denise.Wood@unisa.edu.au or Denise@easi.cc 
	 
WWW: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/homepage.asp?Name=Denise.Wood
and at EASI: http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm

-- 


Dr Denise L Wood

Lecturer: Professional Development (online teaching and learning)
and EASI online instructor 
University of South Australia
CE Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Ph:  (61 8) 8302 2167
Fax: (61 8) 8302 2363 
Mob: (0413 648 260)

Email:Denise.Wood@unisa.edu.au or Denise@easi.cc 
	 
WWW: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/homepage.asp?Name=Denise.Wood
and at EASI: http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm


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Received on Sunday, 31 March 2002 20:06:16 UTC