Accessibility Question

Good Morning -

I work as an Instructional Designer for online content within higher
education.  When I am developing content with various SMEs I use the
following format:

*Purpose Statement:*

*Post Instructions:* In your initial post, answer the discussion question
prompt by referencing the readings and resources provided in the week.
Your initial post should be a minimum of 300 words, unless otherwise
specified in the discussion instructions. In the reply, you are expected to
respond to one classmate.   All initial posts should have 2 - 3 APA 7th ed
formatted in-text citations and matching references. Place references at
the end of your post under the heading “References.”

*Prompt:*

*Reply Instructions:* Response (due Sunday by 11:59 pm CST): Respond to at
least one other post from class in this week’s discussion. In your
response, you may offer and support an opinion, validate an idea with your
own experience, or make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates
the discussion.  The response should be a minimum of 100 words unless
otherwise instructed.  Here are some examples of writing a substantive
response:

   -

   Ask an insightful and probing question to your classmates that deepens
   their level of reflection
   -

   Share how research supports or contradicts the posting
   -

   Share new insight
   -

   Validate an idea with your own life or work experience
   -

   Make a suggestion
   -

   When replying to a classmate’s post, you should include references when
   sharing how research supports or contradicts the post.


The post and reply instructions are pretty much boilerplate language.
Recently, I have had an SME who wants to delete the Post instruction
heading and place it at the bottom of the Prompt area, without a heading.

Everything within me says this is not a good idea.  However, I am unable to
find anything that indicates that instructions should be placed before the
Prompt.

Do you have any information that supports where instructions should appear
when developing online content?

Thanks,
*KathleenMichael J. Perrine, Ph.D.*
Sr. Learning Architect - Instructional Design
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenmichael-j-perrine/
Land Line: 828-966-4483
Text Messages: 407-929-1829